Rüfüs Du Sol, Twice Excite As Lollapalooza 2025 Continues In Chicago

“Lollapalooza, this is surreal…” mused Rüfüs Du Sol vocalist Tyrone Lindqvist on stage Saturday night during a massive headlining performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago. “We played this festival maybe ten years ago and 300 or 400 people were there,” he continued midway through the group’s set, introducing “Fire/Desire.” “This is so special to us.”

Following appearances at Lollapalooza in 2016 and 2019, and stops at Lollapalooza Chile, Argentina and Brazil this past March, Australian alternative dance group Rüfüs Du Sol made a triumphant return to the Windy City Saturday night, with Lindqvist’s comments on stage coming as he addressed a massive festival crowd assembled on Grant Park’s south end as South Korean girl group Twice performed concurrently on the festival’s north main stage.

With themes like love, heartache and strength emerging from their latest studio album Inhale / Exhale, their fifth, Rüfüs Du Sol speak directly to their fans, creating a connection that was visible throughout the band’s 90 minutes on stage Saturday night.

“We’ve been in town for the last few nights and can see that there’s a lot of energy in town,” said keyboardist Jon George backstage Saturday night prior to the group’s set. “We’ve been looking forward to the show in general for a very long time ourselves. So, bringing all of that energy, we’re excited to put on the show that we’ve been working on for the last year for everyone here,” he said.

“We’ve really built out a show that is pretty much consistent for our headline slots. And then for festival sets, things can change and we can kind of choose what the best setlist is to keep the energy up,” explained Lindqvist of how the trio goes about tweaking the set in order to connect with the larger festival crowds. “Our main thing is making sure everyone has a good time out there. It’s Saturday night, it’s the middle of the festival. It’s a really cool, eclectic lineup of all genres of music and I feel like we live in a fun, interesting spot between electronic music and alternative music,” said the singer. “We’ve played this festival three times. So, it’s a real gift and an honor to get to headline.”

Following “Pressure,” synths and percussion percolated early, driving “Next To Me,” more synths kicking in as the beat dropped, driving the energy level of the huge crowd.

“You’re gonna make everyone at home jealous watching this!” joked Lindqvist with a wink and a nod to those watching the set on Lollapalooza’s Hulu live stream.

“Fire/Desire” raised the energy with the trio crafting an ethereal soundscape throughout “Underwater.”

“There’s another Australian band called Royel Otis. They actually played yesterday and we missed them. But we’re huge fans of what they’re doing,” said drummer James Hunt, pondering the group’s weekend in Chicago. “Doechii’s playing – she’s killing it. It’s a pretty stacked lineup.”

Playing opposite singer songwriter Clairo, Doechii attracted one of Saturday’s largest crowds, with an overflow audience assembling at Lolla’s T-Mobile main stage.

“Lollapalooza!” shouted the Florida-born rapper midway through her biggest hit “Anxiety,” nearing the end of a 50 minute set.

Scorching guitar tore through the song’s early moments, giving way to a sample of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

Climbing to the upper level of a two-tiered stage Saturday night, Doechii dropped “GTFO,” heading for home in Grant Park.

A heavier rock element can be tough to find at times on the Lollapalooza stage but over the course of 45 minutes Bilmuri delivered on the festival’s Grove stage.

“Can’t complain, man. Aftershow was fun. Weather’s great – ready to f–in’ play!” said singer and guitarist Johnny Franck matter-of-factly backstage Saturday.

Delivering a whopping 14 studio albums since 2016, Bilmuri adds a remarkably catchy element to songs skewing closer to hard rock and metal, recently dropping the single “More Than Hate” while working on the next album.

“I just wanted to go heavier. Because that’s where my roots are,” said Franck of the new single. “It wasn’t like it was a concerted effort – but it’s just kind of what came out of me when I was writing the song. It’s cool It’s a good direction,” he said. “I was working on the next album the day of American Motor Sports’ release. “So, we’re crankin’ away, dude. I think we’re about 80% of the way there. We’ve got a full album’s worth of songs. And now we’re just kind of like, ‘Let’s see if we can beat it…’ Which is a good place to be.”

L.A. singer songwriter Charlotte Lawrence wrapped up a one hour set on the Lakeshore stage with a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” one hour before rapper BossMan Dlow took to the same stage

“Chicago, what the f–k, man?” said Dlow on stage at Lollapalooza, initiating a classic call and response moment with the audience as he set up “Pop My S–t.” “If you’re having a good time, lemme hear you say ‘yeah!’”

