A year after Lollapalooza made a cautious return to Grant Park, the music festival is back again and is bigger than ever. In addition to an ambitious array of music acts spanning multiple genres, this year’s festival will also welcome the return of Kidzapalooza, the festival’s stage catering to acts appropriate for families and young children. Here, we’ve rounded up our picks for some of this year’s most promising performers.

Lollapalooza 2022 will take place in Grant Park from July 28-31. Gates open each day at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Main gates are located on Monroe and Columbus and Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive.

DON’T MISS: Jazmine Sullivan, Black Coffee and Metallica

After multiple albums and years in the music industry, Jazmine Sullivan’s career finally blew up in 2021. After six years away, Sullivan returned with “Heaux Tales,” a critically-acclaimed EP featuring some of her strongest music yet. Sullivan mostly abandoned the more eclectic, pop-leaning styles that were peppered throughout her past albums to hone in on R&B, a perfect showcase for her once-in-a-generation vocals. For fans who may have missed her sold-out show in Chicago (or were not willing to pony up the steep ticket prices for the concert), her Lollapalooza set is sure to be a glorious journey through her soulful musical catalog.

Drake’s latest album, “Honestly, Nevermind,” may be divisive for fans, but there’s no denying the sonic star power behind many of the record’s tracks — like Black Coffee. Newbie house music fans may have just been introduced to this South African DJ and producer, but Black Coffee has built a steady reputation for warm, vibe-setting beats that keep bodies moving around the world. They were so successful, in fact, that he won best dance/electronic album at the 2022 Grammy Awards for his charming latest record, “Subconsciously.”

It may be difficult for Gen Z guests to imagine, but Lollapalooza used to be a primarily rock-oriented music festival. And although the festival’s lineup has progressed to include a variety of genres, it always includes a few nostalgic rock headliners to stay true to its roots. This year is no exception, with heavy metal kings Metallica closing out the first night with what is sure to be a rapturous live set.

BEST STAGE: Bud Light Seltzer (Jazmine Sullivan, Tove Lo, Lil Baby): Thursday is typically considered the less daunting day of Lollapalooza, but that doesn’t mean there’s a weak lineup. In fact, this year’s schedule includes a bevy of bona fide stars hitting the Bud Light Seltzer stage, including Jazmine Sullivan, pop singer Tove Lo and Lil Baby, arguable the biggest young rapper on the scene today.

SOMETHING ELSE: 100 Gecs. It’s easy to classify this Chicago-area-based duo as hyperpop, but that would reduce the weight of their eclectic sound. From grunge to pop to club, 100 Gecs incorporates a little bit of everything into their sound. And surprisingly, the efforts have worked, garnering widespread critical acclaim and a rabid fandom that will make “pilgrimages” to the tree depicted on the cover of their debut album, “1000 Gecs.” First-time listeners who are also fans of PC Music or Sleigh Bells will especially enjoy their genre-pushing sound.

ALSO ON THE BILL: Billy Strings, Zhu, Manchester Orchestra, Ashnikko, Still Woozy.

Dua Lipa performs onstage during the Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia Tour at FTX Arena on Feb. 9, 2022, in Miami, Florida. (Jason Koenrer/Getty Images)

DON’T MISS: Muna and Dua Lipa

Last month, Muna, an indie three-piece from Los Angeles, released their self-titled third studio album, a critically lauded collection of synth-pop and country pop tracks that pushes the group to new sonic ground. At its heart, the album stays true to the band’s love of a perfect melody and catchy lyrics, but Muna also showcases their wide-ranging tastes and inspirations. Also beloved for their live shows, their Lollapalooza set is sure to thrill both new fans and old alike.

Dua Lipa has come a long way since her more humble pop star beginnings. And against the odds, she has managed to shake off any one-hit wonder accusations with her sophomore studio album, “Future Nostalgia.” Here, Lipa showcased her deep love and knowledge of dance music, from house to disco, among other subgenres. And the risk paid off, garnering the musician multiple hit singles. Now, as dance music returns to the mainstream, it is clear Lipa’s sonic decisions more than two years ago on “Future Nostalgia” foretold a present that needed a lot more fun and a lot more dancing.

SOMETHING ELSE: True pop superstardom has always eluded Tinashe, which is a shame because the multifaceted singer, songwriter, dancer and producer is making some of her best music yet. Unlike other performers who simply go through the motions, Tinashe is sure to give audiences nothing short of a showstopping performance, even at Lollapalooza.

ALSO ON THE BILL: Machine Gun Kelly, Don Toliver, Rezz, Girl in Red, Liquid Stranger, Clozee, Royal Blood, Bob Moses.

Chicago rapper Lil Durk is slated to perform Saturday in Grant Park as part of Lollapalooza 2022. (Bennett Raglin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

DON’T MISS: Willow and Lil Durk

Oldheads may have just discovered Willow’s music with the recent TikTok success of long-ago released tracks like “Wait a Minute” and “Meet Me at Our Spot,” but the supremely talented musician has already released four albums, all before she reached 21 years old. With each new project, Willow has embarked on a different musical direction, diving headfirst into different genres, styles and musical eras to express her vision. On her latest album, 2021′s “Lately I Feel Everything,” the musician embraced the pop-punk, alt-rock and emo of the early aughts to surprising success. Although she’s leaned more rock as of late, we hope this Lolla set traverses her broad-ranging catalog to introduce fans new and old alike to her many, many talents.

