With the summer season comes a new batch of artists and festivals visiting Chicago. From multi-million dollar tours to beloved festivals, Chicago will in no way be shy to the music scene these upcoming months.

Lollapalooza

From Aug. 3 to Aug. 6, Lollapalooza will be held at Grant Park. Headliners for the event include Billie Eilish and Karol G on Aug. 3, Kendrick Lamar and The 1975 on Aug. 4, Odesza and Tomorrow X Together on Aug. 5 and Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lana Del Rey on Aug. 6. 

“John Frusciante has rejoined the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers and he’s a legendary guitarist,” said Karan Sudhama, senior. “Seeing him perform live will…be really cool.”

Starting in 1991, Lollapalooza is a staple to the Chicago concert scene. As it’s grown to the level it is today, the festival has been split into eight different stages across Grant Park with new artists filtering in every one to two hours.

Tickets for Lollapalooza can be purchased here.

Summer Smash

From June 23 to June 25, Summer Smash will be held at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Headliners for this event include Kid Cudi with special guest Suicideboys on June 23, Future with special guest Lil Uzi Vert on June 24 and Playboi Carti with an unannounced, surprise guest on June 25. 

Summer Smash is a relatively new festival for Chicago, only beginning in 2018 at Douglas Park. However, the festival has been increasingly popular with returning performers such as Trippie Redd. 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Kid Cudi, Cordae, Future and Trippie [Redd],” said Dana Karim, sophomore. “It’s super fun whenever they perform and I love the music.”

Tickets for Summer Smash can be purchased here.

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour

From June 2 to June 4, Taylor Swift will perform The Eras Tour at Soldier Field. Being just over three hours, this tour comprises nine of her 10 albums, or “eras,” into one elaborate concert with visuals and performances akin to The Reputation Stadium Tour from 2018.

With two surprise songs each night, Swift alters her set lists to keep a level of intrigue for her fans. Additionally, she is no stranger to surprises with holding an album announcement for her album “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” on May 6.

Drake’s It’s All a Blur Tour

From July 5 to July 6, Drake will perform the It’s All a Blur Tour at the United Center. 21 Savage, a well known friend of Drake, will be playing beside him. 

“I’m really excited to see 21 Savage and Drake together because their album ‘Her Loss’ is my favorite,” said Helena Tragas, junior. “I’m also excited to hear he will be playing his old songs from the 2000s.”

Starting in early June, Drake will combine songs from his early career to his newest album “Search & Rescue.”  The tour will conclude in early September, being a summer long tour to possibly revisit.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour

From July 22 to July 23, Beyoncé will perform the Renaissance Tour at Soldier Field. The majority of her concert is from the “Renaissance” album, however, she ends her concert with classics from her earlier albums.  

Having not toured since before the COVID pandemic, she comes back stronger than ever. Beyoncé performs at the same caliber that she always has, prioritizing the show as well as her killer vocals.

Chicago’s summer concert lineup is a powerhouse of a lineup with shows for everyone. Tickets for non-festival shows can be found on Ticketmaster or Stubhub.