Finn Wolfhard Makes His First Lollapalooza Appearance in Chicago, Bringing His Indie Rock Project to a New Festival Crowd
CHICAGO, IL — Finn Wolfhard stepped onto a Lollapalooza stage in Chicago on Friday for the first time as a solo artist, giving fans of Stranger Things a very different kind of showcase from the one they may know on screen.
The 23-year-old, best known as Mike Wheeler, played a set that reflected how closely his music has become tied to Chicago, where parts of his recent work were recorded and shaped.
Chicago has already shaped Wolfhard’s music
Wolfhard’s 2025 debut album Happy Birthday was recorded in town with co-producer Kai Slater, plus Asher Case and Isaac Lowenstein of Lifeguard and Sofia Jensen of Free Range. His follow-up release, Fire from the Hip, arrived on July 10 and also includes work from Twin Peaks guitarist Cadien Lake James, who has served as a mentor.
The city’s influence runs deeper than the credits. Wolfhard has also said he is a devoted fan of Wilco, one of Chicago’s signature indie-rock bands, and that taste shows up in the loose, rootsy feel of his new material.
The set leaned intimate, not blockbuster
Onstage, Wolfhard’s songs emphasized slow-building arrangements, mixing acoustic and electric textures with keys, lap steel, fiddle, and drums. The performance also gave him room to move, whether he was foot-stomping, switching instruments, or simply letting the band carry the song.
But the vibe of the festival crowd did not always match the music. The audience started out packed and loud, then thinned as the set went on, suggesting the material may have landed better in a smaller room than at a giant summer festival.
What Wolfhard’s next chapter could look like
This was not Wolfhard’s first time making music onstage. He started in a power-pop band, Calpurnia, at 14 before moving into indie rock with The Aubreys, and his references have stayed firmly rooted in classic and alternative rock.
That came through in Friday’s set, which included the Rolling Stones-influenced opener I’ll Let You Finish and a cover of Faces’ Ooh La La. Wolfhard also said he is working on a biopic of The Replacements, another sign that his musical identity is expanding even as he continues to balance it with his acting career.
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