Our picks for Lollapalooza 2016 (and which Aussies to watch out for)!

Lollapalooza is underway at Grant Park in beautiful Chicago this weekend, with a huge line up of performers locked in for the next three days and nights of inner city live music. We love being out there, soaking up the atmosphere and seeing what surprises pop up at the official festival after-shows, not to mention checking out how the Australian contingent fares out on some of the biggest American festival stages of the year – check out who we’re keeping an eye on over the weekend!

Hayden James

Hayden’s “Just a Lover” world tour (yes, world tour) has been underway for the last few weeks and will see the Aussie producer continuing to tour right through the United States until November. Off the back of his smash hit singles “Permission to Love” and “Something About You”, James quickly became touted as one of the must-watch artists in Australian production and in the sheer amount of live shows and releases since, he’s stepped up to the plate and continued to surge ahead.

Set Time: 1:50pm, Pepsi Stage (Friday)

RÜFÜS DU SOL

RÜFÜS (to us Aussies) have long been making a big name for their live shows overseas now, to the point where they’ve found a great niche within the dance scenes in all the major markets. Their latest album BLOOM has seen the trio explore more experimental influences than before – dreamy, textured and excellently produced, RÜFÜS hit the nail on the head and have more than shown they can deliver equal amounts of quality when it comes to bringing the new material to a live stage.

Set Time: 4:00pm, Pepsi Stage (Friday)

Sunflower Bean

The New York trio have been making a solid impact since the release of their debut album Human Ceremony back in February. The Fat Possum Records-signed group have since been on the road supporting the likes of The Vaccines, DIIV and Best Coast…the stages are only getting bigger for the rock trio and we’re loving it.

Set Time: 6:50pm, BMI Stage (Friday)

Radiohead

The return of Radiohead in 2016 has seen some monumental sets be delivered to headline show crowds and festival crowds alike. We witnessed their effect at Primavera Sound and with an epic set slated for Friday night at Lollapalooza, we can only imagine what surprises lay ahead for the Chicago fans.

Set Time: 8:00pm, Samsung Stage (Friday)

Jarryd James

Jarryd James has released his long awaited EP High today, so no doubt his set at the Petrillo Bandshell this weekend is going to be super special for the writer and performer. James’ international profile has been growing considerably over the last year especially and while we in Australia know what talent he has to offer, seeing the US market in particular switch on to it even more has those pride pangs hitting hard.

Set Time: 12:00pm, Petrillo Bandshell (Saturday)

Tory Lanez

Tory Lanez has been hitting all the right marks through 2016 – when we saw him rap at SXSW, the young performer had the crowd whipped up into a frenzy we would have expected from an artist with many more years of experience behind him. In his Chixtape III and The New Toronto mixtapes, not to mention his Cruel Intentions EP, Lanez displayed a great ear for music and collaboration. With his debut album I Told You coming next month, we’re pumped for what comes next.

Set Time: 2:50pm, Pepsi Stage (Saturday)

Jane’s Addiction

Let’s be real, if it weren’t for this band, the whole damn festival wouldn’t exist. Perry Farrell returns to the Lollapalooza stage with the iconic US group on the Samsung Stage on Saturday night – a perfect opportunity for fans to see the festival’s founder do what he does best.

Set Time: 6:15pm, Samsung Stage (Saturday)

Two Door Cinema Club

It’s been a minute since fans heard much in the way of new music from the Irish indie rockers but this year, the break was over and the Two Door Cinema Club party had started up again. With new album Gameshow in the works, fans have already seen “Are We Ready? (Wreck)” released and new live shows being slotted in throughout the rest of the year. The trio have always enjoyed a great fan base in the US, so no doubt, the numbers will be turning out strong for their early Saturday evening show over at the Bud Light Stage.

Set Time: 6:45pm, Bud Light Stage (Saturday)

SLUMBERJACK

The Perth duo hit the Petrillo Bandshell on Saturday night, a massive set for Lollapalooza punters to be getting around on what’s arguably going to be the biggest day/night of the program. Slumberjack have already been making a solid name for themselves on the Australian club scene and it’s been awesome to see their effect start to trickle into the overseas market too.

Set Time: 7:45pm, Petrillo Bandshell (Saturday)

Banners

Liverpool artist Banners is a musician we first came across back in March when we were at SXSW and since then, we ended up crossing paths again in the UK at the Great Escape. His music is haunting and gorgeous to listen to and as it would seem, more and more crowds around the world are starting to switch onto this guy’s mad talent.

Set Time: 1:00pm, Bud Light Stage (Sunday)

Local Natives

It’s been three years since the LA group released their last album Hummingbird and in their 2016 effort Sunlit Youth, Local Natives have generated much excitement with their fans. They’ve supported the likes of The National and Arcade Fire (purely off the back of that brilliant debut, Gorilla Manor) and since that album brought Local Natives to our attention back in 2009/2010, we’ve been hooked.

Set Time: 4:45pm, Bud Light Stage (Sunday)

HAIM

HAIM’s acclaimed debut album Days Are Gone still has yet to see a follow up record, though apparently the sisters are working on new material through 2016. An energetic live force, we’ve missed seeing the HAIM ladies on stage (remember their Laneway Festival shows?), so we’re interested to see what type of gig they’re set to bring to the Bud Light Stage on Sunday.

Set Time: 6:45pm, Bud Light Stage (Sunday)

Flume

Harley left his Australian fans shook after that epic Splendour in the Grass set last weekend and with a full headline tour set to bring him home later in the year, we can only imagine how his next few months overseas is going to treat the producer who, with his sophomore album Skin, is only gaining more and more momentum. He’s graduated to the Samsung Stage at Lollapalooza after playing one of the festival’s smaller stages in 2014 – a perfect way to enter the final night of the festival run this year.

Set Time: 6:25pm, Samsung Stage (Sunday)

Die Antwoord

The South African duo who are a force unto themselves take to Perry’s Stage on Sunday night, bringing with them their ferocious live show and some new music. Their latest mixtape, Suck on This, dropped back in May and was a great precursor to their highly anticipated fourth studio record, so we can’t wait to see what heat Die Antwoord will be coming to Lolla packing this year.

Set Time: 8:30pm, Perry’s Stage (Sunday)

LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem’s return to live touring has seen the band hit multiple festival stages in the US and in Europe as well through 2016 already and no doubt, their headline set on the Samsung Stage on Sunday is set to bring some feels. Wrapping up Lollapalooza for another year, LCD Soundsystem have a big job on their hands, but we’re confident they’re more than up to task.

Set Time: 8:25pm, Samsung Stage (Sunday)

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Stay tuned for our coverage of Lollapalooza this weekend! To livestream the festival, head HERE. 

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