One of the country's oldest and most respected music festivals, Lollapalooza, kicks off its 25th year next week on July 28th in Chicago, Illinois. The festival, which has expanded to 4 days this year, will fill Grant Park with tens of thousands of fans - who will be treated to over 130 acts spread out over 8 different stages. As always, the range of artists is wonderfully diverse - with the headliners ranging from Radiohead to The Red Hot Chili Peppers to J. Cole. And in addition to always hosting some of the biggest artists around this summer, the festival is famous as a launching pad for the careers of some of today's most popular acts. Here are 3 emerging acts from a variety of genres that we think will stand out at Lolla this year.
WHO: Bryson Tiller
WHEN: Sunday July 31st @ 5:45pm - Petrillo Bandshell Stage
WHY: Kentucky native Bryson Tiller burst onto the hip-hop scene last year with his debut album T R A P S O U L, which debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 after generating some massive hype via SoundCloud. Tiller mixes rap, R&B and trap into a hybrid sound that feels fresh and infectious - and the industry has taken notice. Timbaland reportedly called Tiller after hearing the first track released from the album, "Don't", to advise him to "quit his day job", and his unique style has also earned him a few shoutouts from Drake and a major endorsement from Apple Music. His candid lyrics, original beats and fierce hooks make his live shows a must see. Take notice now, because Tiller is on track to become a major force in music.
WHO: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
WHEN: Saturday July 30th @ 3:45pm - Petrillo Bandshell Stage
WHY: Nathaniel Rateliff is no stranger to the southern music - he has been playing various instruments since he was a kid in rural Missouri, where his music roots blossomed in blues and folk. He and his band, The Night Sweats, started gaining traction last year with their surprise hit S.O.B., which is a roaringly fun track and an homage to Rateliff's folk/blues heroes like Van Morrison and Otis Redding. Their self-titled debut album is one of the best we've seen from the recent soul revival movement, and on a whole slew of reputable "Best of 2015" lists. Just one of many reasons not to miss Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats' fantastically fun soul sounds at Lolla this year.
WHO: MØ
WHEN: Friday July 29th @ 3:00pm - Lakeshore Stage
WHY: Pop music's quirky new princess MØ got her first taste of mainstream success after her guest vocals on the massive 2015 Major Lazer hit "Lean On" brought her voice to the masses. But the 27-year old Danish singer/songwriter isn't new to the industry - she's been making music since 2007, and in addition to releasing her own album in 2014, her songwriting credits include work for well-known artists like Avicii and Iggy Azealea. MØ has a busy year ahead of her with a highly anticipated 2nd album expected, and will also be featured on new Major Lazer music (including a track with pop superstar Justin Bieber). Her live shows are pure fun, so don't' miss MØ's refreshing new brand of pop at Lolla this year.