This was Lollapalooza Berlin 2019
Life is said to be what happens while you wait. While you wait for the weekend to come, a trip, a party or in this case Lollapalooza festival. A whole year of waiting, and in the blink of an eye, you find yourself waiting again.
I write this while it rains heavily in Berlin, it seems that one more year, not only we said goodbye last night to Lollapalooza but also to Summer. Tough day today. After a weekend full of music, art, adventure and plenty of fun it is difficult to return to the routine, whatever it is. Surely this is a feeling that we share today the 85,000 people who have visited both Saturday and Sunday Lollapalooza Berlin on the impressive grounds of the Olympic Stadium and its adjacent Olympic Park.
Lollapalooza is a festival for everyone. Perhaps that is the best way to define it. With a broad music offer, children, adolescents and adults have a place here and those who never goes to festivals, will surely feel like true festival goers for a day or two.
On this edition Lolla celebrated 5 years and after 4 editions and 4 different locations, this was the first time that the festival finally repeated venue. Everything is easy and well organized at Lolla. Through all these years, the festival has proved an enormous capacity for organizing and managing problems and they indeed learnt from last year mistakes regarding the stadium access policy and its program but perhaps from this edition I expected a little bit more, another step forward. Something new that surprised me and not only I didn't find it, but also as an example, I missed this time the artistic proposal.
But what about the music? Well I enjoyed Kraftklub very much! Although it is a pity that the German language is a barrier that undoubtedly limits the scalability for bands like this because many people are missing great live shows. Although performing at international festivals like Lolla sure helps them to reach new audiences. Simply epic the crowd surfing race from band members coming back to the main stage after performing on a small movable stage through the crowd!
Felix Kummer from Kraftklub at Lollapalooza. Photo by Philipp Gladsome
But one day before that, Billie Eilish had finally taken the main stage . The American artist born shortly after the attacks of the 9/11 connects with the teenagers as no one has ever done it before and she seems to be giving voice to the fears and emotional traumas of a generation marked by the use of social networks. A generation in complete disconnection with the adults and their concept and understanding of the world.
Hidden under her carefully selected outfit that is breaking all the stereotypes of the fashion industry, Billie took the stage and found an audience bound to her feet. I personally do not understand how someone (especially being so young) can withstand such spectacular growth in such a short time. If we see it under those terms, Billie ́s concert probably did not disappoint although I would love to see her in a more intimate venue.
Billie Eilish at Lollapalooza. Photo by Kimberley Ross
On Saturday night Twenty Øne Piløts also performed on the main stage and they starred the touching moment of the day, when frontman Tyler Joseph revealed that he is about to be a father before kissing her wife ́s belly on stage. You can see the moment here.
Two intense days in a very special location with shows by Swedish House Mafia, Kings Of Leon, Martin Garrix, Marteria & Casper but also Rex Orange County, Dean Lewis, Olli Schulz (with two shows, including one at the Kidzpalooza stage!) and a large etcetera that has made worthy once more the Lolla experience. And before finishing, last but not least, great last concert from Parcels. I'm gonna miss them around but I also look forward to see how they take the next step coming back with new material.
So while we wait for 2020, far from falling apart, let's fill every day with music and make the waiting time worthwhile. See you next year Lolla!
Be sure to check out below some of the people I came across during the festival.
Cover photograph by Woody Woodsn for Lollapalooza Berlin
