Friday begins at 11:15 a.m., and features Chicago-based band the Bon Mots-composers of sugar kissed pop music. Often compared to the Byrds and praised for vintage instrumentation, PopMatters.com cheers that the band mixes "witty lyrics and sly nods to the likes of Elvis Costello and Pavement," while AllMusic.com proclaims, "The Bon Mots just may be Chicago's best-kept secret."

12:30 p.m. ushers in another Chicago troupe, Cameron McGill and What Army. McGill's lyrics and melodies embrace the enigmatic and the melancholy, all while categorically maintaining a stark dedication to beauty and self-deprecating humor.

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. will be dominated by Houston's Makeshifte. Makeshifte is not for the faint of heart. The 2005 Texas Buzz Award winners for the "Musicians' Choice" award cite Hoobastank, Linkin Park and Incubus as key influences of their heavy, guitar-driven tunes led by feverish vocals.

San Francisco's Kelley Soltz follows Makeshifte at 3:00 until 3:45 p.m. Stoltz is capable of channeling Carl Wilson to sinful perfection, then swings over and nods to the Beatles, refusing to adopt any one monotonous sound or voice. A master of several instruments, Stoltz waves fondly to past icons while planting his feet firmly in 21st century pop.

4:15 to 5:00 p.m. brings Anderson, Indiana's Jon McLaughlin. A classically trained pianist, McLaughlin relishes in the sounds of Billy Joel and Ben Folds, and melds spirited keys with crooner-inspired vocals. The result jumps vigorously between genres like jazz, funk, rock and ragtime.

Chicago's Musical Outfits kick things off Saturday at 11:15 a.m. These four young musicians have created quite a buzz thanks in large part to the group's dynamic live show. Their 2005 debut album, Left Here, garnered spins on popular Chicago radio stations 93.1 WXRT, WLUW and Q101.

12:30 to 1:15 p.m. sees Austin, Texas, band St. James take the stage. The trio's buoyant harmonies are layered copiously over exquisite strings and the occasional piano, creating a moody feast for the ears well-worth revisiting.

New York rapper Lanz takes over at 1:45 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Lanz originally embraced the sounds of Jay Z, Tupac and Nas as an escape from the hardships that greeted her at an early age. Lanz has poured her arduous experiences into her lyrics, resulting in mature reflections in spite of her youth.

From 3:00 to 3:45 p.m., Rhode Island's Elvis Perkins holds down the fort. Dreamy melodies and stories dominate Perkins' music, which draws thoughtfully from folk rock and relies heavily on guitar and occasional fiddle mastery paired with emotive percussion.

At 4:15, Chicago's Kill Hannah wraps up Saturday's day stage. The Atlantic Records recording artists have created a fresh British-inspired rock / electronica hybrid best savored live. BMI proudly offers the opportunity to witness the band Billy Corgan called "the future of Chicago rock."

From 11:15 a.m. to noon Sunday morning, Chicago's Katie Todd Band will pleasantly awaken the crowd. Three albums deep into a promising career, the band is buoyed by Todd's sweet vocals that hint provocatively at the jagged edge buried just beneath the surface.

Chicago's Catfish Haven takes the stage at 12:30 p.m. The band's rustic sound achieves notoriety thanks to soulful lead singer George Hunter's gravelly vocal delivery. Named for the trailer park Hunter called home in his youth, the troupe's authentic grittiness seeps into every corner of their sound.

1:45 p.m. brings Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra to Chicago. The young pop band displays an innate understanding of balancing emotional depths with radio-friendly hooks that often evades artists twice their age. Manchester Orchestra is sauntering down a golden path, prompting Paste Magazine to proclaim, "When experience matriculates into that pre-existing talent, great music will spring from this simply good music."

Birmingham, Alabama's Moses Mayfield hits the stage from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Epic Recording artists who claim influences ranging from Pearl Jam to Peter Gabriel, Moses Mayfield delivers an insightful rock punch that somehow prompts both introspection and unbridled head-banging.

Chicago's Assassins wrap up BMI's Lollapalooza day stage from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. The group's unique approach to composition and songwriting itself results in experimental layers of electro-rock bearing the distinct thumbprint of each one of the six members.

