For every Pearl Jam, Muse, or Daft Punk, there will be dozens of smaller bands and artists at Lollapalooza in Chicago this weekend. Bands that only have one EP or album, bands that have never played in America, and certainly bands that have never played on such a large stage in their budding careers.

But just because some of these acts might play sets as long as you might wait in line for a port-a-potty in Grant Park, don't expect these hopeful acts from around the world to take their schedule spot less seriously than anyone else.

Welsh septet Los Campesinos! are scheduled to make their American debut at 2:15 PM on Sunday, between sets from Dios and Apostle of Hustle. The band formed less than a year ago and have already opened for Broken Social Scene and landed a record deal with Arts & Crafts (which also represents Broken Social Scene). Their quirky debut, "Sticking Fingers into Sockets" has earned critical acclaim in the U.S. and abroad.

"To be playing a gig there is a big deal," guitarist and vocalist Tom Campesinos said. "It's been pretty exciting. We're just stupidly happy."

After their appearance in Chicago, the band of recent university graduates has shows in New York, Philadelphia, and Toronto before returning for a European tour.

Toronto group Tokyo Police Club has a similar storyline. With only one album in the books, but a few more years of playing club shows, the band landed a record deal with Saddle Creek, home of artists such as Bright Eyes, Cursive, and The Faint, earlier this month. The band will be performing new material as well as some of their songs from their only release so far, 'A Lesson in Crime.'

"To be a band at our level of success, with only having put out an EP so far, to be asked to play Lollapalooza is a big deal," Tokyo Police Club drummer Greg Alsop said.

Not only is Alsop excited to participate in the largest American festival this summer, but the invitation to perform on the main stage is also an achievement.

"We're the first band on main stage, so kicking things off will help us stand out a bit," Alsop said. "A lot of the side stages are more for niche markets. The main stage seems like it is for a broader audience, so maybe we'll play for some people [who haven't heard us] before."

In addition to fans at this weekend's event, there will be tremendous amounts of media and industry checking out some of the smaller acts. As Tim Convy, a member of St. Louis band Ludo, pointed out, the bands are fully aware of the attention as a newcomer to the big time.

"There are tons of labels, managers, and industry out to see that there's a new band on the block," Convy said. "There's more responsibility."

But the responsibility is welcome for a band that formed four years ago and increased their following by rigorous tour schedules and playing festivals including the Warp Tour and D-Fest, headlined by the Flaming Lips.

"The festival is certainly a different atmosphere-lots of passers-by, but then you catch a lot of peoples' ears," Convy said. "It's way more exciting for us. We get a lot out of it."

Although Convy said he realizes Ludo might be "low man on the totem pole" for these events, scheduled to play at 12:30 on the BMI stage on the second day, it's appropriate for their popularity.

"We won't have heavy competition then, which is nice . . . Our fans aren't going to feel torn between seeing us or someone like Pearl Jam," Convy said. "It's prime time for us."

While there are so many different bands from a variety of movements, places, and genres, that is part of what makes the event great, said Jeremy Bolen, vocalist and guitarist for Chicago band Chin Up Chin Up.

"We're not competitive," he said. "We just treat it like any other show and enjoy all the other bands too." Chin Up Chin Up is scheduled to perform at 1:00 on Friday, as one of the first acts of the entire weekend.

As with most festivals, while there are over a hundred acts from places like Norway, England, New York, and California, there is plenty of homegrown flavor representing the Chicago scene at Lollapalooza. Chin Up Chin Up is one such representative and so is David Vandervelde, a 22-year old songwriter originally from Michigan that recorded his first album, "Moonstation House Band," in Chicago while living there.

"It's where everything got put together for me," Vandervelde said. "It's where I made my record." Although Vandervelde might benefit from a home-court advantage, he, like the non-Chicago acts at the show, is looking to tap into the audiences who have not heard him already.

"The best part about it is the exposure in front of a lot of people who can hear what we're doing," he said. "That's the obvious plus about playing at a festival."

Vandervelde is scheduled to perform at 1:00 PM on Sunday on the Citi Stage.

With so much on the line for these performers, the bands still look for time to enjoy the rest of the weekend with all the fans.

Ludo bassist Marshall Fanciullo announced his eagerness to see some of the bigger acts such as TV on the Radio and Spoon. Tokyo Police Club's Alsop said he was excited to see California band Cold War Kids again after touring with them earlier this year.

So how does an early-day band plan to stand out apart from everyone else out there at such a big festival?

Don't expect the smaller acts to resort to gimmicks just to fight for attention, even though it is "tempting to make a spectacle," Convy said.

Just expect these bands to put on a show like their career is on the line.