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Lollapalooza 2020 Lineup Predictions & Rumors

We’re baaaaaaaack.

Every time I share one of these posts, they end up being one of my most read of the entire year. I’m excited to get back to these speculations even though it’ll be TBD if I am attending next year’s festival all weekend long. After this year, I’m convinced I won’t ever do 4 days again. We’ll see.

This is very lax, I just like throwing out predictions and reading up on rumors. Per usual, I take a lot of insight from the Lollapalooza thread every year. You can check that out here.

Updated on 1/3 after the Coachella lineup dropped.
Updated on 1/7 after the Bonnaroo lineup dropped.
Updated on 1/16.
Updated on 1/22.
Updated on 1/23.
Updated on 1/24.
Updated on 1/30.
Updated on 2/10.
Updated on 2/12 (made edits to the general lineup, omitted artists who have announced other Chicago dates/festivals over the same weekend).
Updated on 2/27 (general lineup and headliner edits)

UPDATED on MAY 5 – LOLLAPALOOZA HAS NOT BEEN CANCELLED YET, BUT I DON’T SEE A WORLD WHERE IT DOES NOT GET CANCELLED. I HAVEN’T BOTHERED UPDATING THIS WITH ANY INSIGHTS SINCE FEBURARY BECAUSE OF CORONA VIRUS. STAY SAFE EVERYONE AND FINGERS CROSSED FOR 2021!

Headliners

Here’s what I’m thinking as of 1/30 are basically locks (IMO) – no particular order:

Billie Eilish / Pearl Jam / Rage Against The Machine / The 1975 / Illenium / Lana Del Rey

2/10 – Rage Against The Machine is playing United Center in May, announced today. I guess there’s a rumor that Foo Fighters are on the lineup, so I’m adding them now. 

2/27 – Guys, I just have an inkling about Taylor Swift’s name getting into this lineup. I can’t imagine if she’s on the lineup that we have her, Billie, Lana AND Lizzo. Per Billie’s tour schedule, she’s in Europe on July 30. Lolla starts on July 30. It’s possible but I don’t think she’s going to swing it. Taylor playing two nights in Boston on Fri & Sat. is easy enough for her to fly to Chicago on Sunday and close out the festival.

Another option:

Taylor Swift / Foo Fighters / Pearl Jam OR a rapper? _______ / Lizzo 
The 1975 / Lana Del Rey / Illennium / _____________

Names in bold: I’m pretty certain they have a high chance of showing up. Others are just names in play.

The 1975 – They just announced more tour dates with support from Phoebe Bridgers and Beadadoobee: Chicago is absent.
Last performed: 2016

Billie Eilish – she’s headliner status at this point. Her Chicago show at the United Center is in March. She can easily come back for August.
Last performed: 2018

Coldplay – new album came out in November.
Last performed: 2011

Disclosure –
Last performed: 2016

Illenium – Had a big 2019, is on a couple other festivals. I’m not really in touch with the EDM scene but I know that he’s probably going to be a headliner based on other rumors and lineups for this year.

Kanye West – we basically throw this out every year. Though it never sticks, his name is always thrown around.
Last performed: 2008

Lana Del Rey – could go to Pitchfork, though I think she’s above their pay grade since she’s headlined Lollapalooza before.
Last performed: 2016

Lorde – I CAN DREAM!
Last performed: Had a headlining set in 2017 and got rained out four songs in.

No Doubt – could be for Riot Rest.
Last performed: Never (I think).

Pearl Jam – touring this spring and summer with no Chicago date and has openings after the end of July.

Rage Against The Machine – explanation here.
Last performed: 2008

Stevie Nicks – Okay, this is a random one for sure, but she’s playing Bottlerock in Napa, and there are lots of sources claiming she’s performing at Governor’s Ball in June. This has been a dream of mine for a long time, so I would love for this to happen.
Last performed: Pretty sure she never has.

Taylor Swift – hear me out. She’s playing in Massachusetts Friday and Saturday before Lolla. Could it be she flies to Chicago to close out the festival? While I think it’s unrealistic, nothing’s impossible: especially after Ariana closed this year.
Last performed: Never

Subheadliners

Anderson .Paak
Last performed: Working on this but I’m not sure he’s ever performed.

