Who Will Draw Lollapalooza's Biggest Crowd? Site Offers Clues

The Lollapalooza Website launched an addictive new feature recently that shows how many people have added an artist on the lineup to their personal schedule, giving festival-goers an early indicator of how packed the fest's most popular shows might be. With two weeks to go until Chicago's main event, the leader is Kings of Leon, who will headline Friday night opposite Depeche Mode. So far, over 15,000 people have added KOL to their custom schedule, nearly 6,000 more than the Depeche crowd. Of course, this measure isn't a perfect indicator of how things will go down in Grant Park, but it is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon.

So far, Saturday's most scheduled artists aren't even headliners Tool and Yeah Yeah Yeahs — but both TV on the Radio and the Arctic Monkeys have been pledged crowds over 10,000. (To the YYYs credit, they weren't added to the schedule until last week, when they were recruited to replace the Beastie Boys.) And while festival founder Perry Farrell closes out Lollapalooza Sunday night with Jane's Addiction, it's possible he'll be performing to a smaller crowd than the Killers over on the Chicago 2016 Stage, as the Killers' attendees currently outnumber Jane's (13,000 to 9,000). Among the most heated non-headlining races is the 6:30-7:30 p.m. block on Sunday, with Snoop Dogg currently out-populating Lou Reed, Deerhunter and a Vampire Weekend autograph session.

Want the small club feel at the big giant rock festival? A few artists on the schedule have yet to guarantee triple-digit fan attendance, all but assuring you a good spot in the pit. Not counting the child-geared Kidzapalooza stage, the artist with the least amount of confirmed attendees is Priscilla Renea, who so far has been penciled into the Sunday schedule of four people. Of course, playing in the same time slot as Dan Deacon, Airborne Toxic Event, Kaiser Chiefs and Gang Gang Dance doesn't help. For more stats, even if you're not planning on going to Chicago's Grant Park on August 7th to 9th, check out the Lollapalooza Custom Schedule.

Related Stories:
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs Join Lollapalooza Lineup As Festivals Race to Replace Beastie Boys
• Lollapalooza Confirms Jane's Addiction, Depeche Mode, The Killers and Tool for '09 Fest

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Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »

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