Alejandro Aranda, aka Scarypoolparty, runner up on the most recent season of American Idol, has been added to Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival, set for Aug. 1-4 in Grant Park.
Prior American Idol alums to play Lollapalooza include American Idol season 10 alum, Haley Reinhart in 2012, and season 6 singer Anoop Desai in 2016. Christian artist, Lauren Daigle, who was cut right before the Top 24 on season 10 is scheduled for this year alongside Alejandro. Also set to perform at this summer’s festival is The Voice season 14 alum Jackie Foster. Voice season 3 alum Melanie Martinez performed in 2016.
The singer/songwriter was added months after the lineup was announced, according to Billboard, and is currently playing a doubleheader concert in his hometown of Pomona, California. His fall tour will feature a full band and kick off Oct. 10 at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, California, and ends on Nov. 21 at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles.
The singer has been selling concert tickets at a very brisk pace. Manager Jonathan Shank with Red Light told Billboard that Alejandro sold 30,000 tickets the first day they went on sale with no advertising, announcing the fall run on Instagram with dates in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Dallas quickly selling out.
“There’s demand for added shows and bigger venues in every market,” Shank told Billboard. Alejandro’s summer club tour sold out 200-450 capacity venues in 15 minutes. The fall venues average around 1000 capacity.
“This tour will be my first ever tour as an artist which leaves me terrified and excited at the same time,” Alejandro told Billboard in June. “I’m looking forward to putting out new music and seeing how the songs do out on the road.”
Alejandro’s first single “Tonight” was produced by Twin Shadow and released on June 28 via Hollywood Recordings. During his run on Idol, Alejandro sang mostly original songs, which has helped cement his post-show reputation as an independent singer/songwriter. Aranda is repped by UTA.
Alejandro Aranda “Tonight” Music Video, Signs Hollywood Records Deal
This weekend (June 20), Alejandro and his fellow American Idol Top 1o will perform in Seattle for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.
Correction: Alejandro is not the first American Idol alum to play Lollapalooza as Billboard and a prior version of this piece stated. We regret the error!