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Lollapalooza Berlin | Day Two
Olympiastadion & Olympiapark, Berlin
9th-10th September 2023
Lollapalooza Berlin reveals a couple of surprises on Day Two. LTW’s Svenja Block has all the details (read about Day One here).
There have been a few last minute festival line-up changes. Austrian musician Nikotin is one of the latest Lollapalooza Berlin additions and opening act on day two at the Alternative Stage. Not many personal details are known about the artist from Vienna, but the enigmatic 30 year old looks like a young Lou Reed. Nikotin’s debut single 1010 is out and the newcomer is hailed in the German speaking music press as the new Falco – the late great Falco, often controversial at the time, was always one step ahead with his brilliant musical creations.
The boys from Austria are clearly thrilled to be in Berlin at such short notice. Fresh, funky grooves fill the air., and it’s Nikotin’s unique, distinct Viennese dialect that makes listening to his voice and lyrical offerings especially appealing.
Right now, everyone feels like it’s even hotter than yesterday’s 32 degrees and every sensible person’s weekend mantra is to stay hydrated. A group of Koreans have set up camp in front of the Alternative Stage’s front barrier; rumour has it they will sit it out there until K-Pop idol B.I.’s headlining set at half past eight in the evening. We’ve yet to reach one o’clock in the afternoon. It’s going to be a long day and security will be kept busy supplying the determined fans with water…
Danish indie-pop singer/songwriter Eee Gee also performs from the Alternative Stage. Her pretty, floral dress matches her sound – dreamy, catchy indie-pop that makes you want to chill out with a cocktail.
In the meantime, the festival atmosphere near the Main Stage North is buzzing because English indie-rockers Only The Poets are playing a fantastic, sharp live set. Lead singer Tommy Longhurst is one hell of a brilliant frontman. The whole band deliver terrific, sonic, feel-good late summer vibes under the deep blue Berlin sky and there are joyful, satisfied faces all around, loyal fans holding up cardboard signs or wear the band’s t-shirts. A few lucky front row supporters scream with delight when Tommy Longhurst acknowledges them.
Back again at the Main Stage South we’re entertained with alternative, R&B three-piece Chase Atlantic from Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Many families and festival goers are watching the live action from the comfort of their own blankets spread across the Maifeld area. Some are enjoying a meal from the many available food trucks, and several girls proudly show off their free, professionally applied facial festival makeovers. This is, of course courtesy of the talented, on site make-up artists in fancy costumes, who have set up their work station in the Olympiapark.
Award winning Austrian psychedelic, art-rockers Bilderbuch are one of the acoustic and visual highlights of Sunday’s Lollapalooza. Outspoken frontman Maurice Ernst’s larger than life on-stage personality matches his standard loud outfit and sexy moves. The lead singer and guitarist is a real whirlwind and loves to strut his stuff on the extended platform walkway. It’s hard not to become permanently fixated on Maurice Ernst’s outrageous live shenanigans, but something else suddenly catches the masses attention.
A large gathering has formed near the refreshment and food trucks and is growing by the minute. It’s not immediately clear what’s going on there; everyone is glued to the single, elevated, large screen. Loud cheers can be heard, followed by silence. More cheers follow and tension is building up in the hot afternoon air. And then it all makes sense – the German men’s basketball team are playing against Serbia in the final of the Basketball World Cup in Manila, The Philippines. Do Bilderbuch sense that a special moment is about to happen? They coincidentally deliver an epic, psychedelic infused and highly dramatic guitar solo, and a few glorious moments later, the German team wins its first ever World Cup.
Now we’ve truly got the party started. Anticipation is growing at the nearby Main Stage South because all props have been set up for Jason Derulo; the Californian R&B superstar is originally scheduled to play on Saturday night but the new time slot fits the busy schedule just fine. Derulo starts off from an extra elevated platform on stage, surrounded by male and female dancers, moving slowly closer towards the edge of the stage. The show is quite enjoyable and has a distinct 1990s feeling to it, and those who are lucky to get close enough feel the extreme heat coming from pyro flames blasting into the air.
Brighton indie-rockers Lovejoy are next on our wish list. Their energetic, live set is led by Wilbur Soot, the creative head and lead singer and, unsurprisingly, they take the Alternative Stage by storm and play a killer show. The place is rammed with happy and very noisy supporters who brought along their own banners and hand painted Lovejoy signs.
Finally, the sun descends and makes the hot weather conditions bearable. Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, aka Macklemore on the other hand, is about to turn up the heat again at the Main Stage South. The rapper from Seattle is soaking up every moment of the amazing, late evening Lollapalooza festival atmosphere. Macklemore tells the excited audience how happy he is to be back visiting and performing in Berlin, but he also loves teasing the crowd and sprays a generous amount of water over a bunch of unsuspecting heads. It’s a really fun show with dancers, and the friendly and very charming rapper himself appears not to be taking himself too seriously. Local newspapers will later report that Macklemore is refused entry post-gig to overrated, infamous, über-club Berghain; the institution in Berlin-Friedrichshain is well known for its weird and questionable door policy. Good to see the man laughing about it on his socials the next day.
A sentimental feeling kicks in because the grand final with Main Stage North headliners Imagine Dragons is imminent on this now lovely and very balmy evening. The Las Vegas band are masters of immense stage shows and they don’t disappoint the anticipating Lollapalooza audience. Singer Dan Reynolds, dressed in a simple white vest and multicoloured shorts, walks out onto the extended platform. The strategically placed confetti launchers start firing off masses of paper confetti into the air until people are covered in the white stuff. Bright stage lights turn it into an extraordinary and colourful spectacle. Imagine Dragons have started to play 2017 worldwide smash hit Thunder and it’s about time to walk over to the Alternative Stage to catch a glimpse of Korean K-Pop star B.I.
Trying to get any near the stage is mission impossible. Continuous, deafening, high pitched screams indicate that B.I.’s show is the personal highlight for many young passionate hearts tonight. A sea of arms is up in the air, while simultaneously holding on to personalised cardboard signs or their best friend’s sweaty hand. B.I.’s army of followers is watching every single one of his moves, secretly hoping to lock eyes for a second with the K-Pop sensation.
Lolla, you were amazing. You pulled out all the stops over the course of two days and we can’t wait to find out who will get to perform at Lollapalooza Berlin 2024!
Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to use/ or license any images please contact Svenja Block at svenja@svenjablock.de.
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All words & photography © Svenja Block Linktree | LTW author’s archive
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