Concerts began at the band shell in August 1931.
In July 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a campaign stop at the bandshell on his way to make his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee for president at the 1932 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium.

In 1934, the twenty-two separate parks merged under the Park Consolidation Act, in order to gain New Deal federal funding.
 Mayor Edward Kelley named Chicago Federation of Musicians President Petrillo to the board of the Chicago Park District.
Petrillo suggested a free symphonic concert series in Grant Park.
 Under the agreement, Petrillo would raise money for the first season and if it was well-attended, the Park District would continue the program.
The first season of the Grant Park Music Festival began on July 1, 1935 and ran until Labor Day with a total of sixty-five concerts.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Women's Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Opera Orchestra each performed five or six times.
 Large concert bands led by Bohumir Kryl, Armin Hand, Max Bendix, George Dasch, Glenn Bainum, and Victor Grabel also performed.
By the end of the summer crowds of up to 35,000 were attending nightly free concerts.
 The summer's total attendance was estimated at 1.9 million.
 This was viewed as a sufficient success that the Park District committed to assuming financial responsibility for the entire ongoing annual outdoor concert series.
 The concerts for the first season were also broadcast on nationwide radio broadcasts.

The bandshell hosted symbolic events during World War II.
 The July 1942 celebration of the city's 10,000th United States Navy recruit with a 500-sailor representation from Navy Pier to salute the color guard was held at the band shell.
In 1944, a public address system was added and following the war Grant Park usage increased heavily.

Between the scheduling of Van Cliburn's 1958 Grant Park Music Festival appearance and his actual July 16 appearance, he won the quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow that April.
 He was catapulted to international fame for winning one of the world's elite music competitions.
 As a result, he was greeted with a celebration that included a ticker tape parade down Michigan Avenue, and his Grant Park Music Festival appearance was a major event.
 The following year, the band shell served as the host location for three concerts for the opening celebration of the 1959 Pan American Games.

In 1978, the new band shell began hosting events such as Taste of Chicago, an annual July 3 Independence Day fireworks celebration, the Chicago Blues, Jazz and Gospel Festivals.
In October 1979, Pope John Paul II presided over the largest public mass ever held in Chicago on a terraced altar platform that was erected next to the band shell.
 Joseph Bernardin delivered a homily  on the same kind of platform after being promoted to Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.
 The Dalai Lama has held an event at the band shell and rallies celebrating the National Basketball Association championships by the Chicago Bulls occurred at the band shell.
 In 1998, at a Grant Park Music Festival performance, the miniature prototype of the Talaske-designed audio system that would eventually be used at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion was tested.

Since 2005, the Music Shell has been used as a stage for the annual Lollapalooza festival.
Concerts began at the band shell in August 1931. In July 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a campaign stop at the bandshell on his way to make his acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee for president at the 1932 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium.
In 1934, the twenty-two separate parks merged under the Park Consolidation Act, in order to gain New Deal federal funding.  Mayor Edward Kelley named Chicago Federation of Musicians President Petrillo to the board of the Chicago Park District. Petrillo suggested a free symphonic concert series in Grant Park.  Under the agreement, Petrillo would raise money for the first season and if it was well-attended, the Park District would continue the program. The first season of the Grant Park Music Festival began on July 1, 1935 and ran until Labor Day with a total of sixty-five concerts. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Women's Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Opera Orchestra each performed five or six times.  Large concert bands led by Bohumir Kryl, Armin Hand, Max Bendix, George Dasch, Glenn Bainum, and Victor Grabel also performed. By the end of the summer crowds of up to 35,000 were attending nightly free concerts.  The summer's total attendance was estimated at 1.9 million.  This was viewed as a sufficient success that the Park District committed to assuming financial responsibility for the entire ongoing annual outdoor concert series.  The concerts for the first season were also broadcast on nationwide radio broadcasts.
The bandshell hosted symbolic events during World War II.  The July 1942 celebration of the city's 10,000th United States Navy recruit with a 500-sailor representation from Navy Pier to salute the color guard was held at the band shell. In 1944, a public address system was added and following the war Grant Park usage increased heavily.
Between the scheduling of Van Cliburn's 1958 Grant Park Music Festival appearance and his actual July 16 appearance, he won the quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow that April.  He was catapulted to international fame for winning one of the world's elite music competitions.  As a result, he was greeted with a celebration that included a ticker tape parade down Michigan Avenue, and his Grant Park Music Festival appearance was a major event.  The following year, the band shell served as the host location for three concerts for the opening celebration of the 1959 Pan American Games.
In 1978, the new band shell began hosting events such as Taste of Chicago, an annual July 3 Independence Day fireworks celebration, the Chicago Blues, Jazz and Gospel Festivals. In October 1979, Pope John Paul II presided over the largest public mass ever held in Chicago on a terraced altar platform that was erected next to the band shell.  Joseph Bernardin delivered a homily  on the same kind of platform after being promoted to Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.  The Dalai Lama has held an event at the band shell and rallies celebrating the National Basketball Association championships by the Chicago Bulls occurred at the band shell.  In 1998, at a Grant Park Music Festival performance, the miniature prototype of the Talaske-designed audio system that would eventually be used at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion was tested.
Since 2005, the Music Shell has been used as a stage for the annual Lollapalooza festival.
Petrillo Music Shell