Better late than never…
One of the great things about going to a multi-genre music festival like Lollapalooza, an annual four-day music festival in Chicago, is the number of new artists you have the opportunity to be exposed to… artists and genres you’d wouldn’t normally listen to or even seek out.
Living in Chicago for the past 15 years, I’ve only actually gone a couple of times, but it’s an absolutely massive festival that brings in music fans from all over (I got a 10-month old at home so didn’t make it out this year… she keeps me pretty busy lately).
This year features headlining performances from Metallica, Dua Lipa, J. Cole & Green Day, quite the mixed bag with a little something for everybody (it’s usually pretty light on the country music unfortunately).
The lineup also featured Doja Cat, Kygo, Machine Gun Kelly, Kid Laroi, Jazmine Sullivan, Glass Animals, Zach Bryan and bluegrass sensation… the great Billy Strings.
And let’s be honest, unless you tuned into the Grammys earlier this year (and actually paid attention), or you’re a bluegrass/country music fan (or maybe even a jam band fan), you’re probably not too familiar with Billy.
Well, folks who went to Lolla sure as hell know the name Billy Strings now… the man was dropping jaws in Grant Park.
Performing Thursday evening on the T-Mobile Stage, Billy had Twitter BUZZING with a number of comments that echoed a very similar sentiment. It went a little something like this:
“I never heard of Billy Strings before, but DAMN.”
One quick scroll through Twitter and you’ll find a TON of new fans:
Anyone watching Lollapalooza right now? Billy Strings? Never heard of them but wow are they amazing. Just fyi.
— JO (@jopalk) July 29, 2022
I’m watching @lollapalooza on @hulu and @BillyStrings is FANTASTIC!! I haven’t heard a quality bluegrass group in a LONG time!
— Hope Esseltine (@EsseltineHope) July 28, 2022
Watching Hulu coverage of lollapalooza. I’m really liking this billy strings #Lollapalooza
— David Falk (@Dfalk19) July 29, 2022
Just found the live stream of @lollapalooza on @hulu… Started with @BillyStrings . Damn good find and great set so far.
— Demo (@_Src_demo) July 28, 2022
That @BillyStrings set just now at #Lollapalooza was 🔥🔥 Add another band to the list I need to see.
— Paul (@GaVaHokie) July 29, 2022
@BillyStrings I’m a fan now. Thank you for that incredible set @lollapalooza #billystrings #lolla #newfan pic.twitter.com/srtV0129tm
— Anjunaqueen 👑 (@imjennifrnicole) July 29, 2022
And the folks who already know were loving the opportunity to welcome new fans into the fold:
Seeing all these people tweet about discovering Billy Strings at Lollapalooza tonight makes me so damn happy. Dude deserves to be a superstar.
— Derek Folts (@True_Or_Folts) July 29, 2022
I see Billy Strings had a bit of a coming out party at Lollapalooza last night. The kid is an amazing guitar player. Glad the world is finding out. #BillyStrings
— Wait, What?!?! (@burkhartlaw97) July 29, 2022
Billy Strings winning over the Metallica crowd at lollapalooza is so fun to watch
— ddiiggss (@ddiiggss) July 30, 2022
Loving all these tweets from people who just discovered Billy Strings from lollapalooza. Your eyes have been opened
— q (@oon_quincy) July 30, 2022
HUGE congrats to Billy… sounds like he kicked Lolla’s ass (and now I’m regretting I missed it).
But the good news, you can watch it all right here:
