Lollapalooza 2012 Preview

Lollapalooza is only one week away! Chicago’s best festival of the summer has finally arrived. Perry Ferrel from Jane’s Addiction brings this awesome festival to Chicago the first weekend of August each summer. It has been around since 1991, with a brief hiatus in 2004, but returned to Chicago in 2005 and has been growing strong ever since. Bringing in the biggest names in music, some past performers have been legends such as Daft Punk, Kanye West, Radiohead, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Jane’s Addiction, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Deadmau5, Pretty Lights, and many many more.

Since it is such a huge festival, spanning a mile through Grant Park along the lakefront, and with around 100 bands performing, it can be a little overwhelming. But here are a few artists that you should definitely check out during the three days of music.

Friday’s headliners are Black Sabbath, Wale,Bassnectar, and The Black Keys. Depending on what kind of music you are into, these four headliners can fill every niche. If you are into garage rock, The Black Keys, a duo from Ohio, are the best bet for you. These guys have been rocking out since 2001 and are a really fun show. If you are more into heavy metal, definitely go check out Black Sabbath. These legends have been around since 1969 with Ozzy Osbourne as their lead singer. These guys are sure to put on an amazing show, perhaps with some pyrotechnics. If you are more into the rap scene, then Wale is your man. With lots of hot collaborations with artists on the radio, you will be sure to recognize his songs. And if you are more on the EDM (electric dance music) scene then Bassnectar will absolutely blow your mind. Leading the scene in heavy heavy bass, he remixes some of your favorite songs as well as drops his own creations. He will have you dancing from start to finish with out a single break, so bring your dancing shoes.

Looking for some other great EDM acts? Hang out at Perry’s stage all day and you wont regret it. Zedd, electric house producer from Germany, throws down the hardest beats. He even remixes Skrillex and the Doors’ collaboration Breaking A Sweat, and I don’t know how he did it, but made the song even heavier than Skrillex’s version. This 22 year old really knows how to throw down. Madeon, and electropop producer from France knows how to create the perfect mash-up. He is mostly known from his youtube video for Pop Culture which mixed in 30 different songs to create an amazingly catchy pop masterpiece. Porter Robinson, American electro house producer, signed to Skrillex’s label OWSLA, rocks the house with his deep bass and fun dance tracks. Nero, one of the biggest names in the electronic music genre, the duo from England has collaborated with artists such as Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, and more. You can even hear their song Feel So Close in a bunch of different commercials. Another hot performer who will get you on your feet with her catchy beats and melodic voice is Dev. 23 year old California native Dev has been featured in Far East Movement’s single Like a G6, and dropped her own top singles Bass Down Low and In the Dark all about dancing to some groovy bass beats. Passion Pit, an electropop band hailing from Massachusetts, most known for their song Sleepy Head. This will be a more relaxed show than what you would find at Perry’s, but it will still be fun to dance to. Now if you want to have a really fun time, and get your laughs out, check out Die Antwoord. Coming all the way from South Africa, this rap-rave duo,Ninja and Yo-Landi, bring their strange looks and fast rhymes to the stage with confidence. You will be shocked by how fast Ninja can rap and by the soothing yet creepy voice of Yo-Landi. These two are absolutely crazy but genius at the same time.

Perry’s lineup on Saturday is a bit more mixed genre-wise than Friday. Paper Diamond, a Colorado producer brings catchy cool vocals with heavy beats to the stage and puts on an amazing performance and nobody can help but dance to. Next up on the schedule is southern rapper B.O.B.His debut single Airplanes was a top hit on the radio, and he has even recorded with rap legends such as Lil Wayne. Then Perry’s comes back to the dubstep scene with the originators of dubstep, London producers Skream & Benga. Moving away from dubstep, and towards electro house, next up on the bill is Calvin Harris. Scottish DJ, singer, and producer, you will absolutely have a blast at his show, especially if he plays his hit single Feel So Close. Santigoldends the night at Perry’s. This singer plays soothing songs with funky beats as well as some collaborations with rap legends such as Jay-Z. If you get tired from all of the dancing and want to go to a chill show, check out The Temper Trap. Coming all the way from Australia, these guys know how to jam with smooth vocals and great guitar. Their his single Sweet Disposition is so beautiful and melodic, you can even hear it in a few American commercials. If you want to kick it a little bit old school, or at least go back to the early 2000s, check out Franz Ferdinand, I think we all remember their catchy single Take Me Out. The two big headliners of the night are rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers and up and coming 22 year old producer from Sweden Avicii will close out the night with a bang. So whether you want to rock out the RHCP and Anthony Kiedis groovy singing and Flea’s epic baselines, or dance the night away with one of the top DJs in the world, the choice is up to you.

Sunday is the perfect schedule to kind of settle down the weekend but still rock out hard. If you like bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles are amazing. Combining the twangy tunes of guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, these guys will bring out your inner crunch and you wont be able to contain your excitement. If you want to stay on the chill kick, check out Sigor Ros. Hailing all the way from Iceland, this rock band kicks on the chill grooves and soulful sounds that you wont be able to resist. Staying on the chill vibe, Florence and the Machine with their hit single Dog Days Are Over will rock you out with lead singer Florence Welch’s soulful voice and the bands catchy guitars riffs. To end the night on a rock note, the White Stripes’ lead singer and guitarist Jack White will be closing out the show. Voted one of Rolling Stones greatest guitarists of All Time, Jack will be sure you rock you all night long.

Now if you want to dance the third night away, Sunday’s lineup has some great EDM acts. Starting with Doctor P, london based dubstep producer who has collaborated with Flux Pavilion on many songs and the duo often tour together. Next up from Colorado is Big Gigantic, mixing heavy dubstep beats with live drums and the saxophone, this unique duo brings a new elements of horns into the dubstep genre. Next is Toronto based duo Zeds Dead who play some of the deepest heaviest bass, sometimes touring with friend and rapper Omar LinX. Getting their name from Pulp Fiction, they remix some great songs as well as create some amazing and catchy originals. To end the night you have two choices, Justice, French electronic duo who are most known for their remix of MSTRKRFT’s song D.A.N.C.E., or Kaskade a DJ hailing from Evanston, IL who has collaborated with EDM legends such as Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner, mixing in melodic vocals with heavy beats.

No matter who you see perform, every musician coming to Lollapalooza will be amazing. The lineup this year is great, and each performer will bring their A-game and put on an amazing show. If you find yourself unsure of who to go see, simply cruise by each stage and see who sounds the best to you. Who knows, maybe you will discover your new favorite artist this summer. Just remember to have lots of fun, and wear sunscreen if its sunny, or bring a plastic bag to put your phone inside in case it rains. ENJOY!