8 emerging artists playing Lollapalooza 2018

Just reading the lineup for the 2018 Lollapalooza is exhausting.

Among the 180 acts playing the Chicago mega festival Aug. 2 to 5: Bruno Mars, the Weeknd, Jack White, Travis Scott, Arctic Monkeys, Post Malone, Camilla Cabello, Dua Lipa, Vampire Weekend, Zedd, Logic — even LL Cool J.

But discovering a new favorite act can be the best part about Lollapalooza. Here are the eight exciting up-and-comers (listed in order of appearance) we'll be watching.

1. Valee: Chance the Rapper, Pusha T and Kanye West recently have vouched for the Chicago rapper; one listen to his distinctly droll flow, and sticky earworms like "Womp Womp," and you'll understand why. (12:50 p.m. Friday, American Eagle stage)

2. Cuco: An unexpected heartthrob who writes songs with Spanglish lyrics, Cuco's Mac DeMarco-indebted bedroom pop encapsulates teen life in 2018, slipping back and forth from hilarious to heartfelt. (1:15 p.m. Friday, Bud Light stage)

3. Tyler Childers: Lolla rarely books country, but the ones who have played — Eric Church, Chris Stapleton — have always been compelling. With his rootsy and rich 2017 album "Purgatory," produced by Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers is the next "real deal" in Nashville. (1:45 p.m. Friday, Lake Shore stage)

4. Gang of Youths: Having already conquered its native Australia, the Dave Grohl-endorsed Gang of Youths is setting its sights on the United States, armed with sweeping, Springsteen-indebted rock perfect for ruling festivals. (1:45 p.m. Friday, Tito's Handmade Vodka stage)

5. Grace Weber: The Milwaukee-born R&B singer will be performing tracks from her upcoming album featuring Chance the Rapper's go-to creative team, the Social Experiment. (1 p.m. Saturday, BMI stage)

6. Melvv: A great ear for textured, shimmering EDM led Melvv from making songs in his bedroom outside of Milwaukee to an Atlantic Records deal, major festival plays and collabs with fellow up-and-comers like Lolla 2018 act Two Feet. (4:30 p.m. Saturday, BMI)

7. Superorganism: The eight-person, largely English indie-pop collective has absorbed a wide swath of music — from hip-hop to slacker rock — to create on its debut album a sound unlike anything else anyone else is making right now. (12:15 p.m. Sunday, Tito's Handmade Vodka)

8. The Regrettes: Led by 17-year-old frontwoman Lydia Night, the punk band blends throwback '50s rock sounds with empowering songs fit for our times, like the salty kiss-off "Seashore" and blemishes-embracing "A Living Human Girl." (12:45 p.m. Sunday, Grant Park stage) 

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