Katie Todd talks to her manager Jill Katona backstage - prior to kicking off the Sunday BMI stage lineup - as Lollapalooza's documentary film crew captures the conversation.

Hometown favorites frequented the BMI stage, from Friday's kick-off with buzz-band the Bon Mots until the Assassin's endnote on Sunday. Other Windy City acts Cameron McGill and What Army, Musical Outfits, Kill Hannah, the Katie Todd Band and Catfish Haven graced the stage as well-each a testament to the town's rich artistic backdrop. The four corners of the country were also well-represented, thanks to Houston's Makeshifte, San Francisco's Kelley Stoltz, Indiana's Jon McLaughlin, Austin's St. James, New York City's Lanz, Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra and Birmingham's Moses Mayfield.

Chicago's Catfish Haven - dressed in black - perform with a beefed-up presence: background singers and a horn section are dressed in white. Pictured left to right: BMI's June Neira, bandmembers George Hunter, Miguel Castillo, and Ryan Farnham, BMI's Charlie Feldman

"Lollapalooza is the perfect platform to underscore BMI's commitment to the best new music," says New York Writer/Publisher VP Charlie Feldman. "We provided a great opportunity for many of our up-and-coming acts in a high profile setting that also promoted many of BMI's superstars. Our stage sponsorship of this first-class event was a win-win for BMI."

Manchester Orchestra - left to right BMI's Samantha Cox, band leader Andy Hall with members Jay, Jeremiah, and Chris, BMI's Lynn Oliver

Moses Mayfield - Front row, l - r: Band members Matthew Mayfield and Will Drake, manager Jason Rogoff. Back row, l-r: BMI's Lynn Oliver, band members Will Mason, Hans Ford, and Matt Taylor.

l-r: Band members Will Mason and Will Drake, BMI's June Neira, Matthew Mayfield, BMI's Charlie Feldman, Hans Ford, Matt Taylor, manager Jason Rogoff, BMI's Samantha Cox

BMI's June Neira, Sub Pop recording artist Kelley Stoltz (currently opening for the Raconteurs US Tour), BMI's Charlie Feldman

Keyboardist Chris Frantisak, BMI's Kay Clary, BMI's June Neira, Bon Mot leader Eric Chial

BMI's Lynn Oliver and Samantha Cox gear up to catch Kill Hannah's headlining set on BMI's day stage.

L-R: BMI's Ben Tischker, Rodrigo Palma, Nate Swan, BMI's Charlie Feldman, Cameron McGill, Jeff Kmeciak, Noah Harris, and Sean Burke

Kill Hannah command the BMI Stage on Saturday afternoon

Performance photos by Scott Newton

Friday begins at 11:15 a.m., and features Chicago-based band the Bon Mots-composers of sugar kissed pop music. Often compared to the Byrds and praised for vintage instrumentation, PopMatters.com cheers that the band mixes "witty lyrics and sly nods to the likes of Elvis Costello and Pavement," while AllMusic.com proclaims, "The Bon Mots just may be Chicago's best-kept secret."

12:30 p.m. ushers in another Chicago troupe, Cameron McGill and What Army. McGill's lyrics and melodies embrace the enigmatic and the melancholy, all while categorically maintaining a stark dedication to beauty and self-deprecating humor.

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. will be dominated by Houston's Makeshifte. Makeshifte is not for the faint of heart. The 2005 Texas Buzz Award winners for the "Musicians' Choice" award cite Hoobastank, Linkin Park and Incubus as key influences of their heavy, guitar-driven tunes led by feverish vocals.

San Francisco's Kelley Soltz follows Makeshifte at 3:00 until 3:45 p.m. Stoltz is capable of channeling Carl Wilson to sinful perfection, then swings over and nods to the Beatles, refusing to adopt any one monotonous sound or voice. A master of several instruments, Stoltz waves fondly to past icons while planting his feet firmly in 21st century pop.

4:15 to 5:00 p.m. brings Anderson, Indiana's Jon McLaughlin. A classically trained pianist, McLaughlin relishes in the sounds of Billy Joel and Ben Folds, and melds spirited keys with crooner-inspired vocals. The result jumps vigorously between genres like jazz, funk, rock and ragtime.

