I don't make it to many festivals.  I can never seem to find one where I love the lineup(although last year's Pitchfork lineup was amazing), and when I do, I have a conflict and can't make it(damnit Pitchfork).  One of my best, and only, festival experiences was Lollapalooza in 2006.  Nearly all of my favorite bands - Wilco, Broken Social Scene, My Morning Jacket, Iron & Wine, the Flaming Lips, the Shins - were there and I have been trying to return since to recapture that magic.  My goal for this summer was to go back.  The fesitival, which since 2005 has gone away from the traveling circus to staying rooted in Chicago's Grant Park, is slated to go down on August 3-5 this year.  While Lolla tickets when on sale a couple weeks ago, the lineup was not revealed until later last night, something that still annoys me.  How can you pay for a lineup that is not even out yet?  No matter because with all of the rumors that have been floating around the past month (Sigur Ros!  M83!), the festival had to be good this year right?  Right?  As I eagerly clicked the link to check out who was going to play, I was immediately let down by the headliners.

Black Sabbath?!?  I am sorry to all Sabbath fans out there, but if I wanted to see Ozzy Osbourne mumble around stage, I would buy season one of The Osbournes(ugh) and call it a day.  Red Hot Chili Peppers?!?  They were one of the headliners in 2006(one of the only weak parts of that weekend) and they still are not relevant in my opinion.  The Black Keys round out the headliners, and while I don't dislike the Akron duo, I can't be the only one who is just frankly a bit sick of them can I?  Now headliners are not everything, but I want at least one act to look forward to ending the evening, and I have zero.  Those M83 and Sigur Ros rumors turned out to be true after all.  Couldn't one of them headline?  Can't you imagine M83, who never may be bigger than this moment, playing "We Own the Sky"or "Wait" as the sun sets over Lake Michigan, or Sigur Ros making the tens of thousands in Grant Park tear up by playing "Staralfur" on one of those beautiful Chicago nights.

Some of the smaller acts do catch my interest.  The Walkmen, one of the better live acts and most consistent indie acts of the last decade, will certainly be a highlight as they play some new tunes from their upcoming album Heaven.  Sharon Van Etten released one of my favorite albums (Tramp) of the year and would certainly be worth a look on one of the smaller afternoon stages.  The War on Drugs are one of my favorite new(er) bands, and while I never got into At the Drive In, I certainly wouldn't mind checking them out as they reunite and experience the hype I missed out on years ago.

Maybe I will still go for a single day.  My best friend lives in Chicago so I could always make a weekend out of it.   Lets wait for the schedule to be set though.  Wilco is playing in Rochester that same weekend so maybe I will just save some money and check them out instead.  And I apologize for my bitching, but it is what I do best.  The full lineup, tickets, and everything else Lollapalooza can be found here.  The two rounds of early bird tickets ($70, $200) are no longer available, but you can still get the three day pass for a reasonable $230.  See you there!  Well, maybe.