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Bold predictions for Lolla 2015

The Lolla schedule is sort of like the NCAA tournament: There are millions of possible combinations, and it’s anyone’s guess what the winning picks will be. With that in mind, we make some bold predictions about how this year’s fest (returning to Grant Park from Friday to Sunday) will turn out.

Breakout artist

Holychild

1 p.m. Sat. at Bud Light stage

Everything that Chvches and Charli XCX want to be, this L.A. duo actually is, throwing a great, never-dull electro-pop party and still having something to say. If the group can translate the killer energy of its debut “The Shape of Brat Pop to Come” onstage, this should be a star-maker. –MP

Bully

5:40 p.m. Sun. at BMI stage

Bully absolutely destroyed Pitchfork Music Festival a couple of weeks ago with its early slot at the Blue Stage. Considering that the near-unanimous hype surrounding this Nashville, Tenn., band is reaching a fever pitch, look for Alicia Bognanno and Co. to deliver once again. —JT

Disappointing set/missed opportunity

Ryn Weaver

1:30 p.m. Sat. at Sprint stage

This is painful for me to say, as Weaver’s debut, “The Fool,” a knockout combination of insightful lyrics and the musical approach taken in each song, remains my favorite album of the year so far. But when she performed at Bonnaroo (the set is on YouTube, of course) and on “The Tonight Show,” she indulged constant, annoying vocal affectations and, instead of letting the songs soar and move, she messed up what makes them great. I hope I’m wrong. –MP

George Ezra

2:30 p.m. Sun. at Samsung Galaxy stage

Somehow 2015 managed to find a new breakout singer-songwriter that’s more of a cornball than Hozier. This kid sounds like he tried signing Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” into a mirror too many times and his voice ended up getting stuck like that. —JT

BMI set that will be overflowing with fans

Young Thug

6:50 p.m. Fri. at BMI stage

Despite the legal troubles Young Thug has faced in recent weeks, he has a lot of rabid fans (myself included). Along with a pretty solid full-length in “Barter 6,” Thugger has a completely outsized and flamboyant personality that’s amazingly positioned him to become an artist with career longevity, rather than a novelty act. — JT

Halsey

6:50 p.m. Sun. at BMI stage

The social media presence of the 20-year-old singer, whose full-length debut “Badlands” arrives Aug. 28, is simply astonishing. That doesn’t always translate to fans in person, and she’s up against A$AP Rocky and Of Monsters and Men, but I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here, Halsey-ites. — MP

Band you will only see for the sake of convenience and being in place for who goes on afterwards

Hot Chip

4:30 p.m. Fri. at Bud Light stage

With the band sandwiched between Father John Misty and the War On Drugs, I’m totally going to stick around and watch Hot Chip. It’s not that I’m not a fan, it’s that I’m not as big of a fan as most of my friends–one of the reasons I’m curious to see what the fuss is about. However, if these Brits were playing on the other side of Grant Park, I probably wouldn’t have slotted them into my schedule. —JT

Brand New

7 p.m. Sat. at Sprint stage

I have nothing against the cult favorite New York rockers, but the main reason I’ll be hearing them is because I’ll stay at the nearby Samsung Galaxy stage after Tame Impala at 6 p.m. to have a decent spot for Metallica at 8 p.m. –MP

Most-welcome return act

First Aid Kit

6:30 p.m. Fri. at Pepsi stage

A few years ago these Swedish sisters were one of the first bands of the day. Now their gorgeous folk-pop gets an early evening slot that will only make their harmonies that much more appealing. Also, I’ll keep saying that Emma Stone and Elizabeth Olsen should play them in a movie until it happens. –MP

Tame Impala

6 p.m. Sat. at Samsung Galaxy stage

I missed Tame Impala three years ago to go see the War on Drugs play at the shady Google Play stage (which is this year’s Pepsi stage). It was the right decision on account of crowds and heat exhaustion, but at this year’s fest there’s nothing standing in my way from seeing these Australians. I need to hear “Let It Happen” and “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” live. —JT

Least-welcome return act

Death From Above 1979

4 p.m. Sat. at Samsung Galaxy stage

I guess I like that one album this Canadian duo is known for, but man, do these guys give off a gross vibe or what? With their brainless brand of bass and drum rock and vaguely cloaked misogyny (the cover for their latest acoustic single, “Virgins,” is a banana with blood on its tip, not to mention most of their lyrics in general), I’ll be getting an overpriced Budweiser instead. —JT

