There’s no doubt about it, Lollapalooza – taking place in Grant Park in Chicago July 31 – Aug. 3 – is a good time. Fans dance and sing along with their favorite artists making new memories, and new friends, every step of the way. There’s also something so awe-inspiring and uplifting about watching someone share their talent while living their dream.
When Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae stepped onto the Lakeshore Stage – which looked spectacular with a dramatic, blue-lit staircase – at 3:40 p.m. it was clear she had arrived. Dressed in a striking red dress, Lenae proceeded to dazzle fans with her flawless vocals and inspire with her talent and tenacity.
“I’m Ravyn and it feels so good to be home,” she said early in the set. “I’ve dreamt of playing this fest for a very long time. I came here as a teenager, so it feels surreal being on the stage and being here with all of you. Thank you for your presence today. You could be anywhere else in the world. You could be anywhere else in this fest, and you chose to be right here with me, so we’re gonna make it special. All right, I would love to sing my favorite song for y’all is that cool?”
Fans cheered as she proceeded to sing “Days,” which featured some smooth guitar licks and gentle rhythms from her talented backing band. “Dream Girl” soon followed and Lenae ventured off the stage and into the pit for “Skin Tight” taking time to serenade and share a special moment with every fan on the rail.
Another memorable portion of the show came when Lenae performed her viral hit “Love Me Not” and shared her gratitude with the crowd.
“I want to talk about ‘Love Me Not’ and how important this moment is for me. Those of you who’ve been following my journey know that this was not an overnight thing. I know a lot of y’all have been here from the beginning. So, thank you so much for your support. It means so very much to me. Please know that,” she said. “And I also want to say to anybody who’s dreaming about something, working towards something for one year, five years, or even 10 years, like me, I want you to understand what’s possible and wake up every single day with that dream in your heart knowing that it can come true. Okay, for real. There were moments where I doubted, where I got in my head, where I thought nobody wanted to hear from me, nobody cared. But then I had to tell myself, ‘I care, I love it. I’m important, and I mean something.’ So I just wanted to say thank you for your support. And I don’t know, I’m just so proud of myself.”
She somehow elevated the vibes even higher at that point by singing “One Wish.” “Satellites,” “Goodbye 2 You,” and “Love Is Blind” were also standouts of her Lollapalooza set.
Click here to pick-up tickets to see Ravyn Lenae perform elsewhere later in the year – including a Sept. 25 show at the Allstate Arena supporting Renee Rapp – and head over to Lollapalooza.com for more information about the fest.
