Lollapalooza. What began back in 1991 as Perry Farrell’s farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction (who are still around & touring – QRO live review) turned into a massive touring festival that was the epitome of nineties alternative music (and memorialized in the ‘Homerpalooza’ episode of The Simpsons). The nineties ended and so did it, and but the revival in 2003 saw it turn the next year into an even bigger event stationed in Chicago’s Grant Park every summer. It’s even spun off South American versions these last few years (and there’s word of a Canadian one next year). It’s one of, if not the, biggest music festivals in North America (QRO Festival Guide) – and you don’t have to camp.
So head to Grant Park at the start of August, 1st through 3rd, Friday-to-Sunday, for three days of more music than anyone can handle:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st
Bud Light Stage
Arctic Monkeys, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
If you’re unfamiliar with the Sheffield-native English rockers, you obviously were not paying much attention in 2006 when their much ballyhoo-ed debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am Not was being pumped out of every speaker and headphone either side of the Atlantic & more (QRO live review in Australia), thanks to an energetic MySpace fan base. Fast-forward eight years. MySpace is a shell of its former self, but the Arctic Monkeys (QRO photos at a festival) have put out four more studio albums, 2007’s Favorite Worst Nightmare (QRO review), 2009’s Humbug (QRO review), 2011’s Suck It and See (QRO review), and last year’s American breakthrough AM, and with a new media storm around them (QRO photos), playing Lollapalooza for a third time.
Lorde, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
It’s been fast and furious, the success of Lorde (QRO live review). The New Zealand songstress (QRO photos) is still in her teens, but blew up in a huge way last year behind Grammy-winning single “Royals” and last fall’s debut full-length, Pure Heroine. She even performed “All Apologies” with Dave Grohl & Kurt Novoselic at Nirvana’s induction at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame! So catch the voice that’s turning heads around the world (QRO photos).
Interpol, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
When the Lower East Side music scene broke out at the beginning of this century/millennium, one of the biggest breakouts was neo-New Wave outfit Interpol (QRO live review) with Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics. Unfortunately, 2007 major label debut Our Love To Admire (QRO review) was a serious disappointment, leading to a hiatus (where singer/guitarist Paul Banks did his own solo thing as Julian Plenti – QRO European tour review). But 2010’s return to Matador Records Interpol (QRO review) was a return to form, and so was their live show (QRO photos), even on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). Of course, the following year saw another hiatus (with Paul Banks going solo again, this time under his own name – QRO album review), but the band has returned once more, with El Pintor out the following month and coming back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival).
J. Roddy Walston & The Business, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Roddy Walston brings the rock in his return to Lollapalooza, both as frontman for J. Roddy Walston & The Business (QRO photos outdoors) and solo.
Temples, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Despite only starting two years ago, Temples (QRO live review) have received press attention in their native England after being called the best new band in Britain (QRO photos at a U.K. festival) by the likes of Noel Gallagher (QRO live review) and Johnny Marr (QRO live review). They come to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) hot on the heels of that heat and February’s debut full-length, Sun Structures (QRO review).
Palladia Stage
Sander Kleinenberg, 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM
Dutch DJ Sander Kleinenberg is known for using digital video at his concerts, some come for the sounds, stay for the visuals.
AFI, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
Has it really been over twenty years for AFI (QRO photos at a festival)? The band has evolved from their early snot-punk Bay Area roots (full-length debut Answer That and Stay Fashionable was produced by Tim Armstrong of Rancid and featured “High School Football Hero” and “I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won’t Let Me Get On)”) to hardcore and then post-hardcore, a dark romantic sound and style that saw them attain mainstream success. The band (QRO photos) comes back to Lollapalooza after last fall’s release of their ninth studio album, Burials.
Hozier, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Ireland’s Andrew Hozier-Byrne comes to Lollapalooza off of breakthrough single “Take Me To the Church”, with debut full-length coming in September.
Lucius, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
The New York Times described Lucius as “The next Feist” (QRO live review) – even if you don’t believe everything The Grey Lady says, be sure to check them out (QRO photos at a festival).
