Thumping bass grabs the heartbeats of all in attendance. A catchy melody lingers in one’s head all night, dancing through the air. It is a favorite song, sung by the genius who wrote it. He dances in front of the crowd as the rest of the music crew on stage jams out. A sweaty mass of tens of thousands of happy people packs the venue.
Chicago is famously a big stop on any artist’s tour across America. After New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville, artists and music lovers alike flock to Chicago for festivals and concerts. This summer, there is an exciting lineup of artists’ tours coming to Chicago. With Lollapalooza famously taking the cake summer after summer, this year, only Bruno Mars will be able to challenge it, and he is a well-deserved candidate.
In a recent poll, 142 Wildcat Chronicle followers were asked which concert they were more excited for. Lollapalooza took 56% of the vote with 80 respondents, and Bruno Mars received 44%, a mere difference of 18 responses. See how these reporters rank this summer’s lineup below.
#5 Ariana Grande
Grande kicks off the list with her “Eternal Sunshine” Tour at the beginning of August, marking her first major tour in six years. She last toured during the record-breaking “Sweetener World Tour,” which drew 1.3 million fans worldwide. The United Center will host the Chicago stop, with ticket prices reportedly ranging from about $1,000 to $2,300. As a three-time Grammy and Golden Globe winner, Grande remains one of pop’s most recognizable performers. Fans can expect to hear hits such as “We Can’t Be Friends” and “Into You,” making this one of the most anticipated concerts of the summer.
#4 Don Toliver
Don Toliver is known for his unique rap style and his work ethic, having been set aside as one of the greatest rappers in the current era. He truly deserves the title, seeing that his album is currently at around 166 million streams on Spotify, with the current most-streamed song being “Body,” followed by “ATM.” He will be displaying his talents in Chicago this summer on June 11 at the United Center on his “Octane” tour. Ticket prices for the show range from $96 to $890.
#3 A$AP
A$AP Rocky is a rapper who is celebrated for his experimental and psychedelic sound. He is also huge outside of the music world, especially within the fashion scene. Collaborations with designer brands like Dior and Gucci make him a major icon in the music industry. It hasn’t changed, and even with his eight-year break (his current album, “Don’t Be Dumb,” is his first since 2018’s “Testing”), he placed first on the Billboard Top 200 within the first week of its release. That success has only continued. This summer, he will be touring, arriving in Chicago on May 27, with ticket prices ranging from $120 per ticket to $682 for floor and VIP, which includes merch and other amenities.
#2 Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, bringing in a mix of rock, hip-hop, electronic, and indie artists. This event brings music lovers from all over the world. Lollapalooza offers an unforgettable experience to Chicago, with multiple food trucks and many parties all over the city. It is no different this year, as the festival is expected to draw in around 400,000 fans, with 170 artists. Tickets cost around $420-$450 for a four-day general admission pass during presale and can range up to $25,000 for a top-tier experience with VIP access to the show, front-row tickets and perks such as merch.
#1 Bruno Mars
Finally, the top concert of the year is Bruno Mars, beating out Lollapalooza. Here is why: Mars’ tunes are catchy and classic, with hits like “Die with a Smile” and “That’s What I Like.” He is one of the top artists in the country and has already won 16 Grammys for his efforts, according to Grammy.com. The concert will be held at Soldier Field for his “Romantic Tour” on May 16 and 17. Tickets range from $420 to almost $2000.