A troop of 21 bands and singer-songwriters will hit the BMI-sponsored stage at this year’s Lollapalooza festival. Running July 31 through August 2 at Grant Park’s Hutchinson Field in Chicago, killer performances will kick off at 12:00 p.m. each day, setting the pace at the massive music festival. Performers on this year’s highly anticipated BMI stage range from the pop punk princess Halsey to the electro-folk troubadour BØRNS, to the swagger of Atlanta native Young Thug, and the raspy voice of rocker Elle King.
Daye Jack: 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.
The New Pacific: 1:10 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Black Pistol Fire: 2:10 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
LANY: 3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bear’s Den: 4:30 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
BØRNS: 5:40 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
Young Thug: 6:50 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Janelle Kroll: 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Hippo Campus: 1:10 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
COIN: 2:10 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Pell: 3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
White Sea: 4:30 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Elle King: 5:40 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
Mt. Eden: 6:50 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Atarah Valentine: 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Zebra Katz: 1:10 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
SirenXX: 2:10 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Vérité: 3:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Lonely Biscuits: 4:30 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Bully: 5:40 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
Halsey: 6:50 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Known as a springboard for superstardom, the BMI/Lollapalooza stage has been a launching pad for performers such as Neon Trees, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Chance the Rapper and Cage the Elephant. Commenting on this year’s event, Samantha Cox, BMI Assistant Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations, said, “BMI is once again proud to partner with C3 Presents to showcase an incredible line-up of must-see performers on our stage. This year’s BMI/Lollapalooza stage, as in the past, will provide festival-goers the opportunity to see great music from artists you might not know yet. Trust me, they will be your favorite artists a year from now!”
Atarah Valentine is a New York native currently preparing for the launch of his debut solo project. With the guidance of several notable producers Valentine has honed his style, fusing elements of arena rock, 80’s pop and 90’s grunge to create a unique sound. From an early age, music has been in the forefront of Atarah’s mind and he developed a flare for showmanship. As a teenager, Atarah had a chance encounter with classic rock legend Warren Zevon in LA. This forever changed Atarah’s destiny, as Zevon encouraged Valentine to pursue music after hearing several tracks and speaking for hours. Today Atarah has songs with influences ranging from the Beach Boys to Queen to early Billy Joel, with themes such as friendship, reckless teenage nights and self-empowerment. His performances nod to a young Mick Jagger and Freddie Mercury, with energy and excitement that has been missing from modern rock.
What fans would be surprised to know: I think people would be surprised to know that I'm a pretty shy, introverted person at heart. Speaking in public makes me feel like I am dying inside, which is why I hate talking between songs.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: The act that I'm the most excited to see at Lollapalooza this year is probably Charli XCX. I find her sense of humor refreshing and appreciate the fact that she's a great writer, but doesn't take herself too seriously.
Inspired by Maurice Sendak’s 1963 classic Where the Wild Things Are, the London-based trio Bear’s Den (Andrew Davie, guitar, vocals; Kev Jones drums, vocals; and Joey Haynes banjo, vocals) music that is literate and profound, but still accessible. Embarking on the process of playing gigs anywhere and everywhere in 2012, the trio bridged the gap between performer and audience wherever possible; printing up limited edition bootleg CDs specific for each gig. Signed to renowned record label Communion, an inspired idea saw them conduct a U.S tour with Ben Howard, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Staves, crossing the States in ’60s VW Camper vans. Their English folk and Americana inspired debut EP Agape was followed by the more progressive dream-rock Without/Within. Recorded with producer Ian Grimble at Crouch End’s Church Studios, their newest release Islands has dynamic drum and melodic banjo parts atmospherically arranged. Islands’ central message is of hope, which resonates in these desensitized times.
What fans would be surprised to know: Our beards aren't real.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: So many great bands playing!! War on Drugs, Tame Impala, Sylvan Esso...Paul McCartney...he's pretty good at the whole songwriting thing...might check him out too. Can't wait!