Following the release of her latest single “Rhythm,” Naomi Scott performed for 45 minutes Saturday afternoon on the Grove stage.

“I’m really blown away actually. I feel like everybody was so lovely and willing. And I was playing a lot of new music,” said Scott backstage Saturday following her festival debut. “I feel really blessed to be able to perform music I’ve worked on for a long time and worked so hard on and love. I’m just feeling really grateful to be honest.”

The actor, who’s appeared in films like the Guy Ritchie-directed 2019 live action take on Aladdin, has released a trio of EPs since 2014 with more music in the works.

“It’s been a long time. But I feel very blessed. Because I get to make music with friends and people that I love and people that I reached out to that I thought was dope. And it’s all been a process of finding the right people,” Scott explained. “Also, for me personally, it’s going back to basics. And many years ago deciding to just get back on the piano and write some of the cheesiest songs you can think of and go from there – and figure it out. And I think that’s really worked for me. And I feel very excited to share it with the world.”

Indie pop act Winnetka Bowling League opened up the Lakeshore stage early Saturday, knocking out an aftershow as opening act for Still Woozy at Chicago’s House of Blues.

“The aftershow was fun. It was rad to play it before the actual show and get some of the nerves out,” said frontman Matthew Koma backstage following the group’s set Saturday. “You never know what it’s gonna be with these early slots. But, luckily, a lot of people showed up today and made us feel a lot of love. And it was a great first Lollapalooza for us.”

As a songwriter and producer Koma has worked with artists like Shania Twain, Bruce Springsteen and Britney Spears. Following the release of the debut Winnetka Bowling League album Sha La La last year, he’s able to apply those experiences as work on the next record begins.

“New record starts in 24 hours – we start making it. So, right back to L.A. and start making the new album,” said Koma. “I think, if anything, helping other people achieve the destination of their search and their identity puts into focus how that’s really what we should all kind of be striving for and doing. So, it kind of keeps you honest,” he explained. “It kind of keeps you making sure that you’re staying in a lane and saying things that are really true to your experience. And I think working with other artists who are working so hard to create that world for themselves, you bring that back to your desk a little bit,” Koma said. “And you can’t help but keep that in mind when you’re making your own collection.”

Måneskin frontman Damiano David dropped his debut solo album Funny Little Fears this past spring and performed for 45 minutes Saturday on the Grove stage.

“This song is about falling in love at the end of the world,” said David on stage at Lolla, setting up “Mars.” “Which seems very possible these days!” he joked.

Nearby, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra built a classical bridge as K-pop closed the evening on the festival’s Bud Light north main stage, wrapping up a 60 minute set with a gorgeous Stars Wars suite along the lakefront in Chicago.

“Are you ready?” asked the massive video screens rhetorically as TWICE readied to take the Lollapalooza stage, the first all girl K-pop act to do so in Lolla’s 20 years as a destination festival in Grant Park.

“We got here two days ago. And it’s been very nervewracking. And very busy,” said singer Jihyo through an interpreter about an hour before the group’s history making performance as part of their “This Is For” world tour. “We’ve been rehearsing every day so it’s been a very busy, hectic weekend.”

Sparkling synths were resplendent Saturday night leading into “The Feels” as temperatures dropped into the low 70s, a funky bassline soon accompanying the group’s well-choreographed dancing.

Lollapalooza’s unparalleled downtown setting provided the perfect backdrop as fireworks soared overhead early during an extraordinarily entertaining take on the opener.

Backstage, the group shouted out fellow Lolla performers Sabrina Carpenter and Clairo, with an eye on the idea of connection. “I think it’s music that connects us,” emphasized singer and rapper Chaeyoung via interpreter.

“This one is called ‘MORE & MORE!’” exclaimed singer Nayeon on stage Saturday night. “You know what to do,” she said, working the packed mainstage crowd into a frenzy, with guitar ringing out moments later during the live take on the track.

Dueling drone shows lit up Grant Park as both TWICE and DJ duo Two Friends closed out Lollapalooza opposite Rüfüs Du Sol Saturday night.

For TWICE, whose philanthropic efforts benefited victims of an earthquake in Turkey and Syria two years ago, giving back remains part of their global effort to connect.

“It’s been very meaningful. Because a lot of times when we give back, I think we do it together with our fandom as well,” said Jihyo at Lollapalooza, stressing the strength of the group’s relationship with its international fanbase. “So, I think we’re able to give a good influence to a bigger crowd.”