Last week, The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Lollapalooza could be expanding the festival to two separate festivals, one in it’s current home of Chicago and one in Philadelphia.

A C3 spokeswoman could not say what the new concert would be called, but promoters told Philadelphia officials that it would follow the models of Lollapalooza and include many of the same acts. C3 has some competition in Philadelphia, however: A long-running local promoter — Electric Factory Concerts, which is now owned by the national giant Live Nation — is looking to celebrate its 40th anniversary next summer with a big concert of its own at the same site.

CoS’ reported on this story over two weeks ago and at the time, it was believed that the Philadelphia festival would be it’s own separate festival. In other words, C3, which currently operates both Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, would organize a third festival and it would not be considered a second three-day Lollapalooza.

Lollapalloza founder Perry Farrell has made comments over the last few months regarding the possible expansion of the festival to Europe, but never specifically mentioned a second U.S. date. However, the Sun-Times did include the following quote in their article:

The scariest predicament we face in music is that commercialization has killed off the underground scene,” Farrell said. “It used to be at Lollapalooza that the audience was full of 20,000 freaks and miscreants and outcasts. But now people look like they walked out of the Gap.”

Though we’re not sure of it’s validity as of yet, a poster on Lollapalooza’s message board claiming to be Farrell posted an interesting comment yesterday. Based on the comments, it certainly seems plausible the message is indeed from the festival’s originator.

Here’s the truth to allegations that were printed in the Chicago Sun Times:
I have not given consent for Lollapalooza to take place anywhere else other
Chicago. I consider very carefully where Lolla will appear, and what my brand
represents. Our event has evolved to the highest quality of festival experience.
I have not thrown the name out there trying to maximize immediate dollar returns.
I have kept the music community together for 17 years. I surely don’t approach our
community with anything other than nurturing. Lollapalooza is one of
the few solid institutions still remaining in music today. And it is
a community I am in love with. I would never pick on my patrons or the musicians. I look
for ways each year to bring us all back together. Last year we
created a carbon neutral festival.
It was because we cared for our patrons and the city of Chicago that we took the time and spent the money to make it happen.
This year will again have a fresh feeling; as the artists who are being selected to headline are contentious and inventive. The headline will
read “Your way might be your way but make way for the new way.” I trust
that you will be there again with me.
Dress cool (Global warming out there!)
Perry Farrell

We’ll keep you updated as everything unfolds. This is certainly becoming interesting.

Categories: News
Tags: Lollapalooza