Lollapalooza’s opening days were hit by weather-related chaos as Lorde stopped her performance to get help for concertgoers who reportedly passed out in the intense Chicago heat. The crowd-safety scare unfolded during Thursday night’s kickoff, with the singer pausing her headlining set after noticing people struggling in the audience.
The disruption was followed by confusion surrounding Lil Uzi Vert’s Friday appearance. Festival organizers initially announced that the rapper would not perform because of weather issues, only to reverse course hours later with a surprise update.
Lorde, whose full name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, was performing before a packed crowd when multiple attendees reportedly lost consciousness because of the extreme heat, according to Rolling Stone. The 29-year-old singer paused the music and directed security toward people who appeared to need assistance. “You look hot from up here,” the outlet reported that Lorde told the crowd at one point.
The interruption allowed festival workers and security personnel to reach those affected before the performance continued. Further information about the concertgoers’ conditions was not included in the report.
Lorde later admitted that she was also feeling the effects of the temperature while performing.
Singer Admits She Felt ‘Dizzy In The Heat’
Lorde reflected on the demanding performance in an Instagram post shared with her 11 million followers Friday. The Grammy winner uploaded several photographs showing the festival grounds following her set. She was pictured standing onstage covered in colorful paint, while a distant sign instructed attendees to “Stay safe Lolla.” “Last night felt crazy, very out of body, doubting myself a bit, period due, dizzy in the heat,” Lorde began her caption.
She also revealed that she had been battling her own physical discomfort while attempting to deliver the performance. The singer also addressed the internal pressure she experiences after taking the stage. “I am brutally hard on myself sometimes and almost never feel like I did good enough,” she told her followers.
Despite those doubts, Lorde described feeling a powerful connection with the audience during the emotionally and physically demanding show.
Lorde Felt ‘Connection And Love’ From The Crowd
Although the night included alarming moments, Lorde emphasized that her overall experience remained deeply meaningful. “I felt the crowd last night as a heaving organism of connection and love,” she wrote. “I felt for the millionth time in my life that my work has taken me to the right place and I’m right where I need to be, always growing and being taught.”
Her reflection extended beyond her own performance to the workers responsible for transforming and cleaning the festival grounds after thousands of people departed. “At midnight I went back onto the stage with Jimmy, just stood there for a while and watched tomorrow’s crew ripping off our spikes and the pit crew cleaning up bottles and felt nature at work,” Lorde said.
“Nothing ever the one thing, all part of the constellation, felt everything that holds me as I do this work, the many many people who help me get it done, you, the land we perform on, the language and the music that have moved through me since I was a child,” the singer added before closing the emotional message by adding, “The moon was full. I love you very much.”
Lil Uzi Vert’s Performance Appeared To Be Canceled
The weather continued disrupting Lollapalooza’s schedule on Friday, when organizers announced that Lil Uzi Vert would no longer be appearing. The 31-year-old Philadelphia rapper was initially removed from the lineup “due to weather issues.”
Only hours after indicating that Lil Uzi Vert would not appear, Lollapalooza announced that the rapper would take the stage after all. Organizers did not elaborate on what changed between the initial weather-related cancellation and the later announcement that Uzi would join Major Lazer.
Festival organizers also informed attendees that Zara Larsson’s hourlong set had been moved to a different time.
Festival Warns Attendees About Continuing Rain
The extreme heat affecting Lorde’s Thursday performance gave way to intermittent rain as the weekend continued.
Lollapalooza advised attendees that organizers were monitoring the changing weather conditions and would provide additional information if necessary.
