Pitchfork

The stages are in place, the gear's being unloaded, the sounds are being checked, and the first chords are about to ring out over Grant Park. Yes indeedy, it's Lollapalooza time yet again.

The traveling fest juggernaut turned Chicago summer institution rolls into the city today, August 1, through Sunday, August 3, promising three jam-packed days and gnarly nights. We've already run down the lineup for you, a list sporting names like Bloc Party, the Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, Cat Power, Broken Social Scene, Battles, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Girl Talk, Black Lips, and on and on and on.

We also pored over the set times and all the fest-approved afterparties, should you want to schedule your Lolla weekend down to the minute. But it can't hurt to remind you of the biggest draws at this year's Lolla: tonight's Radio-headlining set, Saturday night with Wilco and Rage Against the Machine, and Sunday's glitz vs. goth battle with Kanye West and Nine Inch Nails. Good luck pickin'!

If you can't make it to the Chi this weekend—or didn't much feel like porking over a couple Benjamins to ol' Perry—you've got your options. The AT&T Blue Room will stream live video from a bunch of Lolla sets throughout the weekend. And Fuse will host special video presentations, breaking news, and other coverage while the fest is on, with a whole highlight-laden Lollapalooza Rewind Week kicking off August 4. Sure, it ain't quite sweating your face off to Gregg Gillis or swooning in symphony with those who gather to bow at the feet of Thom Yorke, but hell, it'll remind you to start savin' up for a ticket for next year.

Stay tuned all weekend for coverage on Pitchfork!