BANKS
Last performed: 2017

Brittany Howard
Last performed: 2015 (with Alabama Shakes)

BROCKHAMPTON
Last performed: 2018

Cage The Elephant
Last performed: 2017

Dua Lipa – album out in April. No current N.A. tour dates in play (as of 1/30).
Last performed: 2018

HAIM:
Last performed: 2016

Halsey
Last performed: 2016
Halsey’s touring this spring and summer and announced a show in Tinley Park for end of June

Lizzo – Based on her headlining status at Bonnaroo, it’s possible that Lolla books her as one, too. I can see this going either way, but I would bank on her performing.
Last performed: 2018

Of Monsters & Men – Back from a hiatus (?) and are touring late spring into summer. No Chicago date on that tour. Got this info from Reddit.

Tyler The Creator
Last performed: 2018

SZA
Last performed: Never

Young The Giant
Last performed: 2014

General lineup

070 Shake

Angel Olsen – can easily end up at Pitchfork.
Last performed: Never

Anna Of The North
Last performed: Never

Ashe
Last performed: Never

beadadoobee – already predicted this but now I think it, even more, since she’s touring w/ The 1975.
Last performed: Never

Best Coast
Last performed: 2011

Bleachers
Last performed: 2014

Bombay Bicycle Club – OUT. Playing House of Blues in June and are in Europe playing a festival over Lolla weekend. 
Last performed: 2014

Caamp
Last performed: never

Caroline Polachek – OUT, PLAYING PITCHFORK 
Last performed: 2016 (with Chairlift)

Charly Bliss
Last performed: Never

Charli XCX
Last performed: 2017

Clairo
Last performed: 2018

Cyn
Last performed: Never

DaBaby
Last performed: Never

DIIV
Last performed: 2013

Doja Cat – Playing Chicago in March but that doesn’t mean she can’t come back.
Last performed: Never

Dominic Fike
Last performed: Never

FKA Twigs
Last performed: 2015

Fletcher
Last performed: Never

flor
Last performed: 2018

girl in red
Last performed: Never

Grimes
Last performed: 2016

Joseph – OUT. Playing Ravinia in June (weird choice IMO). 
Last performed: 2017

Kim Petras
Last performed: Never

Lauren Sanderson

Lauv – New album out on March 6. Just announced a HUGE tour with no Chicago date and a gap from July 30 through August 4. We may as well LOCK HIM IN!
Last performed: 2018

Lil Tecca
Last performed: Never

Lewis Capaldi
Last performed: 2018

Local Natives – This one will be a toss-up since they’re playing with Foals at the Aragon in June.
Last performed: 2016

Lucy Dacus
Last performed: 2015

Maren Morris – explanation here
Last performed: Never

Megan Thee Stallion
Last performed: Never

Moon Taxi
Last performed: 2015

MUNA – had a good 2019, released their second album, lead singer is from Chicago.
Last performed: 2016

The Naked and Famous

Nilufer Yanya
Last performed: Never

Oh Wonder

Phoebe Bridgers – OUT, PLAYING PITCHFORK
Last performed: Never

Pinegrove
Last performed: 2016

PVRIS
Last performed: 2016

Rex Orange County
Last performed: 2018

Sofi Tukker
Last performed: 2017

Sports Boyfriend – she’s a Chicago artist and may not be on the rise enough to land on the bill this year, but anything’s possible.
Last performed: Never

Sudan Archives
Last performed: Never

Tones and I
Last performed: Never

Tove Lo
Last performed: 2017

Vagabon
Last performed: Never

VÉRITÉ
Last performed: 2015

Weyes Blood – I thought that Pitchfork would EASILY nab her, but she just released new tour dates and will be in the midwest during Lollapalooza weekend: Milwaukee on Aug. 1 and Columbus on the 4th.
Last performed: Never

Lolla 2016 Predictions
Lolla 2017 Predictions
Lolla 2018 Predictions
Lolla 2019 Predictions

Who’s excited?!

  • Kristin

2 comments on “Lollapalooza 2020 Lineup Predictions & Rumors

  1. One of the best ways to make it through the winter. Thank god this has returned.

  2. Any new updates coming soon?

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