Black Pistol Fire is a rock duo from Toronto, Canada, based out of Austin, TX. Their wild and energetic rock-and-roll sound has been described as a mix of classic Southern rock and garage punk, garnering comparisons to early Kings of Leon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The White Stripes, and Clutch. In the past year they have performed at such festivals as Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Loufest and SXSW, and supported Weezer, Wolfmother, Gary Clark Jr and The Toadies. They starred and had their original song used in a national T Mobile ad, as well as song placements in an Applebee’s national ad, and in shows About a Boy, Castle, Grimm and Scorpion. Their work appears in video games Madden 2015 and trailers for Tales from the Borderland and Battlefield 4. In the past they have also been featured on Sons of Anarchy, Suits, Hawaii 5-0 and ads for Pepsi.
If you want to find Garrett Borns, a good place to look would be up. His home in the LA canyons is the first place that BØRNS, originally from rural Michigan, landed when he relocated from New York to LA. The change of scenery freed him to write and record the songs on his forthcoming shimmering debut EP Candy, which filters his moody, sensual sound through bohemian sunlight. Since his youth, he’s been moving fearlessly from one inspiration to another. His first artistic love was visual arts. Next came music. The singer was ten when he started piano lessons with an eccentric teacher who appreciated his unconventional talent, and by 14 BØRNS was attending the prestigious summer program at Interlochen Center for the Arts. He studied filmmaking, but always came back to songwriting. After high school, BØRNS went to college in Grand Rapids and played with a band locally. Having earned his chops, BØRNS is excited about the chance to play for increasingly animated fan base, and is driven to merge varied art forms into one multi-sensory experience.
The word “bully” has a negative connotation in 2015, one heavy with menace and violence. It’s a curious name for a Nashville quartet, but an apt description for their churning guitars, rhythms and intensity and is perfect for frontwoman Alicia Bognanno’s visceral approach to songwriting. She is not only the band’s vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, but Bully’s producer and engineer as well. Boganno became obsessed with analog equipment while studying audio engineering at MTSU and used that experience while interning at Electrical Audio, Steve Albini’s Chicago studio, host to some of Bully’s heroes such as the Breeders, Liz Phair, Superchunk and the Stooges. After returning to Tennessee, she formed Bully, a solo project backed by Stewart Copeland on drums, Clayton Parker on guitar and Reece Lazarus on bass. The band has since developed a reputation for its ferocious live shows. A deeply personal album, Feels Like is all about trying to figure yourself out.
COIN proudly call themselves a “product of the ’90s,” a borrowed nostalgia for the decade that isn’t uncommon among Nashvillians. COIN hasn’t adopted the detached smugness and angst often associated with ’90s alt acts and contemporary ’90s alt revival acts, and they are entirely devoid of ironic, rock n’ roll posturing or odes to the joys of slackerdom. Instead, lead singer, keyboardist and lyricist Chase Lawrence opts for earnest songs about human emotions: falling in (and out of) love, worrying about the future and missing the past. Their songs are hopeful, but behind the spring reverb and airy synths, there’s subtle regret and even morbidity. They’ve recently finished writing and recording their debut album in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce, who has worked with Cage the Elephant, Eric Church and Little Big Town. The forthcoming album is guitar driven and sonically mature, but still true to their synth-pop sensibilities.
Answered by Chase Lawrence of COIN:
What fans would be surprised to know: When i stay at a hotel, I like to leave my sheets tucked in at the foot of the bed. Please do not untuck my sheets.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: The War on Drugs!
19-year-old Daye Jack is creating album-length experiences that overflow with vibrant soul and acute focus. Pronounced dah-yay, he was born in Nigeria, then moved to Atlanta at the age of six. He then went to New York City — by way of Computer Science studies at NYU and independently released “Hello World,” solidifying his path on a journey to apply distortion to hip-hop, pop and soul music. Labels were interested and stayed interested, even as he focused on his studies. The inspiration provided by his first winter in NYC resulted in Soul Glitch, his debut album for Warner Brothers. Under the umbrella of Max Martin's MXM Publishing and Mike Elizondo's executive production, Daye Jack is now in LA, expanding his craft under the tutelage of top-notch veterans. He aims to dirty soul music, warp hip-hop and create unforgettable pop music without ever compromising his ideals.