One of Chicago’s greatest recent musical success stories, Lil Durk marks another major homecoming show with this latest Lollapalooza set. Prolific and hardworking, Durk will hopefully play selections from one of his recent releases, including 2020′s “The Voice” or “7220,” released earlier this year. And although nothing has been confirmed, fans may want to stick around to see if Lil Baby, who released the joint album, “The Voice of Heroes,” with Durk in 2021 and performed at Lolla on Thursday, will make a guest appearance.

SOMETHING ELSE: Tomorrow x Together. A late addition to the Lollapalooza lineup, this K-pop boy band will close out the U.S. leg of its first world tour with an appearance at Lollapalooza. Get to know the group (and their appealing pop tracks) before they inevitably reach stratospheric international heights.

ALSO ON THE BILL: J. Cole, Kygo, Big Sean, Kaskade, Idles, Turnstile, Wallows, Chelsea Cutler, Coin, YG, BLXST.

The band Horsegirl, a trio of high school friends Penelope Lowenstein, Nora Cheng and Gigi Reece, in November 2020 in Garfield Park. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

DON’T MISS: Horsegirl and PinkPantheress

We can’t help but feel a little bit proud of Horsegirl, a young, Chicago-made success story. After a feature in the Tribune about their first EP and snowballing press attention, this trio was quickly signed to Matador Records. Now, the band will release “Versions of Modern Performance,” their debut record of intelligent, nostalgia-laden indie rock. It is a rapid, but much-deserved success story for three Chicago artists with clear vision and drive. Catch them before they get an even bigger fan base.

Don’t dismiss PinkPantheress, a Gen Z wonder. The singer, songwriter and producer may have found viral fame through TikTok (a trend for many young millennial and Gen Z performers), but that doesn’t mean her music lacks substance or heart. In fact, her debut mixtape, 2021′s “To Hell with It,” was a one-of-a-kind showcase for the artist’s post-hyperpop brand of music. Incorporating elements of jungle, drum and bass, and garage, “To Hell with It” was a surprising debut highlighting the musical depths of this rising artist.

BEST STAGE: Coinbase (Audrey Nuna, Beach Bunny, Banks, Goth Babe): There’s a little bit of everything at this new stage. We especially are interested in checking in on Chicago-based Beach Bunny, who continue to garner widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike for their punchy, appealing pop rock. Banks, who has spent more than a decade on the scene making moody, alternative R&B, is set to headline this stage, likely in support of “Serpentina,” her fourth studio album. Head over to Coinbase earlier in the day to also check out acts like Goth Babe and Audrey Nuna.

SOMETHING ELSE: Chicago Made Showcase. In an ongoing celebration of Chicago’s musical legacy, fan-favorite local acts are set to take the stage as part of the Chicago Made Showcase. We’re especially excited for rapper Queen Key, whose star continues to rise both locally and nationally, and vocalist KÆYRA, who was raised in Chicago but is now based in Los Angeles.

ALSO ON THE BILL: Green Day, j-hope, Porno for Pyros, The Kid Laroi, Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Denzel Curry, Polo & Pan, Måneskin, Local Natives, The Marías, John Summit.

Billie Joe Armstrong, of Green Day, performs Friday, April 29, 2022, at Shaky Knees in Atlanta. (Paul R. Giunta/Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

TICKETS: 4-Day General Admission from $350, 4-Day General Admission+ from $700, 4-Day VIP from $1,600 and 4-Day Platinum from $4,200 are available at lollapalooza.com/tickets. Children ages 10 and younger are free with a ticket-holding adult. Limit 2 children per ticketed adult.

STAGES: There are eight stages at Lollapalooza this year: The T-Mobile main stage is on the south end of the park, in the sports fields near DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Also the Bud Light Seltzer stage on the far north end near Monroe. Plus Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Discord, BMI, Solana x Perry’s, Coinbase and Kidzapalooza stages.

EXPERIENCE: It is a full mile inside Lollapalooza grounds, from north to south. The main gates on Michigan Avenue are at about the halfway mark and wide open inside for foot traffic. The food tents of Chow Town and specialty vendor areas usually are the first thing you meet, with Buckingham Fountain and merch sellers just behind. Turn south for the T-Mobile, north for the Bud Light Seltzer stage. Box toilets and aid stations are plentiful most everywhere. The daily capacity is about 100,000 fans. Lollapalooza recently posted a map on its website.

UPDATES: For up-to-date information from the festival, a mobile app is available for iOS and Android. Plus follow Lollapalooza’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages; check the website or get festival emails. Lollapalooza is presented by Austin, Texas-based C3 Presents, a division of Live Nation.

LIVESTREAM: Some performances will be streamed via Hulu; subscription required, available during the festival only; www.hulu.com

AFTER THE FEST: Our recommendations on where to go after the festival for late-night food or after-party shows is at www.chicagotribune.com/dining

FOR ENTRY: Guests are required to have a festival wristband for entry. Unlike last year, Lollapalooza will not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to attend the festival. Most major music festivals have adopted the practice of following state and local requirements; this policy is in accordance with IDPH and CDPH guidelines.

SAFETY: Lollapalooza has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, including harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, body size, appearance, age or national origin. Lollapalooza encourages patrons to contact staff if they feel threatened or unsafe in any way.

ACCESSIBILITY: Accessible festival entry lanes are available at each entrance. A sign will indicate each entrance.

ALLOWED ITEMS: See also bag policy above, for a full list of allowed and prohibited items consult Lollapalooza.

Britt Julious is a freelance critic.