It’s finally here, Lollapalooza! If you’re a regular here at Consequence of Sound, then you know how much this festival means to us. Not only is it in Chicago, but it’s the first festival the a bunch of us ever attended, and the reason we’re so festival-obsessed. Then there’s the fact that we’ll also be providing content for Lollapalooza.com too. Regardless, the big fiesta in the Windy City is a hallmark of this site, so if we say we’re “going all out,” then you better believe us. In fact, that’s almost an understatement.

This year things are even wilder. There will be more writers on site, we’ll have bigger interviews, and our coverage is going to extend out to even the after shows! Yes, we’ll be roaming up and down Grant Park by day and evening, but rest assured, we’ll be surfing the web ’til the break of dawn. Just be happy we’re a rag-tag team of insomniacs.

That being said, if you can’t make it to the Midwest this year, or you’re still broke from past juggernauts like Coachella, Bonnaroo, or even last weekend’s APW, then stick around CoS. We’ll have everything available for your reading, viewing, and listening pleasure — including a sweet round-up at the end. We’re pretty excited and we hope you are, too.

For those that are heading out here, in the Big 773 (nobody calls it that, by the way), we’ve got you in our best interests, as well. Much like Bonnaroo or APW, we’ve put together another CoS Survival Guide — big thanks to Anthony Balderrama — that should assist you with what to bring, what to expect, and well, how to get there, including some CTA tips. What’s more, we’ve laid out the festival map below, the schedule for your viewing pleasure, and an imeem playlist to get that hype machine running at full steam.

So, that’s it! We’re about to dive head first into a weekend full of dirty Chicagoans, possible rainstorms, unnaturally hot weather (a first for Chicago this summer!), Perry Farrell-endorsed dance parties, portly and near naked 50-somethings, Cubs fans who shove and push White Sox fans, Brandon Flowers-esque decadence, bearded “mainstream” hipsters, overpriced mall pizza, clueless failed attempts at swimming in Buckingham Fountain, glorious Sweet Leaf Tea, a possible overcrowded Dan Deacon performance, an irritable and indecisive Editor-in-Chief deciding between Kings of Leon, Depeche Mode and a cyanide capsule, White Sox fans who scoff at Cubs fans, a sweaty and fluffy afro (thanks Claudio), and one happy, lanky, four-eyed pianist named Ben.

Ah, see you there, folks!

CoS Festival Survival Guide:

Lock’d ‘n’ Lolla’d

Listen:

Friday, August 7th:

Saturday, August 8th:

Sunday, August 9th:

2009 Map:

Categories: CoS Festival Survival Guide, Features, Festival Previews
Tags: CoS at Lollapalooza 2009, Lollapalooza