Lollapalooza 2012 Lineup Reads Like A Best-Of Package

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 11, 2012 1:30PM

Black Sabbath's Lollapalooza appearance is their only 2012 North American concert.

The full lineup for Lollapalooza was announced last night, a couple of hours earlier than was anticipated. (Looks as though that leaked lineup was accurate.) On first glance, however, this year's lineup reads like a combination of best-of acts from previous years, bands catching the "let's reunite for a large festival" bug, and letting the music that's brought younger audiences to Grant Park in recent years hold a larger sway on the festival's programming.

Tankboy was on Fox Chicago's Good Day Chicago moments ago and noted the lack of standout acts among the headliners. (He'll have his take later.) The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys and Jack White are capable of selling out arenas, but one knows what he's going to get with those acts. Black Sabbath's appearance—and promoters say the original lineup will appear—is their only North American gig in 2012, as guitarist Tony Iommi continues receiving treatment for lymphoma. Sabbath may also be the only act we'd jump a fence to see.

Seeing Justice and Avicii earn main stage slots is a further sign the dance and electronic acts that have turned Perry's Stage into a must visit in recent years has an increasing influence on the festival. Perry's Stage has been expanded and moved to a larger location to accommodate for the growing crowds that have gathered there.

Chicago Tribune pop music critic Greg Kot noted the heavy taste of nostalgia in this year's lineup. At the Drive In and The Afghan Whigs are both reuniting to play Lolla. I don't know of anyone who was clamoring for either band to get back together, but each may be worth checking out, for curiosity's sake. Other acts that have been here before include Miike Snow, Bloc Party, the Temper Trap, Delta Spirit and the Malian husband-and-wife team of Amadou & Mariam. Amadou & Mariam also help promoters pay token attention to world music. Other acts in that vein include Brazil’s O Rappa and Chile’s Los Jaivas.

Hip hop also receives little more than cursory representation in this year's festival, although they did choose wisely with Aloe Blacc, Wale and Childish Gambino, aka Community star Donald Glover.

Tankboy will have his take on the lineup and video of his Good Day Chicago appearance later. The full lineup is below.

• Red Hot Chili Peppers


• The Black Keys


• Black Sabbath


• Jack White


• Florence + the Machine


• At The Drive-In


• Bassnectar


• Avicii


• The Shins


• Justice


• Passion Pit


• Kaskade


• The Weeknd


• Sigur Ros


• Bloc Party


• Calvin Harris


• Miike Snow


• The Afghan Whigs


• M83


• Franz Ferdinand


• Frank Ocean


• Nero


• J. Cole


• Knife Party


• Childish Gambino


• Delta Spirit


• Santigold


• Metric


• Zeds Dead


• The Temper Trap


• Wale


• Big Gigantic


• Die Antwoord


• Dawes


• Tune-Yards


• Skream & Benga


• The Head & the Heart


• The Big Pink


• Twin Shadow


• The Tallest Man on Earth


• Toro Y Moi


• fun.


• Little Dragon


• Dr. Dog


• Of Monsters And Men


• Gary Clark Jr.


• Alabama Shakes


• The Gaslight Anthem


• SBTRKT


• Amadou & Mariam


• Porter Robinson


• The Walkmen


• Tame Impala


• Sub Focus


• Band of Skulls


• JJ Grey & Mofro


• Madeon


• Neon Indian


• Zedd


• Dum Dum Girls


• Paper Diamond


• Washed Out


• Aloe Blacc


• Trampled by Turtles


• Bear in Heaven


• Blind Pilot


• Chairlift


• The Black Angels


• Yellow Ostrich


• GIVERS


• Polica


• Bombay Bicycle Club


• Sharon Van Etten


• White Rabbits


• Doomtree


• Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs


• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis


• The Devil Makes Three


• Oberhofer


• Star Slinger


• The War on Drugs


• Michael Kiwanuka


• O RAPPA


• Bowerbirds


• Orchard Lounge


• Mona


• The Growlers


• Hey Rosetta!


• Jeff the Brotherhood


• Anamanaguchi


• First Aid Kit


• Wax


• Fidlar


• JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound


• Milo Greene


• Los Jaivas


• Kopecky Family Band


• The Jezabels


• Nadastrom


• LP


• DJ Nihal


• Yuna


• The White Panda


• Walk Off The Earth


• Animal Kingdom


• DEV


• SALVA


• The Sheepdogs


• The Dunwells


• DJ Mel


• Empires


• Kevin Devine


• Dry the River


• Helena


• Haley Reinhart


• Imaginary Cities


• Overdoz


• Ambassadors


• DJ Zebo


• thenewno2


• Moon Taxi


• Chancellor Warhol


• Laura Warshauer


• Red Oblivion


• Kid Color