Friday, 12-1:45

Young the Giant, TAB the Band, Ryan Leslie, Wye Oak, Ruby Jane, The Vaccines, Lady D, and Last DJ Standing will be performing at Lollapalooza 2011 between the hours of 12:00 and 1:45 p.m. on Friday, August 5.

YOUNG THE GIANT
Hailing from Irvine, Calif., indie up-and-comers Young the Giant have conquered an eclectic sound that incorporates poetic harmonies with smooth rhythms. Led by Sameer Gadhia, the band brews meaningful lyrics with ever-changing tempos that surprise audiences with sporadic pulses of energy. With their self-titled debut album, these young giants have already made their mark in the music scene. “My body tells me no”, they say, but your ears will say yes. (Friday, 1-1:45, Bud Light Stage) –text: Margaret O’Hara

TAB THE BAND
Tony, Adrian and Ben make up TAB the Band, a group that is light hearted with its heavy sound. With full arrangements of crunchy guitar riffs typical to old-school rock, TAB brings a quirky spirit of youth to the genre through their jocular stage presence and random gobbledygook lyrics. TAB has created a sort of carefree hard rock performed with an attitude of, “life is a joke, let’s just rock”. (Friday, 12:15-1, PlayStation Stage) –text: Hattie Buell

RYAN LESLIE
Following the trend of other recent songwriters/producers (Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson), Ryan Leslie has stepped out from behind the scenes to take center stage. Perhaps best known for producing Cassie’s 2005 hit “Me & U”, Leslie has also produced records for Britney Spears and Beyonce. The R&B superstar’s third album, Les Is More, originally set to be released this July, has suffered setbacks but continues to generate strong buzz online. (Friday, 12-12:30, Google+ Stage) –text: Gary Jackson

WYE OAK
Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack are the indie folk darlings that make up Wye Oak. Their most recent album, Civilian, retains the familiar folksy rock basics that make up the foundations of each song. There is a distinct push and pull that, while previously subtle, will likely be refined and recognized as a legit facet of their sound. It’s the kind of band that easily sweeps you up and away — off to a futuristic, nostalgic paradise. (Friday, 12-12:45, Sony Stage) –text: Bethany Kibblesmith

RUBY JANE
These days, most 16-year-olds are busy texting and Facebooking. Ask 16-year-old Ruby Jane and she can say she is busy touring with Willie Nelson and tuning her fiddle. Born in Texas, Jane has already been named a musical prodigy. She’s won accolades for her talents at playing multiple instruments and for her incredible singing/songwriting. If you want to witness something astonishing at Lollapalooza, look no further than this young musical marvel. (Friday, 12-12:30, BMI Stage) –text: Angie Martin

THE VACCINES
Having already piqued the interest of the European media, The Vaccines are taking on North America for the first time. Although they may have been formed a mere year ago, the English quartet has gained a reputation for rousing live shows with prominent rock ‘n’ roll influences. Mixing loud, punk-inspired melodies with mainstream chart success, The Vaccines have joined the British punk revival that’s currently dominating the airwaves in between coverage of the Rupert Murdoch scandal. (Friday, 12:45-1:30, Music Unlimited Stage) –text: Lorna Verdon

LADY D
As Chicago’s unofficial “Queen of House Music,” Lady D is planning to rock the stage with house. The DJ, producer and owner of D’lectable Music was one of the first underground female DJs in Chicago. And delectable is a good word for her music, which tastefully mixes classic and modern house favorites. The lady also brings soul to her body-moving sets with elements of sultry vocals, uptempo beats and bone-shaking bass. (Friday, 12:45-1:45, Perry’s) –text: Ciera McKissick

LAST DJ STANDING
This slot will be awarded to the winner of this year’s Last DJ Standing/Lolla Remix contest, in which hundreds of DJs submitted mixes online. As of press time, the four finalists who received the most votes online were Chicago’s Mike Weez (610 votes), San Diego’s 2deadbeatz (602 votes), Brooklyn’s Narcisse (332 votes) and Skokie’s Hope (132 votes.) The winner will be chosen by industry panel following a live DJ battle at Double Door on July 30. (Friday, 12-12:45, Perry’s) –text: Jay Gentile