Bella Ink Designs' Sunday Lollapalooza Picks

Guards, Palma Violets, Wild Belle, Ms Mr, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Beach House, Phoenix

Tired, yet?  Lollapalooza can be exhausting.  Buck up, here are a few of Bella Ink's picks for Sunday (above).

Lollapalooza makes it easy to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring lesser-known bands.  Since you're in Chicago, you should check out one of the city's very own, Wild Belle.  Natalie Bergman has a Lana Del Ray-like voice (but more likable), which she blends with a reggae/jazz sound.
This mix of music styles has an uncanny way of making darker topics, like broken relationships and death, sound anything but depressing.  Not that all of Natalie's lyrics are about the sadder in things in life, for example: "A Love Like This."  Overall, Wild Belle creates fun music that puts you in a mellow, no cares in the world mood.

Between Lolla and its after parties, we hope you got to see everyone you were hoping to see.  Remember to let us know what your favorite music, food, moments, etc. were this weekend.  Leave a note here, on Twitter (@bellaink), Facebook (bellainkdesigns), or Instagram (bellainkdesigns).

~Heather F.

Studio/Marketing Director

Bella Ink Designs' Saturday Lollapalooza Picks

Little Green Cars, Family of the Year, St. Lucia, Ellie Goulding, Heartless Bastards, Baauer,
The Lumineers, and Mumford and Sons

You made it through Lollapalooza, day one.  The rain wasn't that bad.  We've seen worse.  (Lollapalooza 2011, we're talking about you.)

Did you catch the Little Green Cars after party last night?  If not, you can see them today.  We've posted the album covers for the rest of our Saturday picks, above.  We threw in Baauer, just in case you want to see a whole lot of people do the Harlem Shake live and in person.

Let us know what Lollapalooza band, food, moment, etc. has been your favorite so far.  You can leave a note here, catch us on Twitter @bellaink, Facebook (bellainkdesigns) or Instagram (bellainkdesigns).

~Heather F.

Studio/Marketing Director

Bella Ink Designs' Friday Lollapalooza Picks

The Neighbourhood, San Cisco, Father John Misty; Band of Horses, Icona Pop, New Order; Imagine Dragons & The Killers

If ever there was a year to have a 3-day pass to Lollapalooza in Chicago, this is the one.  There are so many amazing bands that you're going to get worn out running between stages, catching most of one show and the end of another, just to say you saw all your favorites.

Whenever any of the Bella Ink gals get to Grant Park for the three-day music festival, we make a plan:

1. Pick your must-sees and build the rest of your day around them based on show start and end times.

2. Take a risk and see people you haven't listened to before.  If it doesn't work out, you can move on to another stage, or grab lunch.

3. Use your favorite music avenues (iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.) to preview bands you aren't familiar with, but think you'd like to check out.  You can also ask friends, and cool siblings for advice.

4. Be sure to eat if you're drinking.  And be sure to drink plenty of water.  You don't want to ruin your day with heat stroke.

5. Look cute if you'd like, but be practical.  If it's hot, you're going to want your hair off your face.  You may even want to bring a hat.  Flip flops are great no matter the weather, especially if you're a jump in the puddles kind of gal.  Boots are better if you're a jump in the puddles, but stay clean kind of gal.  If it rains, no umbrella will help you.  Suck it up.

6. If it rains Friday, it will be muddy through Sunday.

7. You'll probably like the band before the band playing on the stage you intend to be at, at the end of the night.  We suggest sitting through them, no matter what, to ensure a place near the front when your favorite headliner takes the stage.  Although, we've met many inventive people who work their way through all the sardines just as the first chords are struck.

8. You don't necessarily have to be in the front row for a good view.  The stage at the south end of Grant Park, heading towards Soldier Field, has an ample embankment off to the left, which provide a less crowded, yet equally clear view of the stage.  On Saturday you'll see fireworks behind the stage courtesy of the Chicago Bears, who will be hosting Family Night.

Have a great time!

~Heather F.

Studio/Marketing Director