USA Travel Guide

It’s the greatest music festival of all time, and you still don’t have tickets? What are you waiting for? The show is only a month and a week away, and there are still 3-day and single-day passes available, but you want to act soon on this. We’ve got the hotels, but it’s up to you to get out there.

Revamped in 2005 after a six-year hiatus, an only moderately successful run in 2003 and yet another cancelled tour in 2004, Perry Farrell’s Lollapalooza is finally back and going strong, having eschewed all the image-conscious drivel that ultimately killed the first run and now just focusing on what’s really important: the music. The show is bigger than ever: 70 acts, 8 stages, 3 days, and as eclectic a lineup as ever before.

Obviously there’s just too many to list, so you’ll want to check the schedule, but if I had to yank out a few favorites: Tool, Rise Against, Coheed and Cambria (so good live!), Los Campesinos!, Ida Maria, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers (though Day and Age was a big step backwards), TV on the Radio and, of course, Jane’s Addiction. (Seriously, Perry, happy you’re back, but where’s the album?)

Unfortunately, one thing they haven’t learned after years of struggle is that one of the biggest problems with late-90’s Lollapalooza is the high ticket prices. The only 3-day option still available will set you back $205, or you can buy single-day tickets for $80. All three days are still available. At least with 70 acts taking the stages, you can’t they aren’t offering a lot of choice for your money (and there’s no “convenience fee”, which was created so that the venue could “conveniently” place an extra two bucks in its pocket).

Lollapalooza 2009 will be held August 7-9, 2009 in Grant Park, Chicago. Learn more.

Two hotels near Grant Park for you:

The Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel offers a quick trip down to the park at surprisingly approachable prices, given the Michigan Avenue address. Brand rep and business-minded atmosphere keep your rates down, and they offer free high-speed Internet, so you can get back to the room and blog about the shows each day.

The Silversmith Chicago Hotel is located on the edge of Grant Park for an easy walk to the venue and offers an elevated stay for not too much more money. After 8-12 hours in the potentially hot sun (temperatures have topped one hundred in the past), it’s nice to return somewhere inviting for a night’s rest.

Have a great time a Lollapalooza 2009.

(As long as we’re talking music, has anybody checked out the news The Mars Volta album? Seriously, with a band this good, it’s a wonder why anybody else even tries.)