Editor’s note: Our Chicago correspondent Evan Clark has battled the elements, including rain, mud and heat to bring you the sights and sounds from what’s going on in Grant Park. Check back for more updates.

PHOX: 12:00pm, The Grove

The dropping of Azealia Banks from Saturday’s lineup meant a complete shuffle of the schedule. Caught on the positive side of the jumble was the inclusion of PHOX, a seven-piece multi-instrumental harmonic folk ensemble hailing from Baraboo, Wisconsin. For finding out they were opening Saturday at Lollapalooza just a few days prior, PHOX appeared prepared and truly happy to be there. Lead singer Monica Martin was the conductor of smiles for this Wu-Tang Clan equivalent of indie baroque-pop, providing a soulful blend of Feist and Norah Jones style vocals over an array of instruments ranging from banjos to clarinets. It appeared as if   every member of PHOX plays at least two different instruments, in fact, bassist Chester Van Huss frequently switches off from bass, to clarinet, to flute whenever the occasion calls for it.

It wouldn’t be fair to lump them in with the recent folk/Americana/Mumford and Sons resurgence solely due to their abundance in instruments. What sets this band apart is their eclectic range that can switch from melodic acapella breakdowns to sporadic funky jam sessions with no hesitation. Their easy going flexible composition reflects the gentle and humble charisma each member emulates. While Martin apologized to the crowd for, “not having the sick flow” of Lollapalooza dropout Azealia Banks, her adorable charm and intimate voice accompanied by the band’s was definitely a suitable substitute.

Reignwolf: 2:00pm, Petrillo Stage

Jordan Cook, aka Reignwolf, is a one man blues wrecking crew, drenched in sweat primarily due to thrashing on top of amplifiers in a black leather jacket under the Chicago summer sun. His appearance was a cross between The Boss and The Wolverine, while his sound was pure delta blues rock and roll at its absolute best. He preferred pounding his strings with his fist over traditional picking, howling to the audience, “I’ll give you my soul Chicago, and nothing more” and delivering exactly what he promised.

His solo cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” would have been just as powerful with a full backing band, as his foot tapped Mick’ Fleetwood’s trademark steady kick drum between fret bending solos of distorted soul. His backing band consisting of a drummer and his rhythm guitarist brother Stitch, who rocked when called upon, but it was truly a breakout party for the spontaneously energetic guitar force that was Jordan, aka, Reignwolf. He tosses his guitar in triumph and went to high-5 everyone in the front row, thinking he was done. But the audience wouldn’t have it, demanding an encore despite the time crunch worries of the Lollapalooza staff. Reignwolf gave into the peer pressure, shredding one last time to the cheers of the crowd and the menacing glare of the disgruntled sound guy.

Local Natives: 4:00pm, Red Bull Stage

A lot has changed for Local Natives since they last appeared at Lollapalooza in 2011. They were in the midst of recording their latest release Hummingbird, a record of personal strife and expanded their fan base. At their second Lollapalooza after a slew of big festivals this summer, it’s inspiring to hear Kelcey Ayer open the set with, “You and I”, wailing the chorus to the approval and participation of thousands of fans, reciting every verse. Streams of toilet paper comet over the crowd during “Hummingbird” staples such as, “Breakers”, “Ceilings”, and “Black Balloons”. They casually pull off a Talking Heads cover of “Warning Sign”, showcasing their psychedelic afro-pop tendencies over drummer Matt Frazier’s tribal pounding frenzy. Guitarist Taylor Rice strums in intensity on “Colombia”, progressively building up an emotional volcano until finally releasing the final chords, leaving everyone in a momentary silence that is quickly snapped out of. As they close out the show with the foot stomping “Sun Hands”, their hour of jubilee is a heartening reminder of how far they’ve come as a band, leaving only intense anticipation of where they’ll go next.

Kendrick Lamar: 6:45pm, Bud Light Stage

Kendrick Lamar is the best example of artist and festival progression. Before 2012’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, he was a well respected mixtape MC on the cusp of greatness. Now he’s one more big album away from earning a deserving headliner slot, and Kendrick appeared completely aware of his massive influence on the youthful crowd Saturday night. It was pure party mode as Kendrick, armed with a backing band and multiple DJs, provided his breakout hits with, “Backseat Freestyle”, “Swimming Pools”, and the joyful choruses of “Money Trees”. While he skimmed out on his older material, he was clearly more concerned with appealing to the masses which is exactly what he did.

But what truly made the show memorable was completely out of Kendrick’s hands, as during club banger “m.A.A.d City”, a disabled member of the audience was lifted up by his peers, crowd surfing in his wheelchair as his sparkling smile pointed towards the clear dawn sky. He was the object of affection for the jumbotron, and a stunned Kendrick paused to acknowledge the moment as the man gently landed in the photo pit with the best seat in the house. “What we’re experiencing here is more than music, this is life.” The party then raged on, as Kendrick embraced the love, stating, “Right now, you guys are more than my fans. You’re my family tonight.”