Established in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza has been a major promoter of alternative music and culture, with a particular emphasis on grunge music in its early years.  The iconic festival, which features over 100 bands in just three days, now takes place each summer in Chicago’s Grant Park. Popular performers like Green Day and Lady Gaga have been known to take the Lollapalooza stages, as have indie-bands-gone-mainstream such as Arcade Fire and The Strokes, but the lifeblood of the festival are emerging artists and cult favorites. Rock – in its many, many varieties – is the preference here, but hip-hop, R&B/soul, world music, and even country acts all turn up at Lollapalooza.

Attendees get the opportunity to actually meet the artists in person at the autograph tent, and special late-night aftershows showcase some of the bands in cool Chicago venues like House of Blues and Reggie’s. When they’re not headbanging in the mosh pit, festival-goers can grab reasonably-priced chow (there is even a farmers market!) on the festival grounds or shop the art market on Green Street. And the refillable water stations make it easier to bear the (inevitable) hot Chicago weather.