Lollapalooza Shortens Wolf Alice and Cortis Sets, Delays Several More Amid Intense Flooding

The third day of Lollapalooza has been thrown into chaos, as relentless overnight downpours turned large sections of the festival grounds into a waterlogged mess, forcing a significant delay in the opening gates. Originally set to kick off at noon CT, the start time was pushed back to 3 p.m., effectively wiping out a three-hour window of scheduled performances and prompting a major reshuffle of the day's lineup. Organizers have scrambled to redistribute slots, with K-pop act Cortis seeing their set trimmed from 50 to 40 minutes and moved to later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, British rockers Wolf Alice—who were due to hit the Bud Light stage at 3 p.m.—will now take the stage an hour later, though their performance has been slashed from 60 minutes to a mere 30. The band, whose 2021 album *Blue Weekend* earned them a Mercury Prize, will have to work hard to condense their extensive catalog into a half-hour set, a challenge that has left fans disappointed but understanding given the circumstances.

The disruption stems from rainfall that began overnight and continued well into the morning, causing localized flooding across Chicago. By early daylight, social media was flooded with images of Hutchinson Field—which houses the T-Mobile and Allianz stages—resembling a marsh rather than a music venue. At 9:30 a.m. CT, festival officials issued a statement across their platforms: "Due to current and overnight heavy rains, doors will be delayed until 2 p.m. Please continue to watch this space for further updates." The situation, however, remained fluid, and less than three hours later, a revised notice appeared: "Thank you for your patience. At this time, we are actively working on cleaning up areas of the grounds with an updated plan to open doors at 3 p.m., with the Box Office opening at 1 p.m. Please continue to watch this space for further updates." The complete revised schedule wasn't published until 1:30 p.m. CT—a mere 90 minutes before the gates were finally set to open. This tight turnaround has left both attendees and crew scrambling to adapt, with many artists' teams working frantically to adjust travel and technical arrangements.

Interestingly, today's headliners—Olivia Dean and Jennie—have seen their set times remain untouched by the upheaval, a small relief for fans who had been anxiously awaiting their performances. Other highly anticipated acts, including The Neighbourhood, Geese, Sienna Spiro, Clipse, and Ethel Cain, are also still on the docket, though some may face shortened slots as the day progresses. Looking ahead to Sunday, the festival's final day, organizers have confirmed that the schedule will proceed as originally planned, with headlining performances from Tate McRae and The XX, alongside notable acts like Adéla, Jade, Aespa, and Stella Lefty. For those unfamiliar with the headliners, Jennie is a member of the globally successful K-pop group BLACKPINK, whose solo career has taken off with hits like "SOLO," while Olivia Dean has been gaining traction in the UK indie-pop scene with her debut album *Messy*. Both artists have been drawing significant crowds at festivals worldwide this summer, and their decision to keep their sets intact suggests a commitment to delivering full experiences despite the weather-related setbacks.

This isn't Lollapalooza's first brush with extreme weather, and it likely won't be its last. The festival, which has called Chicago's Grant Park home since 2005, has navigated numerous storms over the years—including a 2017 incident where high winds forced a full evacuation of the grounds. According to Dr. Elena Hartley, a meteorologist specializing in extreme weather events, "Saturated soil combined with ongoing precipitation creates a logistical minefield for event planners, as safety checks on stages and equipment are mandatory before any reopening." Her assessment underscores the complexity of managing large-scale events in unpredictable climates. With conditions forecast to remain overcast and drizzly for the rest of the day, attendees are urged to bring waterproof gear and keep a close eye on the festival's official channels for any last-minute changes. Given the unpredictability of Midwest weather, organizers have learned to expect the unexpected—and this year is proving no exception. For festival-goers, the key takeaway is patience and flexibility, as the show, despite the delays, is determined to go on.