On January 27th and 28th Mumbai witnessed Lollapalooza, one of the world’s greatest music festivals. Hosted at the Mahalaxmi racing course in Mumbai, the event was described as ‘Bigger and Better’ than its first edition. In the festival’s second edition, lollapalooza India offers a vibrant assortment featuring 40 international artists including Sting, The Rose, the Jonas Brothers, Halsey, Lauv, and One Republic.
Audiences from around the globe come together to cheer on their favorite musicians while enjoying concerts under the Mumbai sky. The first edition entailed performers such as Jackson Wang and Imagine Dragons while the second edition came up with unforgettable performances with artists such as The Rose, Sting, Jonas Brothers, OneRepublic, and many more, making it an exquisite event.
The Jonas Brothers highlighted the music festival on Day 1 with their debut performance in India, while Sting performed on Day 2. Lauv, Halsey, and One Republic were among the other international artists who performed over two days. Lollapalooza 2024 also witnessed the appearance of Korean-American vocalist Eric Nam and the Korean-indie rock group The Rose.
The Indian artists included When Chai Meets Toast, The Raghu Dixit Project, Jatayu, Skrat, Kamakshi Khanna, and JBABE. Fatounamata Diawara and Anouska Shankar showcased global music.
On Day 1, ‘The Raghu Dixit Project’ and ‘When Chai Met Toast’ setup the tone for the day, followed by Lauv taking the spotlight. Lauv enchanted the crowd with his delightful melodies, including one of his most popular songs, “I Like Me Better,” which was a smash as fans grooved with the singer.
This was promptly followed by Halsey, who performed an incredible performance and was a visual delight for fans. The 29-year-old singer also expressed her regret for traveling to India after almost a decade in her professional life and expressed her desire to visit again.
After Halsey’s powerful performance, the Jonas Brothers performed a mini-concert. A collaboration with King was a wonderful surprise. The Jonas Brothers are performing for the first time in India, and as Nick stated, “The sangeet does not count.”
The first day was full of enthusiasm but that subsequent day was exquisite as well. South Korean pop-rock band ‘The Rose’ who lit up the stage with an explosive performance of their songs. The four-member group embodying Kim Woosung, Park Dojoon, Lee Hajoon, and Lee Jae-Hyeong made their first visit to Mumbai as part of their ‘Dusk to Dawn’ tour. Even though it was an afternoon performance, the group managed to elicit a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd. They began with ‘Eclipse’, sang their debut song ‘Sorry’ accompanied by ‘Red’, and finished with ‘Wonder’. The band members’ unity, enthusiasm, and affection for their fans were rewarded with numerous fan chants, flowers, and other gifts. The atmosphere was definitely noticeable.
The South Korean indie boyband was taken over by American-Korean vocalist Eric Nam, who dominated with his elegant dancing skills, powerful vocals, and humour. He made an effort to captivate and motivate the audience, and despite this being his first time on stage in India, he managed to make it familiar. He sang ‘Only for a Moment’, ‘Wildflower’, and ‘I Don’t love you anymore.
Eric Nam and The Rose were the major highlights of Lollapalooza 2024.
Contemporary dance music duos such as Jungle, Radical, and unconventional rapper JPEGMAFIA along with Italian electronic dance music performer Meduza, French House DJ, Malaa set up a marvellous night for the audience.
Later that night, the American pop-rock band ‘One Republic’ made a comeback in India with an incredible performance. Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle, Eddie Fisher, and Brian Willett, the six-member boy band, ensured that everyone was enthralled with their songs. Ryan captivated the audience and got everyone involved. Their most loved song, ‘Counting Stars’ was absolutely on the playlist, and it was an unforgettable night. Some of their greatest works that they performed at Lollapalooza night included ‘I Ain’t Worried’, ‘You Were Loved’, ‘Someday’, and ‘Good Life’.
And the final blast happened when ‘The Sting’ showed up to the stage in India after nearly three decades to deliver a historic performance. Everything from ‘Desert Rose to SOS’ was exceptional. The crowd was grooving to one of his most popular songs, Every Breath You Take’.
The second edition of Lollapalooza 2024 was clearly Bigger and Better.
