K-Pop is having a moment at Lollapalooza. The 2025 edition of the festival, which took place in Chicago on July 31 – Aug. 3, found Xdinary Heroes, BoyNextDoor, the K-Pop adjacent Katseye, and more performing across Grant Park.
There was a lot of excitement swirling around all these artists, but no one created the amount of buzz as Twice. Before the dance-pop girl-group – comprised of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu – performed a headlining set on the Bud Light Stage on Saturday night, fans shared the many reasons that they flew in from all over the world to watch Twice make their Lollapalooza debut.
Lia and Nat both flew in from Texas to witness their second Twice concert experience.
“I really like Twice,” said Lia. “They’re one of the first girl groups I heard of, and I’ve always loved their dancing and singing and performing. And seeing them for another time would be really fun for me. So I’m really excited.”
“They’re one of the best groups. Because not only is their energy so amazing, but they click and their fans all love them as well. So the energy is insane,” said Nat, before Lia added, “I feel like listening to their songs. It feels like floating in clouds and there’s cotton candy and just party animal balloons, like fun stuff everywhere. And they have a very girly, feminine vibe that they bring everywhere. It’s a very fun space that they bring.”
Los Angeles resident Charlotte couldn’t wait to see Twice for the very first time.
“I’ve always loved twice,” said Charlotte. “They’re such hard working girls. I wasn’t able to see them on tour since I’m away, and I really want to take this chance to see them now. Ever since I was a kid, I just love them. They’re so hard working. They’re so inspiring. And, I just really love them.”
Sarah, from Florida, claimed a spot in the front of the Bud Light Stage in the early-afternoon to be ready for Twice’s headlining set at 8:30 p.m.
“I just love their energy when they’re performing. I’ve never seen them in concert before, so I was really excited when Lollapalooza dropped the lineup. I was like, ‘Oh, I have to go. I have to see Twice,’” said Sarah. “I went last year to this festival, and the energy was just amazing. So I wanted to see how they would perform in this kind of environment.”
Braydon, also from Florida, was hoping the group would have “Twice Song” in the setlist.
“It’s unmatched, their energy, and just how they are in K-Pop in general. Nobody has ever come close to it. And I have to be here for their festival debut,” said Braydon.
A little bit further back in the field in front of the Bud Light Stage, Texas residents Andrew, Nikki, Dylan, and Jumi explained that not only is Twice an incredible group of singers and dancers, but they also take the fan experience to the next level by inspiring participation in the form of fan chants.
“So, fan chants are basically just like something they do in between the lyrics, or in between songs or something like that. For example, I just learned the one where they say the names of all the members, from oldest to youngest,” explained Dylan. “I think that’s really cool. The fans just start doing that. A lot of American artists don’t do that.”
Jumi added, “With the fan chants, I think it’s usually on beat with the music that they do or whatever part of the song they’re in. So, I think it’s very interactive and you get to be a part of the song, you know, part of the experience.”
The fans are united. When it comes to a fun-filled, interactive, exciting experience, it doesn’t get much better than seeing Twice perform live at Lollapalooza.
More information about Lollapalooza can be found at Lollapalooza.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)