Also:
San Fermin, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – QRO photos at a festival
The Grove
Phantogram, 8:45 PM – 9:45 PM
Saratoga Springs’ dancetronica act Phantogram (QRO photos at a festival) got notice less for their debut full-length Eyelid Movies (QRO review) than their enchanting live show (QRO photos at a festival) – which works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), when in the evening (QRO photos at a festival). They come back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) behind their new Voices (QRO review).
The Kooks, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
With Inside In/Inside Out and “Naïve”, The Kooks (QRO live review) burst out of Brighton as alt-pop stars beloved by girls everywhere (QRO photos). 2008’s Konk (QRO review) kept that up, more or less, though 2011’s Junk of the Heart (QRO review) saw the band (QRO photos) get pretty simple (QRO live review), but they’ve got a new album up this fall, Listen.
Rudimental, 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
A major hit in U.K. & Australia, London’s Rudimental (QRO photos in the U.K.) bring their liquid funk stateside at Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival).
Blood Orange, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Dev Hynes (QRO photos) first came up writing for others, such as on Chemical Brothers’ Grammy-winning We Are the Night (QRO review), before forming his own band, Lightspeed Champion (QRO photos), not to mention playing in the short-lived Test Icicles. In recent times, however, he’s focused on his electronic project Blood Orange (QRO live review), with last year’s well-received Cupid Deluxe.
Jagwar Ma, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Is the right time for the psych-dance of Jagwar Ma (QRO live review) early afternoon (QRO photos at a festival)?
Courtney Barnett, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett won fans like Rolling Stone and The New York Times after her CMJ 2013 performance (QRO festival recap), with funny, rambling lyrics and a deadpan delivery.
Also:
Into It. Over It., 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Roadkill Ghost Choir, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
BMI Stage
Royal Blood, 6:50 PM – 7:30 PM
Cash Cash, 5:40 PM – 6:20 PM
Bebe Rexha, 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
Johnnyswim, 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM
DUGAS, 2:10 PM – 2:50 PM
of Verona, 1:10 PM – 1:50 PM
Highly Suspect, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Perry’s Stage
Zedd, 8:30 PM – 9:45 PM
German electro-house producer Zedd (real name: Anton Zaslavski) has been branching out into complextro & dubstep, as he’s become a festival regular (QRO photos at a festival), playing his second Lollapalooza in three years.
The Glitch Mob, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
Electronic outfit The Glitch Mob (QRO photos at a festival) aren’t just button-pushers, but integrate their laptops & MIDIs into their live show, making them suitable for the club or the festival. They come to Lollapalooza for a third time, now behind this year’s charting Love Death Immortality (QRO review).
Above & Beyond, 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Reaching above & beyond da club beats is Above & Beyond, who come to Lollapalooza for a second time.
Iggy Azalea, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Hailing from Australia, Iggy Azalea (QRO photos) has a flow like Yelawolf, the body of a model, and the attitude of Oakland’s Kreayshawn. Also, the beats she flows on would put some hip-hop producers from the south to shame.
Also:
Perry/Etty vs. Joachim Garraud, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
Brillz, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Jacob Plant, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Wrestlers, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lake Shore Stage
Lykke Li, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
In the wake of Peter Bjorn and John’s (QRO spotlight on) “Young Folks” success, the music industry was on the look out for the next Swedish sensation – preferably a comely lass from Scandinavia. And at CMJ ‘08 (QRO recap), she was found in Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, or Lykke Li (QRO photos) and her debut, Wounded Rhymes (QRO review). Since then, she’s gone on to outshine (QRO photos) almost every Swede since ABBA, with follow-ups Youth Novels (QRO review) and this year’s I Never Learn (QRO review). Lykke Li (QRO photos) comes to Lollapalooza for a third time.
CHVRCHES, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Scottish electro-pop outfit CHVRCHES (QRO live review) have gotten very big very fast, before & after the release of debut full-length The Bones of What You Believe (QRO review) – but are fronted by the tiny Lauren Mayberry (QRO photos at a festival).
Warpaint, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
The experimental, even psychedelic rock of the four ladies that make up Warpaint (QRO photos) has taken a while to take hold, but is really starting to by now (QRO photos), and they come back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos) behind this year’s self-titled full-length.
Kodaline, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
While this year’s In a Perfect World (QRO review) might technically be the first full-length for Dublin folk-rockers Kodaline (QRO photos), fans of their music have been rocking along to them for years by now (QRO photos at a festival).
