Xdinary Heroes light up Lollapalooza Chicago

Attendees gather near the Lakeshore stage at Grant Park, during the first day of Lollapalooza Chicago, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min

CHICAGO — The sun blazed down on Grant Park as waves of music lovers flooded through the gates Thursday, the opening day of Lollapalooza Chicago 2025.

Under the sweltering heat, festivalgoers embraced the vibrant atmosphere, dressed in lightweight, expressive fashion — cowboy hats, bikini tops and jean cutoffs were common, while some attendees even braved the summer heat shirtless. Cans of beer and guava margaritas in hand, the crowd floated between stages at the park, most of them drenched in sweat while diving into equally filthy beats.

One of the most influential music festivals in the world, Lollapalooza offers a strikingly different landscape from its Korean counterparts, not just in its massive scale, but in its overall vibes, genre diversity and sheer cultural breadth.

Held annually at Chicago's Grant Park, the four-day festival draws nearly 400,000 attendees and continues to serve as a global touchpoint for contemporary music. This year's edition, running from Thursday to Sunday (local time), showcases more than 170 acts across eight stages, spanning pop, hip-hop, rock, EDM and more.

Originally launched in 1991 by Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell as a farewell tour, Lollapalooza began as a traveling showcase of alternative, punk, hip-hop and indie artists across the U.S.

Though it ended in 1997 due to waning direction, it returned in 2005 with a new model: a fixed-location festival in the heart of Chicago. The move marked a turning point, fueling its transformation into an international franchise, with editions based in South America and Europe since 2011.

Attendees at this year's Lollapalooza Chicago enter Grant Park, where the music festival is held annually in the summer. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min

Set against the skyline of Chicago, festivalgoers closer to the stages snapped away on their phones, eager to capture the high of the event. Arms rose and cheers erupted as beats dropped, individual identities melting into a collective pulse.

When asked what brought them to Lollapalooza, their answers shared a common thread: a love for music.

"I don't even have a favorite artist here," said Hannah, who flew in from California. "I just came for the vibe and the music. It's my first time in Chicago and it's already insanely hot. But I'm excited to see Tyler, the Creator and Luke Combs later tonight."

Chris, another first-timer from Florida, shared a similar take. "Summer's all about loud music and partying. My friends and I came here for just that."

And that passion wasn't just audible, it was also profitable.

Branded pop-ups lined the festival grounds, with official Lollapalooza merchandise on full display: lineup tees, posters, hoodies, accessories and more. The Ulta Beauty booth and Essence cosmetics experience were among the busiest on site, drawing long lines despite the sweltering heat.

Xdinary Heroes perform during Lollapalooza Chicago at Grant Park, Thursday. Courtesy of Lollapalooza and Taylor Regulski

Extraordinary K-pop

Still, no heat could dim the energy radiating from the crowd, or from the lineup.

Among Thursday's marquee names were Tyler, the Creator, Dom Dolla, Luke Combs, and in a standout moment for Korean music, Xdinary Heroes, the rock band under JYP Entertainment, representing K-pop in its most band-oriented form.

Performing in one of the festival's coveted nighttime slots, Xdinary Heroes stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names on the bill.

The six-member band captivated its U.S. audience Thursday night, many of whom had likely never seen a K-rock act perform live. The band commanded the stage with razor-sharp live instrumentation, powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence drawing audible gasps and cheers.

In an interview with The Korea Times just hours before their set, the band's confidence was evident. Greeting the only Korean media outlet present at the festival, the members were both grounded and focused as they discussed their upcoming performance.

"There's a long-standing band scene here in the U.S.," said Jooyeon, the group's bassist. "That culture and sound have been popular for a long time. So we think there's already a built-in audience for the kind of music we do. If we show them what we're capable of, we believe the crowd here will resonate with us."

Fans hold Xdinary Heroes' light sticks during the Korean rock band's stage during Lollapalooza Chicago at Grant Park, Thursday. Courtesy of Lollapalooza and Taylor Regulski

The band arrived in the Windy City just two days before the festival and spent their downtime exploring the city. Jun Han said he even stopped by a renowned local guitar store to pick up a new instrument.

The band described the city as "warm, surprisingly not too windy nor humid" — a welcome contrast to summer in Seoul. Gunil, the group's drummer and leader, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they received.

"We're so thankful to everyone who came out to see us, especially those who came all this way ... To know that people on the other side of the world love our band enough to come to our shows is just incredible. We always want to meet our fans, and opportunities like this make that possible," he said.

"We'll keep working hard to support our Villains, wherever they are," he added, referring to the band's fandom name.

While the performance was a career highlight for Xdinary Heroes, it's far from the end of the road. Asked about future plans, the band exchanged smiles before dropping a few teasers.

"We're making music," Gunil said with a grin. "We've got something exciting coming. It's been a lot of fun to work on."

Gaon added, "I think the second half of the year is going to be wild. Fans are going to be jumping around, having the time of their lives."

A crowd gathers in front of the T-Mobile stage, one of the main stages of this year's Lollapalooza Chicago, in Grant Park, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min