The sun is out, warming the landscape and its inhabitants. As the days grow longer and the nights more active in the streets of Chicago, it can only mean two things: Summer is here, and along with it, the official start of festival season! As a lifelong Chicagoan (Southside represent!), this used to be a time for Warped Tour and Lollapalooza. But now that my hair is shorter and my knees a little weaker, my festival days are less about partying and more about discovery.
This is the main reason Pitchfork Music Festival holds a special place in my heart.
Starting in 2006, (2005 for the real heads and participants of the Intonation Festival), the Pitchfork Music Festival has always been a 3-day event showcasing the best in indie rock and beyond. Taking place in Union Park located in the Near West Side just south of the Pink and Green lines, the location makes it one of the easiest festivals to attend in the city. From the soft grass and accommodating shade, it’s also one of the most comfortable. While I’m not entirely sure why Pitchfork chooses to stay at this particular park, I’m grateful for the consistency. Plus, it feels like the only festival in the city of Chicago that hasn’t threatened to move to another location.
Over the years, I’ve seen it slowly evolve into a festival of experimentation and discovery. While the headliners typically appeal to the broad audience of young and old alike, the real magic happens somewhere before the undercard acts. No matter what brings you to the festival, there’s an unspoken guarantee you will stumble across at least one act you wouldn’t have otherwise.
But what about the lineup this year? That’s the real reason you probably clicked on this article right?
Friday, July 21: The Smile. Alvvays. Perfume Genius. Leikeli47. Nation of Language. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist. Youth Lagoon. Ric Wilson. Grace Ives. Jlin. Axel Boman. Mavi. Sen Morimoto. Contour.
Saturday, July 22: Big Thief. Weyes Blood. King Krule. Snail Mail. Panda Bear + Sonic Boom. Julia Jacklin. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul. Vagabon. MJ Lenderman. Yaya Bey. Black Belt. Eagle Scout. 700 Bliss. Palm. Deeper
Sunday, July 23: Bon Iver. Kelela. Koffee. Killer Mike. JPEGMafia. Hurray For the Riff Raff. Mdou Moctar. ILLUMINATI HOTTIES. Jockstrap. Soul Glo. Florist. Lucrecia Dalt. Rachika Nayar. Ariel Zetina
Just as every year before, Pitchfork has curated a diverse lineup of acts that feels mostly like a who’s who of the indie scene.
The one thing that seems to be missing is a nostalgia hook. And that’s a good thing in my book. While it’s fun to see a legacy act while you can, I personally love how Pitchfork Music Festival never comes off as pandering to nostalgia cash grabs. This year’s lack of legacy acts puts the emphasis back on discovery, something Pitchfork prides itself in (and rightfully so). In my opinion, this might be the most diverse lineup in years. As cliche as it may sound, there literally is something for everyone here. Be it rock, punk, soul, or experimentation.
I think I’m most excited to catch sets from the various hip-hop and electronica acts. Over the years, I’ve seen my share of sweaty rock and aggressive noise acts at The Empty Bottle and The Metro, but it’s always been the Pitchfork Music Festival to make me appreciate the guitar-less genres in a live setting. This has proved especially true in my older years as I’ve grown tired of seeing the same rock-adjacent festivals over and over again each year.
In fact, it wasn’t until I covered Pitchfork Music Festival for this publication in 2016 that I reinstated my appreciation for festivals.
Be it the comfortable local setting or the skillfully curated lineup, everything at Pitchfork Music Festival points to discovery and the act of moving forward musically. Of course, I’m not sure if I’ll ever fully retire from seeing live shows. But this particular festival prevents me from missing out on new artists and/or genres I overlook when it comes to buying a ticket at any other venue.
Isn’t that what music festivals are all about anyway? It’s what they SHOULD be about!
For the full schedule, and information, or to purchase tickets, please visit pitchforkmusicfestival.com