Lollapalooza: More than 130 bands and artists on eight stages play 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday in Grant Park, $80 per day ($205 three-day pass); lollapalooza.com.
FRIDAY
11 a.m.
Don’t miss
Hockey (11:30 a.m., Playstation): Portland quartet should provide a danceable, uptempo start to the festival.
Catch if you can
April Smith (11:15 a.m., BMI stage): An unsigned Brooklyn artist with a guitar-strumming cabaret vibe that has caught the ear of Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger among others.
Noon:
Don’t miss
Manchester Orchestra (12:15 p.m., Budweiser): Stumbling upon these guys at Lolla a couple of years ago, they were a cool find. Turns out they’re from a suburb of Atlanta, not Manchester U.K. as I had assumed, but their crash-and-burn guitars still bury mercurial singer Andy Hull in catacombs of noise.
Catch if you can
Hey Champ (12:15 p.m., Chicago 2016): The Rockford, Ill., trio’s “Cold Dust Girl” is a throwback to the days when synthesizers and A Flock of Seagulls were cool.
Other Lives (12 p.m., Citi): Meditative chamber-pop highlighted by swooning cello – from Stillwater, Okla., of all places.
1 p.m.
Don’t miss
The Knux (1 p.m., Citi): Chugging guitars and the tag-team vocals of Krispy Kream and Rah Al Millio make this a hip-hop band with a twist, still riding high from their MySpace hit “Cappuccino.”
Catch if you can
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears (1 p.m., Vitaminwater): Texas blues and soul served raw.
2 p.m.
Don’t miss
The Gaslight Anthem (2 p.m., Chicago 2016): Ultra-earnest, straight-up rock played with a ferocity that draws equally on ‘50s rave-ups and late ‘70s Clash.
Catch if you can
Amazing Baby (2:15 p.m., Citi): Brooklyn quintet weaves various retro strands (psychedelia, glam rock, folk-gypsy) into a sound that could make for some entertaining theater.
3 p.m.
Don’t miss
Heartless Bastards (3 p.m., Vitaminwater): Erika Wennerstrom’s voice could knock down walls, and her no-frills Texas trio stomps on the rubble.
Catch if you can
Dark Wave Disco (2:45 p.m., Perry’s): This Chicago crew creates a creepy-crawly vibe with its late-night Goth-tempered beats.
4 p.m.
Don’t miss
STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) (4 p.m., Chicago 2106): Electronic swoon and trip-hop chill blend with an improvised approach to create a “jam band” for people who hate jam bands.
Catch if you can
Eric Church (4:15 p.m., BMI): A Lolla rarity, Church is a genuine country act, with plenty of corn but just enough attitude to tip the scales more toward Steve Earle than Tim McGraw.
5 p.m.
Don’t miss
Fleet Foxes (5 p.m., PlayStation): A year ago this Seattle quintet was blowing us away at the Pitchfork Music Festival with their sublime harmonies, so their rise to international stardom is no fluke.
Catch if you can
Crystal Castles (5 p.m., Vitaminwater): The Canadian co-ed duo churns out rinky-dink robot beats with disembodied vocals that should leave believers twitching in the late-afternoon sun.
6 p.m.
Don’t miss
Decemberists (6 p.m., Budweiser): Colin Meloy brings an expanded version of his band to play their new rock opera, “The Hazards of Love,” in its entirety.
Catch if you can
Thievery Corporation (6 p.m., Chicago 2016): Rob Garza and Eric Hilton always do a great job of blending DJ culture with a live, improvised element.
7 p.m.
Don’t miss
Andrew Bird (7 p.m., Playstation): Last time Bird played a big Chicago show, he accidentally busted his precious violin on-stage. Things are bound to go better this time.
Catch if you can
Of Montreal (7 p.m., Vitaminwater): When it comes to on-stage theatrics, it’s difficult to top singer Kevin Barnes, he of the many costumes (or, occasionally, no costume at all).
8 p.m.
Don’t miss
Depeche Mode (8 p.m., Chicago 2016): The vaguely Goth synth-pop avatars have been a stadium act for a long time, and they should have no problem ringing down opening night with a string of anthems. Everybody! “Reach out and touch faith!”