Chicago's Musical Outfits kick things off Saturday at 11:15 a.m. These four young musicians have created quite a buzz thanks in large part to the group's dynamic live show. Their 2005 debut album, Left Here, garnered spins on popular Chicago radio stations 93.1 WXRT, WLUW and Q101.

12:30 to 1:15 p.m. sees Austin, Texas, band St. James take the stage. The trio's buoyant harmonies are layered copiously over exquisite strings and the occasional piano, creating a moody feast for the ears well-worth revisiting.

New York rapper Lanz takes over at 1:45 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Lanz originally embraced the sounds of Jay Z, Tupac and Nas as an escape from the hardships that greeted her at an early age. Lanz has poured her arduous experiences into her lyrics, resulting in mature reflections in spite of her youth.

From 3:00 to 3:45 p.m., Rhode Island's Elvis Perkins holds down the fort. Dreamy melodies and stories dominate Perkins' music, which draws thoughtfully from folk rock and relies heavily on guitar and occasional fiddle mastery paired with emotive percussion.

At 4:15, Chicago's Kill Hannah wraps up Saturday's day stage. The Atlantic Records recording artists have created a fresh British-inspired rock / electronica hybrid best savored live. BMI proudly offers the opportunity to witness the band Billy Corgan called "the future of Chicago rock."

From 11:15 a.m. to noon Sunday morning, Chicago's Katie Todd Band will pleasantly awaken the crowd. Three albums deep into a promising career, the band is buoyed by Todd's sweet vocals that hint provocatively at the jagged edge buried just beneath the surface.

Chicago's Catfish Haven takes the stage at 12:30 p.m. The band's rustic sound achieves notoriety thanks to soulful lead singer George Hunter's gravelly vocal delivery. Named for the trailer park Hunter called home in his youth, the troupe's authentic grittiness seeps into every corner of their sound.

1:45 p.m. brings Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra to Chicago. The young pop band displays an innate understanding of balancing emotional depths with radio-friendly hooks that often evades artists twice their age. Manchester Orchestra is sauntering down a golden path, prompting Paste Magazine to proclaim, "When experience matriculates into that pre-existing talent, great music will spring from this simply good music."

Birmingham, Alabama's Moses Mayfield hits the stage from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Epic Recording artists who claim influences ranging from Pearl Jam to Peter Gabriel, Moses Mayfield delivers an insightful rock punch that somehow prompts both introspection and unbridled head-banging.

Chicago's Assassins wrap up BMI's Lollapalooza day stage from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. The group's unique approach to composition and songwriting itself results in experimental layers of electro-rock bearing the distinct thumbprint of each one of the six members.

BMI's Samantha Cox, Ruse singer John Dauer, Ruse drummer Jason Young, BMI's Lynn Oliver, Ruse guitarist Jim Bilus, BMI's June Neira and Ruse bassist Mark Stoltze

The three-day festival, the largest of its kind in that city, included over 250 bands on 15 stages and proved successful for BMI in discovering new musical talent, including bands like Scenes From A Movie and Suburban Tragedy, among others. BMI showcased several artists on two stages, featuring some of the most captivating performances of the event. Industry watchers made their way between the two venues, listening to performances from Dish, Kalen Nash, Kiteline, the Ruse, Monochromatic, Elevation, the Hero Factor, Manchester Orchestra, and headliners Third Eye Blind.

BMI's Lynn Oliver, John Cole, Kalen Nash and BMI's Samantha Cox

BMI's Samantha Cox participated in two of the festival's panel discussions: one at music production/business school, Full Sail, and the other at FMF entitled "By the Numbers," which featured leading industry professionals explaining how to turn artist income into millions.

Singer Kalen Nash performs on the BMI Wall Street stage

BMI's Samantha Cox, Manchester Orchestra members Chris, Andy, Jeremiah and Jay, and BMI's June Neira

Manchester Orchestra performs at the Florida Music Festival

BMI's Samantha Cox, Elevation members John, Jacob, Nathan, John and Andrew, and BMI's Lynn Oliver