Lollapalooza 2016: 25^th Anniversary and 25 Acts You Can't Miss This Year

That joyous time of year has come again, Lollapalooza is finally here! In honor of it being the 25^th anniversary of the iconic Chicago music festival, (Perry Farrell, we are eternally grateful) several WSUM DJ's have compiled a list of 25 artists you cannot miss this year, with dates, times, and stages include.

Thursday July 28^th

• Pinegrove- 12:15pm, Petrillo Bandshell- Mixing indie rock with Americana and emo punk, Pinegrove is one of the key indie bands to see this year. The critics loved their latest album Cardinal which deals a lot about friendships all sung with a classic indie rock sound.  Their unique sound is present throughout the album, from folky (‘Cadmium') to alt/emo rock (‘Then Again') so anyone will be able to find a song that appeals to their musical taste.  Being one of the first performers of the weekend, it wouldn't come to surprise me if they come to fill an evening slot five years from now.
• Jazz Cartier- 12:50pm, Pepsi- When I first stumbled across Jazz Cartier, I was searching through Spotify for the newest jazz-hop tunes. At that time, Jaye Adams (Jazz Cartier's real name) only had a small sampling of songs on his page, yet I could tell this artist had promise. Nowadays, as Jazz Cartier gets ready to perform at Lollapalooza, it's clear that he is well on his way up to the forefront of the music world. His debut album, Marauding in Paradise, came out in 2015 after several years of tweaking and fine tuning that reflect the wide range of musical influences Adams experienced growing up as the son of a diplomat. There are samples of low-key, almost marimba jazz melodies, that get blown up when Adams blends his unique mix of hip-hop/trap vibes into the pot. Coming off his second album, we see that Adams is beginning to mature as an artists and fall into his own niche as a hip-hop performer in today's world. Even though his sophomore album carries with it a sound resembling artists such as Future, it still retains his particular style of mixing genres of music- jazz, pop, rap etc. that make me excited for his third release.  Jazz Cartier's show at Lolla this year may not be paired with a big name or flashy artist, but rest assured that Adam's music is intoned with an audacity that surely will set his performance apart from other hip-hop shows.
• Cloves- 1:50pm, Pepsi- Although the grand siren herself, Lana del Rey, will be headlining Thursday night, Cloves is one act that may take her spot in a few years' time. The 19 year Australian released her first EP, XII last year, but her voice sounds like an industry veteran.  Dreamy, sultry, and equal parts influenced by Amy Winehouse and Etta James her voice has the ability to capture anyone's attention.  It will be interesting to see how she translates her more intimate sound to a daytime festival setting, but those who get the chance to see her here first will be even more pleased especially after she becomes a star in the upcoming years.
• Yeasayer- 3:30pm, Lakeshore- My first taste of Yeasayer came back in 2010 when they were featured on a Starbucks indie playlist on iTunes. I didn't start to appreciate them until last year, especially since their sound is so weird and exciting.  There songs combine a mix of obscure instrumentals and sounds, somewhat psychedelic with fun and electronic undertones, not exactly fitting the typical indie band stereotype.  They just released a new album Amen & Goodbye this year although their first two albums are a better example of their style.  The eclectic, world music sound of Yeasayer will be sure to please even the most casual of festival go-ers.
• AlunaGeorge- 6:30pm, Pepsi– Although their songs contain more of an electronic sound, with the top 40 radio remix appeal, AlunaGeorge's music stands out from others in the genre it is usually lumped into. Mixing pop and electronic, with touches of r&b/soul, this London duo creates songs with substance that are all still as danceable as ever.  Their chart topping hit ‘You Know You Like It' with DJ Snake is a snappy yet smooth club jam.  Get ready to chill out or dance it out—both possibilities given AlunaGeorge's ranging sound—this Thursday.
• The 1975- 7:00pm, Bud Light– One of the biggest artists of 2016, The 1975 are relishing in the success of their latest release, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, toted as one of the 50 best albums of 2016 so far by SPIN.com. Their songs offer a mix of 1980's synth and new wave modern alternative rock.  Frontman Matt Healy will have a true rock star presence on stage singing about sex, tragedy, and love all with eccentric dance moves to match, and their light shows aren't anything to mess with as well.
• Cole: 8:30pm, Samsung- With not only an impressive catalog of songs to perform, but an energetic stage presence to boot, J. Cole is one present day hip-hops best live performers. I was able to attend his tour stop in Chicago in summer 2015, and he performed 2014 Forest Hills Drive—which went platinum just months after its release in 2014– in almost its entirety.  The crowd got hyped for ‘G.O.M.D' and ‘No Role Modelz' as well his classic ‘Can't Get Enough.' With occasional commentary and insights into his past, J. Cole will definitely deliver as one of this year's main headliners.
  

Friday July 29^th

• Foals- 4:00pm, Samsung- Quite possibly one of the best concerts I have ever attended, Foals is one band you definitely need to make time to see on Friday. Being a solid indie band, Foals concerts have a truly rock concert feel.  The amount of energy and the explosion of sound Foals puts into their more rock heavy tracks is a true gift.  Look forward to performances from their latest album, What Went Down such as ‘Mountain at my Gates' and ‘Birch Tree' as well as classics like ‘Inhaler' and ‘Red Socks Pugie.'
• PVRIS- 4:30pm, BMI- Being able to fit in on Vans Warped Tour just as well as they will fit in at Lollapalooza, PVRIS' electronic alt rock sound has led to the bands mass appeal. From 9.2 million Spotify streams, as well as reaching number 1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart, PVRIS has created a formula of dark, dream like tunes that were captured on their debut album White Noise.  Look forward to a refreshingly throwback sound from PVRIS on Friday.
• Alessia Cara- 5:15pm, Pepsi– I was not at all surprised to see Alessia's name on this year's lineup. The young pop/r&b artisit behind the radio smash hit ‘Here' has exploded on to the music scene in the past year.  Her debut album Know-It-All is a showcase of not only her songwriting abilities but her vocal skills as well.  Cara's melodically smooth voice makes the personal lyrics in many of her songs that much more impactful.  ‘Overdose' and ‘I'm Yours' sound like instant love song/heartbreak classics while ‘Four Pink Walls' sounds like it could come straight off a TLC album.
• Miike Snow- 7:00pm, Lakeshore- Being a longtime fan, I am thrilled that Miike Snow is back in action and better than ever. The indie pop/electronic is touring after the success of their third studio release titled iii which was released this past year.  Miike Snow's pop sound isn't steady with every track, with some sounding more somber and tenser than others.  I have always enjoyed Miike Snow because all of their songs have something unique about them, which will surely make the concert that much more fun to watch.
• Radiohead- 8:00pm, Samsung- Alt rock fans, rejoice! After half a decade of no new music, Radiohead has returned in 2016 with the release of their long anticipated album, A Moon Shaped Pool and a tour to boot. Being one of the most experimental bands of this generation, Radiohead has been able to create a distinct mix of rock and electronic, often mirroring the creative talents of early David Bowie and Pink Floyd.  However, Radiohead was influenced by great artists before them which helped in establishing their own sound and stand out among several of their alt-rock peers.  Their music is still evolving, having noticed this just from listening to songs on OK Computer, then switching to In Rainbows, it sounds like two completely different.  With an impressive discography (yes, they actually have other songs besides ‘Creep!') their two-hour slot will be packed with all of their greats and hopefully a good amount of their new music as well.
  

Here is the link to the second half of the 25 acts!

 Authors: Petar Djordjevic, Evan Boyd, and Nick Nager