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Lollapalooza 2010: Lady Gaga, Soundgarden, Green Day, Arcade Fire, Strokes Confirmed

Lady GagaGrant Park, Chicago get ready for some monsters: Lollapalooza's 2010 lineup is here and leading the pack is Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour, the recently reformed Soundgarden, Green Day and the Arcade Fire are all scheduled as headliners. Other big names include the Strokes, Erykah Badu, Hot Chip, Phoenix, Spoon, the National and MGMT. As far as retro rock goes, Devo and Social Distortion join the bill, as well as 2009 breakout acts Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, Temper Trap, Yeasayer, Dawes, the xx and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

Now in its 15th non-consecutive year, the festival is set for August 6–8 at Grant Park in Downtown Chicago. Early bird three-day passes are already sold out, but the $190 advance three day pass is currently on sale.

Known for showcasing smaller acts, this year's festival boasts a number of breakout acts from last year that might not be as well known now on the national stage, but by the time August rolls, around, bands like Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the Antlers and Neon Trees could be household names.

Along with the requisite indie rock offerings, Lolla boasts a handful of soul performers this year, including Raphael Saadiq, Mavis Staples, Nneka, Jamie Lidell as well as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell will also continue his DJ tent tradition for the second year running, this time wrangling 2ManyDJs to lead the charge. Chicago's house king Felix da Housecat, Empire of the Sun, Rusko, Cut Copy, Flosstradamus and Digitalism also all head up the electronica offerings, along with rising Bay Area stars Beats Antique and Ana Sia.

While this lineup could underwhelm some that don't see Lady Gaga as a viable headliner worthy of the Arcade Fire's company, there should be no doubt that Lollapalooza is setting itself apart from the festival pack by banking on such a massive pop star. While Coachella goes after the alt-crowd with Muse, Gorillaz and Pavement and Bonnaroo's jam-friendly offerings found them seeking Dave Matthews Band and Kings of Leon, Lollapalooza had to round up the monster if they wanted to truly be different. And no one can say that hasn't been accomplished so far: Lollapalooza 2010 feels like the most "mainstream" offering this year, if that word still means anything. They're banking on yes.

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Cherokee

They left of X-Japan, who are playing Sunday, and the only reason I'm going. Yeah, I know I'll get people saying that you don't go to a music festival for ONE band but considering this will be only the FIRST(or second time if they do a show in LA) that X has played here in the States, I don't care.

May 18 2010 at 11:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
violet

I love what M.I.A said recently about lady gaga. gaga is 100% schtick. times have really changed because there is no way in heck ms. gaga could've gotten an invite to play Lollapoloza in the 1990's when the festival was actually relevant.

PJ Harvey is queen...

April 11 2010 at 7:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
asdf

Devo!

April 10 2010 at 1:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply