Photos provided by Ravinia Festival / Alec Syrvalin

Anywhere Lenny Kravitz appeared since becoming a full-fledged megastar in the early 1990s, massive crowds have followed, yet there wasn’t even a single pavilion seat or blade of grass when he revisited Ravinia in Highland Park.

Though the world’s longest-running annual music festival is having a bit of an abbreviated season to make room for renovations, the home stretch not only features the A-list likes of this singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer/actor, but country to pop crossover Maren Morris on August 22 and R&B royalty John Legend from August 23-24.

However, Kravitz may very well be the toughest act to follow, who for two breathtaking hours, brought a funky dose of “Blue Electric Light,” in addition to varying volumes of rock, pop and soul that tapped just as much into retro revivalism as looking forward to the future.

At 61, the headliner sang, moved and looked like a man at least half his age, egging everyone to “Bring It On” and then “Dig In” to the groove laid down by a diverse band of fellow wizards.

Current cuts such as “TK421,” “Honey” and “Paralyzed” could easily stand up against the established likes of “Always On The Run,” “I Belong To You” and “Believe,” while “Low” and “The Chamber” from somewhere in the middle were similarly memorable.

To quote one particular breakthrough track, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” and there was still tons to come as Kravitz addressed the personally-penned “Again” and a now canonized cover of The Guess Who’s “American Woman.”

The crests continued, including the timeless sing-a-long “Fly Away” and the shred-heavy “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” arguably seeming like the closest ever direct descendent of Jimi Hendrix in the process.

Make no mistake, Kravitz is a monumental figure in his own right who remains committed to positivity and unity, which was most apparent during the anthem “Let Love Rule” as he walked all around an adoring Ravinia, whose attendees will surely be flying high off these vibes well beyond the season.

For additional information on Lenny Kravitz, visit LennyKravitz.com.

Upcoming shows at Ravinia include Maren Morris (Aug. 22); John Legend (Aug. 23-24); UB40 (Aug. 27); “The Sound Of Music” Sing-Along (Aug. 28); “Infinity Saga” Concert Experience (Aug. 29) and Fiesta Ravinia (Aug. 31). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

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