Elle King is an American recording artist whose musical style encompasses country, soul, folk, rock and blues. Born in Ohio and raised in Brooklyn, Elle retains her roots in a style that blends those worlds of grit and mid-western charm. King released The Elle King EP on Fat Possum Records. She was spotlighted as an “Artist to Watch” by Esquire Magazine and Refinery 29, and the EP garnered favorable press from Entertainment Weekly, Teen Vogue and Vanity Fair. The track “Playing for Keeps” was chosen as the theme song for VH1’s Mob Wives Chicago and was featured in the national TV ad campaign for AMC's Mad Men. Elle has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and toured with Of Monsters and Men, Train and Ed Sheeran. Her full-length debut Love Stuff was the highest new artist entry on Billboard and was released to great reviews in early 2015.
Midway through 2014, Halsey – New Jersey-raised singer Ashley Frangipane – dropped her first single, the haunting, glitch-y “Ghost.” She self-released it despite almost universal discouragement, and the song touched a nerve with a growing fan base, who promptly downloaded it. She soon was seeing serious spins on Sirius Radio, which vaulted her up the iTunes alternative music chart, and inspired Astralwerks to sign her in June 2014. Since signing, Halsey has built upon the initial fan fervor and reached #2 on Billboard’s Twitter Emerging Artists chart and #1 artist on Billboard’s Trending Twitter Chart. She was also named one of Vevo’s top 20 artists to watch in the coming year. This all culminated with each date of Halsey’s first headlining tour selling out within an hour. Halsey’s self-assurance has not only served her well with fans, but has also evolved into a steadfast approach to her career.
Four Minneapolis teenagers, known as Hippo Campus, have successfully produced the soundtrack to the soul-searching angst of youth. Their debut EP, Bashful Creatures, has been praised by publications like NME, Interview magazine and Indie Shuffle, all hailing their incredible energetic and defiant indie pop. Low’s Alan Sparhawk produced the EP, which was recorded in a remarkable two days at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, MN. Influenced by everything from teenage experimentation to art school girls, the EP’s first single, “Little Grace,” features a beachy feel, perfect for listening to while lounging with friends, while “Suicide Saturday,” the follow-up track, displays an anthem-like bravado of artists who’ve been in the music business much, much longer.
What fans would be surprised to know: Our fans might be surprised to know that we enjoy consuming Biscoff spread.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: We're excited to see Metallica.
Chicago born, NYC based singer-songwriter Janelle Kroll recently debuted her downtempo track "Sunny Days" via Bullett Magazine. This past spring/summer, Janelle performed lead vox on tour with paranoid electronic music band Big Data. Her deep house cut with Dennis Ferrer on Defected Records, "Mind Ur Step," received a nod from the 2014 International Dance Music Awards with a nomination in its category.
Soundcloud’s newest partner and highlight act of Spotify’s “100 Emerging SXSW Artists,” the alt-pop electronic band LANY has emerged from a Nashville bedroom with their signature synth-infused sound. Comprised of Paul, Les, and Jake, LANY started as a group of friends just looking to “see what happens”, and morphed into a trio that makes it clear that even guys with good looks and vocal prowess get their hearts broken. Front-man Paul’s glacial, yet engaging vocals, draws listeners into their heartbreak manifesto. After the release of their first single, LANY was invited to perform exclusively for Snapchat, circulated to the worldwide database on their "Under the Ghost" channel. LANY has released 7 independent tracks to their demo- and genre-bending fan base, with H&M, Hollister Co. and Starbucks playing the tunes in stores nationwide. LANY has zeroed in on a gap in the music business that aches for a sound like theirs.
What fans would be surprised to know: We're all from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: Paul McCartney
The Lonely Biscuits formed in the fall of 2011 in a dorm room at Belmont University. Founding members Grady Wenrich (Vocals/Guitar) and Sam Gidley (Drums) were random roommates when they started making music together the first week of school. John Paterini (Vocals/Guitar) came into the picture in September after hearing some of the tunes from across the hall. Two months later Nick Byrd (Bass) joined the group, rounding out the band’s sound and solidifying their unique style.