Delta Spirit

5:15 p.m. Sat. at Pepsi stage

This is by no means a terrible band. I liked that song “Trashcan” a long time ago. But I’m 500 percent baffled how Lolla can justify having a group so plain play what I believe is four times in seven years. Way, way too much. —MP

Most lopsided attendance during headliners (if everyone goes to one and no one goes to the other)

Paul McCartney over The Weeknd

7:45 p.m. Fri. at Samsung Galaxy stage and 8:30 p.m. Fri. at Bud Light stage

I’ve always underestimated Abel Tesfaye aka the Weeknd’s ability to draw a crowd and sell records. But when he does something shocking like be the first artist in history to hold the top-three charting Billboard R&B singles, I start to believe a little more. That said, mostly everyone is going to want to see the former Beatle. —JT

Metallica over Sam Smith

8 p.m. Sat. at Samsung Galaxy stage and 8:45 p.m. Sat. at Bud Light stage

OK, I admit that this is less of a prediction and more of a wish. Metallica is a great headlining booking by the fest; Sam Smith is a guy with terrible lyrics who has risen very quickly, and I’d be surprised if the people who cry along with “Stay With Me” want to hear him for 75 minutes. –MP

The artist we’re begging that you give a chance

White Sea

4:30 p.m. Sat. at BMI stage

The soaring, lovely work of Morgan Kibby, White Sea will have people sometimes standing silently in awe, and other times shimmying and trying not to cry, unsure if they’re tears of sadness or joy. –MP

Skylar Spence

2:50 p.m. Sun. at Pepsi stage

What an amazing coincidence that the artist formerly known as Saint Pepsi is playing the Pepsi stage. The moniker of pop auteur Ryan DeRobertis, Skylar Spence is a project bubbling with maximalist and smart, Top 40-friendly ideas that are sugary, ebullient and party-inducing. His forthcoming album “Prom King,” which is both funky and always danceable, will be on all your playlists when it drops in September. —JT

Tough schedule-conflict decision you’re worried about regretting

Mick Jenkins vs. Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

11:45 a.m. Sat. at Pepsi stage and noon Sat. at Sprint stage

I’m curious to see and hear more from the local rapper and recent RedEye cover star, though I also think JHATD are going to totally wail and suspect that will be more fun and talkable. –MP

Shakey Graves vs. Twin Peaks

1:45 p.m. Sun. at Palladia stage and 1:30 p.m. Sun. at Sprint stage

I don’t know. Living in Chicago, I’ve been to more Twin Peaks shows than I can count, and I still have yet to see Shakey Graves perform songs from 2014’s “And the War Came,” which is an underappreciated treasure of folk and Americana. I still haven’t made up my mind, but I bet my city pride will win out. —JT

Best local representation

Mick Jenkins

11:45 a.m. Sat. at Pepsi stage

This Chicago rapper is the festival’s best (and only) reason to get there early. Technically playing in the morning, Jenkins will be debuting songs from his forthcoming “Wave[s],” which will arrive just a few weeks after his biggest hometown crowd yet. It’s a must-see show for the city’s most incisive rapper. —JT

Twin Peaks

1:30 p.m. Sun. at Sprint stage

This is a simple one: The Chicagoans have some really good songs, and on stage they do just what a solid rock set should do. Loud, wild, fun. –MP

Best day to go late

Friday

You could skip everything in the beginning of the day until BADBADNOTGOOD or St. Paul and the Broken Bones (2:50 p.m. at Pepsi stage and 2:30 p.m. at Bud Light stage, respectively) and be totally OK. If those acts don’t strike your fancy, just wait till 3:30 p.m. for Father John Misty (Palladia stage), which will be a can’t-miss set.—JT

Friday

I wouldn’t say arrive late, but Friday is the day you can get there the latest, only meaning you can skip the first two rounds of sets. You’ll want to dance to MisterWives (1:30 p.m. at Sprint stage) and then let Black Pistol Fire (2:10 p.m. at BMI stage) melt your face. –MP

Matt Pais’ Top 5 acts

1. Holychild

2. Metallica

3. The War on Drugs

4. White Sea

5. Black Pistol Fire

Josh Terry’s Top 5 acts

1. Father John Misty

2. Sturgill Simpson

3. Mick Jenkins

4. Bully

5. Skylar Spence

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