A trio of Lollapalooza must-sees

One of the great things about Lollapalooza is that it brings people and artists from different genres and generations together who might otherwise never had the chance. If you take a look at this year’s lineup you can find many examples of this. I have chosen three artists to highlight which will bring this example to life: Patti Smith, Iggy and the Stooges and Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals.

In a bit of a selfish move, I have not chosen these acts by accident. They are three that I am really looking forward to seeing (I have seen Ben Harper before but once is just not enough) but also relate very well to the point I made earlier. These three artists are all very different, coming from different time periods, followed by different audiences.

Without turning this into a biography, I’ll just touch on a few points about each I feel is relevant to this discussion. Hopefully this will wet the appetite of festival goers and propel them to catch these three in action this August in Smith's hometown of Chicago, Illinois.


This leads me to the first artist, Patti Smith. Patti Smith is one of the most unique artists in music history. She’s certainly not a “chart buster” (she has earned just one top 20 single throughout her entire career) but her influence can be heard and read in many singer/songwriters, poets and authors to this day. Always the social activist, Smith has won the acclaim and scorn of many, many people. From the start of her career in 1974 right through this very moment in time, Smith has created controversy and told everyone what she believes. That’s what makes her a true icon. She has very strong beliefs and has lived by her own rules her entire life. Agree or disagree with her, she stands by her belief system with no apologies or regrets. That’s about as punk as it gets! Her music is a mix of early punk, folk and spoken word pieces. If you choose to make it over to the Adidas stage at 7:30pm on day 2 of the festival you will be witness to rock royalty, punk aggression and most likely receive a bit of an education.


Next up…Iggy and the Stooges. Although they are listed as a punk band in many circles, they are nothing like Patti Smith, or anyone else for that matter. Like Smith though, Iggy and the Stooges do have a connection to Chicago. Iggy Pop, born James Osterberg, decided to start a band after visiting Chicago and meeting blues drummer Sam Lay. Once he got back to his own hometown of Detroit, The Stooges were born. If you like rock and roll, punk, and even some heavy metal, you should probably send a thank you letter to Iggy and The Stooges. Their sound, style, insane live shows and overall passion and drive for the music they played have encouraged countless people to pick up a guitar and form a band. It’s amazing to note that a band that began way back in 1967 can still have the profound impact on today’s music as it does. As a matter of fact, their 2nd and 3rd albums, Fun House and Raw Power are considered by many to be two of the greatest records of all time! That is some serious recognition. That alone should have you planning to be at the Bud Light stage at 4:15pm on day 3 to see what all the hype is about. I’m betting that most people in attendance this year have never seen this band perform and if they check them out, a new generation of fans will emerge. Not only will they enjoy an energy filled show but they might actually get some stage diving directly from the man credited with starting that craze.

The third and final band is Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. If you already know and like the offerings of this native Californian, then you can easily see how his audience and that of the previous two are very different. In a setting such as Lollapalooza though, these fans will mix and mingle and ultimately find each other. This is where the age differences and musical differences will combine and grow into a new fan base for all involved. Harper, playing a mix of folk, rock, blues, gospel and reggae, will fit more in the Patti Smith mold but still have the energy and passion for his music as Iggy and the Stooges. Creeping onto the musical landscape in 1994, Harper and backing band The Innocent Criminals have flown under the radar in the US for sometime. Over in Europe however they are absolutely huge. This is not to say that they do not garner respect and attention on this side of the pond; they just seem to take slower steps towards superstardom in the states. With his soulful voice and multi-faceted musical directions, Ben Harper is a must see on this years Lollapalooza extravaganza. So get yourself over to the Bud Light stage at 8:30pm on day 1 and get ready to soak it all in.


Patti Smith, Iggy and the Stooges, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals…three artists with different fans, musical styles and sounds. One festival will bring it all together and link them for one magical weekend. Trust me, it will be worth it!