What fans would be surprised to know: We all met freshman year of college. Grady and Sam were random roommates and started jamming together in their dorm room. Nick and John lived on the same floor and started playing with them just a few weeks later!
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: We are super excited to see A$AP Rocky, Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs and Bully
For many, Mt. Eden’s 2009 release “Sierra Leone” was pivotal in their introduction to electronic music. Six years on, having released two EPs and a fistful of singles and remixes, the duo’s success has evolved into global notoriety. In 2012, Jesse Cooper and Harley Rayner relocated from Auckland, New Zealand, to New York City and locked themselves away in a studio in Brooklyn to conjure up a plan for their comeback. In 2012, Mt. Eden signed a multi-album deal with dance music giant Ultra Records and in June 2013, released Walking On Air EP to critical acclaim. The subsequent singles culminated in their selection for MTV’s Iggy's Artist to Watch series. The duo embarked on an impressive touring schedule throughout 2013 – 2014, headlining festivals and clubs around the globe. Now, in 2015, having dropped the first single “Distance Kills,” the duo is gearing up for the No Man’s Land EP.
What fans would be surprised to know: We have partnered with producers of the mini web series ALITA (a marvel character) and we are writing movie scores for the first time.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: Looking forward to seeing James Bay. Dudes got jams!!
The New Pacific may have been born and bred in sunny Los Angeles, CA, but its members bring a musical ferocity rooted from their hometown scenes across the country. Guitarists Alec Strickland and Dave Miller hailing from acclaimed Nashville and New Jersey rock and punk scenes blend a flash of dark passionate rock and driving melodic intensity. Bassist Austin Schroeder and drummer Brian Fowler bring Midwestern grit and California sunshine to a musical outfit that cites influences ranging from Refused to Alkaline Trio to Queens of The Stone Age. After releasing and supporting their debut album, the band is currently in the studio and has announced plans to release an ambitious new album in summer 2015.
What fans would be surprised to know: We actually all went to the same college in Florida but didn’t meet everyone in the band until we were all living in Los Angeles. Maybe we would’ve been The New Gulf of Mexico?
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: The impending supergroup Paul McTallica + The Machine. And of course Brand New, A$AP Rocky & DFA1979.
With the 2014 independent release of Floating While Dreaming, Jared Pellerin, known as Pell, established himself as a premiere force in the music world, garnering ecstatic press from FADER, Billboard, Complex and more. Though he hails from N’awlins, Pell’s sonics are more of a barrage of ethereal grooves than the raw bounce typical of the region. He seamlessly flips from wordsmith to crooner on cuts like “The Never” and “Eleven:11.” Hurricane Katrina forced Pell’s family to Mississippi when Pell was fourteen and his resilience launched Pell from a Dollar Store job to a nation-wide tour, including shows at SXSW and the New Orleans’ BUKU Music + Art festival. With more than three million streams on Spotify, Floating While Dreaming is just the start: next is an international tour and new album. Already one of Complex’s 2014 Top 25 Rappers to Know, Pigeons & Planes’ Top 10 Rappers to Know Before They Blow and Spotify’s 2015 Predicted Music Stars, Pell is poised to surpass even his wildest dreams in 2015.
In early January of 2014, longtime friends Skyler Stonestreet and Kat Ostenberg united to form SirenXX. The LA based duo pair dreamy vocals with heavier beats and spontaneous melodies, creating a sound that launched them to #1 on the Hype Machine charts in April and August of the same year. The duo first whet pop fans’ appetite for melodic yet left-of-center pop offerings via their debut, “I Think I Like You.” Later in 2014, SirenXX made even more noise when they co-wrote The Chainsmokers’ follow up single to “Selfie,” called “Kanye.” The song shot to the top of the Shazam and Spotify charts, winning accolades from Rolling Stone, People, Entertainment Tonight, and garnering more than 20 million streams. The Duo’s full length debut comes out this summer on Warner Bros Records.