9 p.m.
Don’t miss
Kid Cudi (9:25 p.m., Perry’s): Cleveland MC Scott Mescudi caught the ear of Kanye West with a mix tape, and his “Day N Nite” should make for a nice send-off.
SATURDAY
11 a.m.
Don’t miss:
Ezra Furman and the Harpoons (11:45 a.m., Playstation): The band’s namesake singer and guitarist plays like he’s about to explode. Gotta love that youthful enthusiasm.
Catch if you can:
Band of Skulls (11:15 a.m., BMI): British co-ed trio with some serious Chrissie Hynde vibrations coming from singer Emma Richardson.
Noon
Don’t miss:
The Low Anthem (12 p.m., Vitaminwater): Rhode Island trio puts an otherworldly spin on rustic Americana steeped in pre-rock country and folk.
Catch if you can:
TheNewNo2 (12 p.m., Citi): Gentle folk-based trip-hop from George Harrison’s son, Dhani, and drummer-keyboardist Oli Hecks.
1 p.m.
Don’t miss
Federico Aubele (1:30 p.m., Playstation): The Argentine is a master of chilled folk-tronica as he melds electronic and acoustic instruments.
Catch if you can
Miike Snow (1:30 p.m., Vitaminwater): Three behind-the-scenes producer/songwriter types (Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg) combine talents to create evanescent, keyboard-flavored pop tunes.
2 p.m.
Don’t miss
Los Campesinos (2:30 p.m., Budweiser): With their gang-style choruses and glockenspiel-driven melodies, this Welsh crew should have the kids celebrating.
Catch if you can
Ida Maria (2:15 p.m., Citi): Norwegian singer who sounds like she’s singing from the middle of a chaotic rumble on the dancefloor.
3 p.m.
Don’t miss
Chairlift (3:30 p.m., Citi): Percolating rhythms, gentle vocals and insinuating melodies make this trio the equivalent of a chilled glass of lemonade on a summer afternoon.
Catch if you can
Robert Earl Keen (3:30 p.m., Playstation): Texas troubadour whose songs have been covered by Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely and Willie Nelson, among others.
4 p.m.
Don’t miss
Coheed and Cambria (4:30 p.m., Chicago 2016): Besides rocking the best hair of anyone at Lolla, this concept-album-loving quartet brings the progressive-metal thunder.
Catch if you can
Arctic Monkeys (4:30 p.m., Budweiser): Their hit “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” is so 2006, but the Brit quartet has survived its Internet flavor-of the-week buzz to carve out a winning live reputation.
5 p.m.
Don’t miss
Santigold (5:30 p.m., Playstation): Her 2008 debut album expertly crossed new-wave rock with soul and reggae.
Catch if you can:
No Age (5 p.m., Citi): With just drums and guitar, Dean Spunt and Randy Randall will invade your personal space with a sound worthy of a small army.
6 p.m.
Don’t miss
TV on the Radio (6:30 p.m., Budweiser): Hard to believe this quintet was once fairly shaky as a live act. Those days are long gone, as they take their avant-rock to daring heights on stage.
Catch if you can
Lykke Li (6:30 p.m., Citi): The Swedish singer has a soft voice, but don’t let that fool you. Her exotic grooves and winning pop tunes have a way of sneaking up on you and living in your head for weeks afterward.
7 p.m.
Don’t miss
Animal Collective (7:30 p.m., Vitaminwater): The Baltimore collective turned a corner this year with an excellent summer-friendly album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion.”
Catch if you can
Diplo (7:30 p.m., Perry’s): Expect Thomas Wesley Pentz to mix everything from Brazilian funk to M.I.A.’s Sri Lankan hip-hop in his wide-ranging and ultra-danceable DJ set.
8 p.m.
Don’t miss
Tool (8:30 p.m., Chicago 2016): As dusk settles over Grant Park, the quartet’s brilliant and often disturbing visuals should be the ideal mood-enhancer for its mind-altering brand of epic metal.
