Festival Watch - Lollapalooza 2011

Lollapalooza is an event that all live music chasers want to check out this year. The 20-year-old festival already has nearly 100 artists lined up and the number of awesome artists this year will blow your mind.

Headliners include Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse and My Morning Jacket. Despite the top 40 lineup, others are unimpressed. The masses were hoping for a lineup that pushed boundaries, not one that was mainstream. IFC comments, “Farrell announced a lineup Tuesday that reads mostly like an abbreviated, milquetoast Top 40 playlist, surrounded by a passé flock of buzz bands.” Rolling Stone comments on part of the festival worth seeing that isn’t mainstream. “In addition to the main stage events, Lollapalooza 2011 will feature the debut of a 15,000-capacity dance tent that will host performances by Girl Talk, Kid Cudi, Pretty Lights and Skrillex. Festival founder Perry Farrell will also play on that stage as part of a PerryEtty Vs. Chris Cox set.” Some of the most exciting artists are not as big in text as the previously stated musicians.

A couple of personal favorites

1. Atmosphere – Independent, (kind of) underground, hip-hop group, now on a nationwide tour… Amazing stage presence, fun to watch and this blogger’s favorite artist of all time.
2. Beats Antique – A blend of electronica and world music with live music incorporated with new technology. Definite band to watch.
3. Bright Eyes – Starring lyrical genius Conor Oberst. A band most well known for their heart wrenching songwriting.
4. Cage The Elephant – Funk, punk, blues and rock in a glass on ice, cool and hot all at once.
5. Cold War Kids – A new wave blues-rock featuring amazing vocals with a deep and intimate storytelling.
6. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley & Nas – Reggae and rap duo with an energetic stage presence. Their music has catchy, fun and truthful lyrics that can speak to everyone.
7. Deadmau5 – This electronic and house DJ makes awesome music, but he’s kind of a snitch. Rusko, a dubstep DJ, was smoking marijuana backstage and Deadmau5 told security. Check out the beef here.
8. Ratatat – An electronic and instrumental duo that uses new and different technology to create cool and fun beats.
9. Girl Talk – Mash up extraordinaire & fun and fresh DJ. A plethora of samples never sounded so good.
10. Pretty Lights – Mellow electronic music with funky beats. Performances include trippy, bright and fast lights, hence the name.
11. Skrillex – Dubstep, drum n bass and electro-house DJ notorious for badass and loud beats. Think womp womp and computer noises that pair like nothing you’ve heard before… seriously it’s like seeing a color you don’t recognize.
12. Sleigh Bells – “American noise pop music duo”, according to Lollapalooza. Fun, loud music that you can really dance to.
13. Super Mash Bros. – Another mash up group that always brings the party whether it be through music, videos or computers.
14. Glitch Mob – An electronic music group whose sound is so unique that “can only be described by referencing the Glitch Mob name”.

The festival will be held on August 5-7 at Chicago’s Grant Park.