VÉRITÉ has forged an impressive musical journey that began with starting a punk cover band at age 13 and writing her own material at 16. Following a fortuitous email introduction to producer Elliot Jacobson, a blossoming partnership was born. What started out as trading, refining and polishing musical ideas over emails led to the birth of her acclaimed debut, the Echo EP. This collection of tracks is characterized as “danceable with alt-pop sensibilities and a dark emotional undercurrent haunted by her silky, ethereal voice.” Heads turned on both sides of the pond, as the EP gained love from The Line of Best Fit, Buzzfeed, Hype Machine, Nylon and more. Onstage, VÉRITÉ channels all those emotions into a captivating and unforgettable presence. Centered around her riveting vocals and fueled by the razor-sharp performances of her band, her live shows are brimming with energy and human connection.
What fans would be surprised to know: I'm irrationally terrified of bees.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: I can't answer this question without multiple answers: Alt-J, The Weeknd, & Florence + The Machine are just a few, in no particular order.
White Sea, the moniker of Los Angeles based recording artist and producer Morgan Kibby, is best known for collaborations and touring with M83. She's contributed to the band's acclaimed release Saturdays=Youth, and co-wrote the songs including the hit "Kim & Jessie." She returned to the studio with M83 to contribute to their GRAMMY nominated sixth album, "Hurry Up We're Dreaming." Kibby provided vocals, keyboards and arrangements as well as co-wrote the album's mulit-platinum hit "Midnight City" (amongst others), which enjoyed global chart success. 2014 saw the release of White Sea’s debut album In Cold Blood. A venerable remix artist, Kibby has remixed tracks for a range of artists including The Naked and Famous, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Imagine Dragons, Manchester Orchestra, Kevin Devine, New Politics and more.
What fans would be surprised to know: I used to be an art objects restoration technician. I've worked on amazing pieces like a wax casting of Lincoln's death mask, cleaning the lion's in front of the New York Library and reguilding statues at Hearst Castle on the coast of California. It was painstaking and rewarding work.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: There are so many, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say War on Drugs, Marina and the Diamonds and The Weeknd. I also just had an awesome couple days in the studio with Borns so I can't wait to see him live.
Young Thug, born Jeffery Williams, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, living in Jonesboro South projects, where he developed his formidable rapping skills. After releasing his first three mixtapes in 2011 and 2012, Thug caught the attention of veteran Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane, who debuted Thug’s mixtape 1017 Thug in 2013. The tape was met with impressive reviews and was included in year-end lists for Pitchfork, FACT, Complex, Rolling Stone and The Guardian. In 2015, Young Thug co-headlined The Rodeo Tour with Travis Scott, covering 28 cities over a month’s time, again receiving great reviews. In April 2015, his mixtape, The Barter 6, was released and though its intent was to pay homage to the Thug’s idol, Lil Wayne, the media spun it as a controversy, which propelled Thug into further media focus. From his androgynous style to his avant-garde rap, Young Thug pushes the standard of Southern rap.
It’s been a long journey for multimedia performance artist turned rapper and producer, Ojay Morgan. Emerging from the same electro-tinged, fashion-aligned New York scene that also produced the likes of Lana Del Rey and Azealia Banks, the Brooklynite first came to prominence with “Ima Read,” a growled minimalist banger released by Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint in 2012. The video has since accumulated more than 2 million views on YouTube, while the track provided the sonic backbone for a Rick Owens show at Paris Fashion Week and landed remixes from the likes of Tricky, Azealia Banks, Gangsta Boo and Busta Rhymes. In the years that followed Zebra Katz has grown and grown, releasing music through Mad Decent (namely Tear The House Up with Hervé) and the bass-centric Helsinki label Signal Life, as well as independently through his own label ZFK Records - all while touring his live show round the world.
What fans would be surprised to know: My fans would be surpassed to know that my debut album will be released in 2016.
Most excited to see at Lollapalooza: DJ Dirtyfinger, Young Thug, and all my Katz in Chicago. I’m excited to be playing my first US festival.
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