The So So Glos, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Show up early for the kick-ass punk rock of The So So Glos (QRO album review).
Samsung Galaxy Stage
Eminem, 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
When The Beatles reissues came out, it launched the band to #2 on the top-selling artists of this decade/century/millennium. Who’s #1? Eminem, a.k.a. Slim Shady, a.k.a. Marshall Bruce Mathers III. The ultra-famous rap star (QRO photos headlining a festival) has had the fastest-selling hip-hop album ever, tons of Grammys, even an Oscar (for his song his semi-autobiographical starring vehicle, 8 Mile). He took a musical hiatus for a few years, but came back in 2009 with Relapse and the following year’s self-admitted comeback, Recovery, before last year’s sequel to his best-known & -loved album in The Marshall Mathers LP 2. He’s also almost as famous for his celebrity lifestyle, including feuds with just about everyone (including his mother & now ex-wife, as well as Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog…).
Broken Bells, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
In the middle of the last decade, two of the biggest breakout artists were The Shins (QRO live review), thanks to being featured on the Garden State soundtrack, and Danger Mouse, thanks being part of Gnarls Barkley & multiple producer/contributor credits (The Rapture, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Beck). The Shins followed up with Wincing the Night Away (QRO review), Gnarls Barkley with The Odd Couple, but then silence – until 2010, when main Shin James Mercer teamed up with Danger Mouse as Broken Bells. Unfortunately, their self-titled debut (QRO review) was rather underwhelming, albeit from high expectations, and Mercer returned to The Shins for Port of Morrow (QRO review), while Danger Mouse returned to producer (like Portugal. The Man’s Evil Friends – see right below).
But Broken Bells have returned this year, with the interesting, retro-futuristic After the Disco (QRO review). Their live show was too dark – literally not enough lighting (QRO photos at a festival), but hopefully that, at least, can be fixed by playing during the day, under the Chicago sun (QRO photos outdoors at a festival).
Portugal. The Man, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
This West Coast draws from far up its shore with Alaska’s Portugal. The Man (QRO photos at a festival). The rambling grunge outfit garnered new fans with 2007 sophomore release Church Mouth (QRO review), and its unhinged alt-rock (QRO live review), though slipped somewhat since then, even while finally playing Europe (QRO photos at a European festival) and becoming a festival favorite (QRO photos at a festival) – this is their third time at Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival). Their major label debut In the Mountain In the Cloud (QRO review) was more psych-lite, but they still bring it live (QRO live review), and even went Down Under (QRO photos at a festival) after last year’s release of follow-up Evil Friends (QRO review), hitting both the festival circuit (QRO photos at a 2013 festival) and live gigs (QRO 2013 live review).
Bombay Bicycle Club, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
One of a growing stable of ‘club’ bands (see Two Door Cinema Club - QRO live review – Tokyo Police Club – QRO spotlight on), Crouch End’s Bombay Bicycle Club (QRO photos) alt-folk/rock got hot early on with “Evening/Morning” and debut LP I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose in 2009, but have already followed it up with Flaws in 2010, A Different Kind of Fix (QRO review) , and this year’s So Long, See You Tomorrow (QRO review). The BBC come to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) for the second time in three years.
Also:
Francisco Valenzuela, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
Kidzapalooza
School of Rock, 3:50 PM – 4:30 PM
Pretty Little Demons, 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM
Portugal. The Man, 2:05 PM – 2:30 PM
Chicago Kindie All Stars, 1:30 PM – 1:55 PM
Play Date, 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM
School of Rock, 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2nd
Bud Light Stage
Calvin Harris, 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM
Scottish big-name DJ Calvin Harris (QRO photos at a festival) Created Disco (QRO review), has been Ready For the Weekend for 18 Months.
Spoon, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM
As The Tick would shout, “Spoon!!!” Austin’s Spoon (QRO live review outdoors) has been turning heads in the indie-sphere for a while with their trademark indie-rock, but with 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (QRO review) & 2010’s Transference (QRO review), the group (QRO photos at a festival) has launched into the stratosphere, including headlining at New York’s own ultra-upscale Radio City Music Hall (QRO live review). A festival veteran (QRO photos at a festival), including headlining fests (QRO photos headlining a festival), they come to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival this summer) for a fourth time, now behind this fall’s release of They Want My Soul. Three cheers for “The Underdog” (QRO video)!
