Quite a few tidbits about Lollapalooza 2010 have hit the web this week.

First up, in a phone conversation with Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot, The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas confirmed the band will be one of the headliners at this year’s Lollapalooza. We’ve previously addressed a number of headliner rumors, but it looks like the Strokes are poised to join Lady GaGa, Green Day, a reunited Soudgarden, and Arcade Fire.

If you’re keeping count, you’ll notice thats five headliners – one less than Lolla’s recent transition into the nigtly double headliner scheduling of the past two years. Well, Time Out Chicago has the scoop that the final and sixth headliner looks to be French pop-rockers Phoenix, who, if confirmed, will be making the leap into headlining territory much like Kings Of Leon did at Lollapalooza 2009.

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According to Jade Tree Records that one-off special reunion of Chicago’s own Cap’n Jazz in January has turned into a full-fledged reunion with a small tour starting at The Bottom Lounge on July 17*.

UPDATE: Second Cap’n Jazz Show Added: And you thought you missed your chance to catch the recently reunited Cap’t Jazz. Think again. The band has added a second Bottom Lounge show. Tickets for the Sunday, July 18th show can be had at Ticketweb.com.

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UPDATE: Greg Kot informs us that Tribune sources are saying to count on Arcade Fire and The Strokes at the festival.  Kot also reports “Yeasayer, the xx, and Dirty Projectors, as well as veteran dance-oriented acts Cut Copy and Hot Chip” will be playing as well.

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The Daily Swarm, citing “multiple industry sources,” claims to know who is headlining this year’s Lollapalooza festival held in Grant Park on Aug. 6-8.

While we reported before that a reunited Soundgarden was a heavily rumored favorite to close one of the nights, Lady Ga Ga and Green Day’s names just surfaced.

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Now in its fifth year, Riot Fest has become one of Chicago’s most unique festivals. Riot Fest is in autumn, takes place in doors at six of Chicago’s top music clubs and caters to one specific musical niche: the Punk Rocker.

Yes, Riot Fest is not the type of place to find the eclecticism of Lollapalooza or Pitchfork. It’s down to the bone, all business punk rock this weekend. Riot Fest officially kicked off last night at The Metro with a headlining performance from the Butthole Surfers. But beginning on Friday, October 9 until Sunday, October 11, don’t be alarmed. That racket you hear is probably just the crowd skanking, maybe doing the pogo.

So it’s Thursday, which means starting tomorrow, you’ll have big decisions to make. Namely deciding if you want to go to The Metro, Congress Theater, Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, or the Cobra Lounge to get your punk on. Well, us here at LoudLoopPress are a friendly bunch who love to help out. So, if you’re still all disco and indecisive, here’s some acts we think you should check out this weekend…

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Looking for a music festival that features big names but hate fighting massive crowds of hippies, frat dudes and hipsters in the summer heat? Then Champaign-Urbana’s Pygmalion Music Festival might be right up your alley.

Entering it’s fifth year, the Pygmalion Music Festival goes down September 16 – 19, 2009 in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

This year’s edition of the festival features big names and up-and-coming acts including Iron and Wine, Low, Lucero, RJD2, The Books, The Antlers, YACHT, Wavves, Headlights, Japandroids, Autolux, BLK JKS, My Brightest Diamond and many more.

The Pygmalion Music Festival is less like other major Illinois festivals such as Lollapalooza and Pitchfork and more like Austin’s annual spring event South By Southwest as the event takes place over four days in 15 different venues in two of Champaign-Urbana’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

The full schedule and ticket information is available right now at 2009.pygmalionmusicfestival.com.

While some of you may have just started your recovery from Lollapalooza 2009, the countdown to Lollapalooza 2010 has already begun.

Lollapalooza 2010 will once again take over Grant Park on August 6 – 8, 2010. If the experience enough rather than the band lineup keeps you coming back, then good news. Three-day passes for Lollapalooza 2010 will go on sale sometime this week at Lollapalooza.com for the bargain price of $60. If you miss this somewhat secret early bird special, don’t stress. On Monday, three day passes will go on sale at their normal price, which is around $200.

Once again, this is proof of Lollapalooza being more of a brand than a music festival these days. I can’t tell you how many people there were at the event this year that sat around, ate, talked and simply hang out. They attended to be seen rather than check out their favorite bands.

For old schoolers like myself, this trend is disheartening. It’s all about the music man! Yeah, right.

Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi

Considering Jane’s Addiction are from Los Angeles, their closing set at Chicago’s Lollapalooza 2009 was hardly a homecoming. Still, the band was in pure celebration mode with good reason. Not only has lead singer Perry Ferrell successfully created an extremely popular metropolitan summer music destination – this year marked the second straight complete sell out – but the original Jane’s lineup is back including powerhouse bassist Eric Avery.

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Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi

When Brooklyn art-rockers TV On The Radio hit Lollapalooza’s Budweiser stage in the north end of Chicago’s Grant Park as the sun descended behind the city’s skyline and the lake breeze picked up to put to rest a long day of heat. But as the crowd cooled, TOTR set the festival ablaze with a scorching set of irresistibly funky and vibrant art rock tunes.

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