Pitchfork Music Festival
July 17-19
We’ve all heard of Lollapalooza, the festival in Chicago that takes over the city every year for a weekend in August. Sure, Lolla is a good time, but want to try something different and exciting this year? You should head to the Pitchfork Music Festival!
Curated by the music website Pitchfork, Pitchfork Music Festival has been happening every summer since 2006. This year’s festival is July 17-19 and will take place in Union Park, a park close to Chicago’s Greektown and Little Italy. The festival is known for featuring many of the artists that Pitchfork interviews and reviews on its site. Additionally, with Pitchfork being based out of Chicago, the fest draws some cool local talent. With headliners like Wilco and Chance the Rapper as well as numerous independent acts, there is a set for everyone at Pitchfork. I hadn’t heard of or really listened to many of the artists on the lineup, but after investigating, I’ve added a bunch of new artists to my Spotify playlists.
The best part about this festival? It won’t break the bank. A three day pass is only $150, and a single day pass is only $65. As a broke college graduate, I am stoked about these prices. Not much else is available on the website yet, such as a day by day line up or information on the record fair CHIRP Radio hosts on the festival grounds, but it should be up soon as the dates draw closer.
Lineup:
Wilco, Chance the Rapper, Sleater Kinney, Future Islands, Chvrches, The New Pornographers, Run the Jewels, Caribou, Panda Bear, Todd Terje & The Olsens, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile, Parquet Courts, Jamie xx, iLoveMakonnen, Courtney Barnett, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, A$AP Ferg, Ariel Pink, Ex Hex, Future Brown, Waxahatchee, Iceage, Ought, Vic Mensa, Clark, Perfume Genius, The Julie Ruin, Vince Staples, Tobias Jesso Jr. How To Dress Well, Sophie, Shamir, A. G. Cook, Jessica Pratt, Mr. Twin Sister, Protomartyr, Steve Gunn, Viet Cong, Ryley Walker, Bitchin Bajas, Mourn, Natalie Prass, Single Mothers, Bully, Jimmy Whispers
Top 10 Must Sees:
1. Wilco – I’ve been a fan since a friend introduced me to them senior year of high school, and would love the chance to see them live.
2. Chvrches – I’m obsessed with their album “The Bones Of What You Believe” – they also just dropped a new song called “Get Away” I’ve been digging recently!
3. Future Islands – “Seasons (Waiting On You)” was my anthem this year.
4. Chance the Rapper – Chance is known for putting on a great show, and he’s from Chicago, so he’d be performing for his hometown crowd. Bound to be an awesome performance.
5. The New Pornographers – Solid, summery rock music from a band that’s been around since 2000 and deserves much more recognition than they’ve gotten.
6. Mac Demarco – He’s a breezy singer/songwriter from Canada who released a new album this year, “Salad Days.” It’s perfect road trip music and I would love to vibe to it in person.
7. Caribou – Very funky, very groovy and very fun.
8. Sleater Kinney – Hardcore all girl rock group who reunited this after being on hiatus since 2006. I would fangirl very hard seeing them, because Carrie Brownstein, from IFC’s “Portlandia,” is a member and is proving you can be super funny AND in a rock band (my dream!)
9. A$AP Ferg – I’m not the biggest rap fan, but his aggressive rhymes and beats make for some fun listening.
10. Jamie xx – He’s a producer and a member of The xx. Pitchfork named his song “Far Nearer” Best New Track in 2011, so it would be interesting to see a favorite of the festival coordinators.
Honorable Mention: Bitchin Bajas - Their name made me curious and when I looked them up, I discovered their music is so unlike anything I’ve heard before. Psychadelic and minimalist at the same time, I am very intrigued as to what their stage presence is like.
Get tickets here. And let us know if you're going, we'll see you there!
By Ailie Steir