Grouplove, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
In 2012 rock collective Grouplove (QRO spotlight on) have had two of the most enjoyable recent hits, “Tongue Tied” (QRO video) and “Colours” (QRO review) from the debut Never Trust a Happy Song (QRO photos at a festival). Live, they take it to another level (QRO live review), with a massive spectacle (QRO photos outdoors at a festival), and can even persevere in the rain (QRO live review in the rain) or on television (QRO live review at TV taping). The band (QRO interview) comes back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) on tour (QRO live review on this tour) behind last year’s follow-up, Spreading Rumors (QRO review), and singles like “I’m With You” and “Shark Attack” (QRO review).
Kate Nash, 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Lollapalooza recruits That Grrl, west London’s Kate Nash (QRO spotlight on). The singer/songwriter (QRO interview) plays an indie-pop (QRO live review) that’s more than just charming, charting in both the U.S. and the U.K. with her first two records, debut Made of Bricks (QRO review) and follow-up My Best Friend Is You (QRO review), and singles such as “Foundations” and “Pumpkin Soup” (QRO video). Last year saw Nash (QRO photos) channel her inner Riot Grrl with Girl Talk (QRO review) and a correspondingly louder live show (QRO live review). Chicago may not be “Paris” (QRO video), but the artist is sure to shine (QRO photos).
Vance Joy, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
From the other side of the world, Melbourne’s Vance Joy is the rare footballer (that’s soccer to you yanks) turned singer.
Palladia Stage
Joachim Garraud, 8:00 PM – 8:45 PM
French DJ Joachim Garraud has produced for the likes of David Bowie and Kylie Minogue, and comes to Lollapalooza for a third time.
Nas, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
One of the most consistently strong rappers for more years than you realize has been Nas (QRO photos at a festival). His 1994 debut Illmatic has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and follow-up It Was Written made him internationally famous (as did a ten-year feud with Jay-Z). More recently, he and Damien Marley of reggae fame & family collaborated both on record & live (QRO photos together at a festival), donating all the royalties to African charities, and in 2012 Nas put out his tenth studio album, Life Is Good. Yes it is for Nas, who comes to Lollapalooza behind the twentieth anniversary of Illmatic.
John Butler Trio, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
California-born, Australian-bred roots man John Butler got his start busking in the streets down under. Now, over a decade-and-a-half later, he’s the face of the chart topping, multi-platinum selling Trio that took his name (QRO live review), and comes to Lollapalooza for a second time (QRO photos).
Also:
Parquet Courts, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival
PAPA, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – QRO photos
The Grove
Cut Copy, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The international electro-dance scene has seriously touched Down Under, and one of the biggest acts coming out of Australia these days is Melbourne’s Cut Copy (QRO live review). Breaking through in 2007 with the acclaimed In Ghost Colours (QRO review), Cut Copy (QRO photos outdoors) followed that up in 2011 with Zonoscope (QRO review). While some think it was a step down, no one can argue that their live show is anything less than electric (QRO live review). They come back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s Free Your Mind.
Jenny Lewis, 7:45 PM – 8:30 PM
If you like alternative music in the twenty-first century, chances are you already know Jenny Lewis (QRO photos). The former child star came to the music scene co-fronting Los Angeles’ Rilo Kiley (QRO album review) in the prior decade (QRO photos), before going solo with Rabbit Fur Coat and 2008’s Acid Tongue (QRO review). In 2010 she teamed up with boyfriend Jonathan Rice as Jenny & Johnny (QRO photos at a festival) for I’m Having Fun Now (QRO review). Last year, she reprised one of her many guest vocalist roles (others have included with Elvis Costello & Conor Oberst – QRO live review together) on the reunion tour of indietronica all-stars Postal Service (QRO photos – with Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie) behind the tenth anniversary edition of the ultra-acclaimed Give Up (QRO review). For Lollapalooza, however, she comes to shine all on her own (QRO photos solo at a festival), with new solo album The Voyager.