Catch if you can
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (8:30 p.m., Budweiser): Last-minute fill-ins for the ailing Beastie Boys, the New York trio should do just fine on the big stage with the charisma-packing Karen O.
SUNDAY
11 a.m.
Don’t miss
Alberta Cross (11:45 a.m., Vitaminwater): A band of Swedes and Brits based in Brooklyn with a bit of a Neil Young fixation --- and that’s not a bad thing.
Noon
Don’t miss
Ra Ra Riot (12:30 p.m., Chicago 2016): Mixing chamber-pop strings with hurtling rock rhythms this Syracuse, N.Y., outfit is a kick in concert.
Catch if you can:
Friendly Fires (12:30 p.m., Budweiswer): Electro-pop from the U.K. with a rave-tastic feel.
1 p.m.
Don’t miss:
Bat for Lashes (1:30 p.m., Vitaminwater): Pakistan-born singer Natasha Khan comes armed with a multi-octave voice and a flair for dramatic storytelling.
Catch if you can:
Portugal the Man (1:30 p.m., Playstation): Portland-via-Alaska art-rock quartet led by vocalist John Gourley, who ratchets up the flamboyance like a spiritual cousin of Freddy Mercury or David Bowie.
2 p.m.
Don’t miss:
He Say, She Say (2:30 p.m., Perry’s): Vocalist Drea Smith is a smart, sometimes X-rated siren who emotes provocatively and persuasively over Mano’s slinky electronic grooves.
Catch if you can:
Cage the Elephant (2:15 p.m., Citi): Kentucky quintet became a minor sensation in the U.K. last year with its retro blues-rock stomp.
3 p.m.
Don’t miss
Dan Deacon (3:30 p.m., Vitaminwater): Once a one-man band, Deacon now tours with a mini-orchestra, the better to realize his creative mash-up of classical minimalism, pop, dance and the avant-garde.
Catch if you can:
The Raveonettes (3:30 p.m., Playstation): Danish co-ed duo with chainsaw guitars, walloping beats and a huge debt to the Jesus and Mary Chain.
4 p.m.
Don’t miss
Neko Case (4:30 p.m., Budweiser): Six albums into her career, Case is now not only a great singer, but a fine songwriter and producer as well.
Catch if you can
The Glitch Mob (4:30 p.m., Perry’s): Four-man DJ crew delivers electro-charged hip-hop tag-team style.
5 p.m.
Don’t miss
Passion Pit (5 p.m., Citi): A massive sugar rush may ensue from Michael Angelakos’ melodies delivered in a falsetto over keyboard-heavy disco rhythms.
Catch if you can:
Dan Auerbach (5:30 p.m., Playstation): The guitar-playing half of Ohio blues-rockers the Black Keys expands his palette slightly on a recent solo album, “Keep it Hid.”
6 p.m.
Don’t miss:
Lou Reed (6:30 p.m., Budweiser): The godfather of punk and the cofounder of the Velvet Underground has a deep catalogue of some of the best, most disturbing rock songs ever written.
Catch if you can:
Deerhunter (6:30 p.m., Citi): Bradford Cox is one arresting oddball of a front man, as he parades in front of an Atlanta outfit equally at home with fuzzed-out sonic exploration and heartbreaking fragility.
7 p.m.
Don’t miss
Band of Horses (7:30 p.m., Playstation): How good would “Funeral” sound in the wide open spaces of Grant Park? Let’s hope Ben Bridwell and company make it happen.
Catch if you can
MSTRKRFT (7 p.m., Perry’s): Who needs guitars? The Canadian duo of Jesse F. Keeler and Alex Puodziukas delivers aggression-plus in their hard-hitting DJ sets.
8 p.m.
Don’t miss:
Deadmau5 (8:30 p.m., Perry’s): Toronto DJ Joel Zimmerman straps on a big mouse helmet when he spins, but it’s his lush melodies and dependable beats that keep the dancefloor filled with revelers.
Catch if you can:
The Killers (8:30 p.m., Chicago 2016): This Las Vegas quartet has yet to make a great beginning-to-end album, but if it’s guilty-pleasure anthems you want to close out your festival, singer Brandon Flowers will be glad to oblige.
greg@gregkot.com