Typhoon, 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
Oregon’s eleven-member alt-folk collective Typhoon (QRO live review) stay on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a ’14 festival) and come back to Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s White Lighter.
Smallpools, 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM
Smallpools (QRO photos at a festival) only started last year at Brooklyn Bowl (QRO venue review), and yet have already signed to RCA and made it to Lollapalooza.
Rich Homie Quan, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Atlanta’s Rich Homie Quan has bounced from baseball to burglary to hip-hop.
Meg Myers, 2:50 PM – 3:30 PM
At Lollapalooza catch the next up-and-coming raw songstress, Meg Myers.
Ratking, 1:50 PM – 2:30 PM
Harlem hip-hop act Ratking (QRO photos at a festival) come to Lollapalooza behind April debut So It Goes.
Also:
Benjamin Booker, 12:50 PM – 1:30 PM – QRO photos at a festival
Jon Batiste & Stay Human, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – QRO photos outdoors
BMI Stage
Vic Mensa, 6:50 PM – 7:30 PM
Chicago’s own Vic Mensa throws down rhymes to close down the BMI Stage on Saturday night.
Also:
Joywave, 5:40 PM – 6:20 PM
Wallpaper., 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM
The Last Internationale, 3:20 PM – 4:00 PM – QRO photos
Desert Noises, 2:10 PM – 2:50 PM
Charlie Hirsch, 1:10 PM – 1:50 PM
Rocky Business, 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Perry’s Stage
Krewella, 8:30 PM – 9:45 PM
Kris ‘Rain Man’ Trindi teams up with sisters Jahan & Yasmine Yousaf – all graduates of the high school made famous by John Hughes & Ferris Bueller – as Krewella.
Chase & Status, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Electronic music duo Saul Milton & Will Kennard – a.k.a. Chase & Status – broke through in the last few years, rising to be one of the U.K.’s top electronic acts. They’re also much in demand on the festival circuit, with the kind of full-fledged live show that so many in electronica don’t bring.
Martin Garrix, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
At just eighteen years of age, Amsterdam’s Martin Garrix is already a major up-and-coming DJ.
Gramatik, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Gramatik (QRO live review) comes all the way from Slovenia (the best part of the former Yugoslavia).
Duke Dumont, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
English DJ & remixer Duke Dumont arrives in Chicago behind hit U.K. single “Need U (100%)”.
Z-Trip, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
One of the most sought-after DJs out there, the Phoenix native Z-Trip (QRO photos) has even played for the troops at Camp Buehring in Kuwait!
Also:
heRobust, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Anna Lunoe, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lake Shore Stage
The Head and The Heart, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
Fairly recently, things have been seriously booming for The Head and The Heart (QRO live review). The Seattle alt-folk/pop band (QRO photos outdoors) was signed by Sub Pop (QRO photos outdoors), named their city’s best new band by Seattle Weekly, opened for everybody from Dave Matthews (QRO live review) to Death Cab for Cutie (QRO album review). They’ve since graduated to headlining status (QRO live review) behind last year’s sweet Let’s Be Still (QRO review) – though their crowds won’t (QRO photos at a festival).
Manchester Orchestra, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
From Atlanta, not New or Old England, Manchester Orchestra (QRO live review) were more rock than alt- on debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child (QRO review), and moved firmly into the rock camp with 2009’s Mean Everything To Nothing (QRO review), 2011’s Simple Math (QRO review), and this year’s Cope (QRO review). However, the outfit does it well (QRO live review) and big (QRO photos) – and plays Lollapalooza for a fifth time (QRO photos at a festival).
The Temper Trap, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
From Melbourne, Australia comes The Temper Trap (QRO photos), who have broken out there & elsewhere (QRO live review) thanks to 2009’s Conditions (QRO review) and 2012’s The Temper Trap (QRO review), which channels the great eighties of John Hughes movies. They’ve already seriously moved up in terms of venue size (QRO photos) for their regular shows (QRO live review), so catch ‘em at Lollapalooza (QRO photos at a festival), which they play for the third even year in a row.
Also:
Wildcat! Wildcat!, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – QRO photos at a festival
The Districts, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – QRO photos at a festival
Samsung Galaxy Stage
OutKast, 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM
You know OutKast (