Ten Acts You Don’t Want to Miss at Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival

Anna Cieslik ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Editor

Music festival season is in full swing right now and here in Chicago, many of us are preparing for Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend. While the city might be more widely known for Lollapalooza in August, Pitchfork is another great festival with a lineup full of amazing musicians ranging from super famous (Who doesn’t know about Björk and her outlandish style?) to totally up-and-coming (Haven’t heard of Daughn Gibson? It’s okay neither have we.). So us here at Emertainment Monthly came up with a handy dandy little guide to some of our favorite acts playing at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival to help you make the most out of your weekend in Union Park. And if you can’t make it out to Pitchfork this year, don’t worry, you can still enjoy the sick tunes featured in this guide.

1) Mac DeMarco – This soulful Canadian singer will fulfill all of your indie rock desires. His slower tempo songs and psychedelic instrumentals are the perfect way to ease your way into the festival on Friday. After all, you don’t want to spend all of your energy dancing manically on the first afternoon.
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2) …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead – These alternative rockers are a little bit heavier than a lot of other acts at Pitchfork, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve to be on the bill. Check them out on Saturday if you want to let loose while watching the band seriously rock out on stage. We’re not kidding here. Equipment will go flying; guitars will be smashed and drum kits will be knocked over.
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3) TNGHT – Sunday night is going to be a tough choice. R. Kelly is a total classic, but TNGHT is an amazing act that is sure to put on an impressive show. One of the few electronic acts at the festival, TNGHT is known for their spooky sounds and hip-hop collaborations with the likes of Kanye West and others.
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4) Sky Ferreira – Think of Sky Ferreira as the cool upperclassman you always strived to be like in high school. As if being a gorgeous model wasn’t enough, she’s also a seriously amazing singer with relatable tracks sure to get you dancing. The perfect way to get reenergized on Sunday afternoon, Sky Ferreira is definitely not one to miss.
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5) Savages – Punk rock is alive and well in this London band. Their rhythms are tight and their howling vocals could give Sid Vicious a run for his money. And to top it all off, the group is an all-girl band. That’s right. So let your inner Kathleen Hanna go wild while rocking out in the mosh pit that will inevitably form during this set.
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6) Toro y Moi – This one-man wonder band produces some of the chilliest electronic music out there. The guy is pretty much credited with the rise of the whole chillwave genre and it’s no surprise since his songs are definitely something to chill out to. Recharge before heading off to your final act of the weekend by checking out Toro y Moi’s set on Sunday.
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7) Solange – She might be Beyoncé’s younger sister, but Solange definitely stands on her own as an impressive performer. Her soulful sound is a peppy and fun way to end the day on Saturday. Bonus: her songs are sure to leave you in a happy mood and get you excited for the rest of the festival.
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8) Joanna Newsom – What’s that? You want some folky harp music to balance out your weekend of alternative indie rock? Okay, maybe you weren’t thinking that at all, but you should still make sure to check out Joanna Newsom’s set on Friday. Her voice walks a fine line between being sweetly innocent and utterly creepy, but that’s what’s so mesmerizing about her music.
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9) Glass Candy – Think of this duo as candy for your ears. Their indie disco tracks are unlike anything else on the schedule for Pitchfork this year and they’re known for experimenting with their sound, so you never quite know what to expect with Glass Candy. As long as you go into their set with an open mind, you’re sure to have a good time.
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10) El-P – Pitchfork always does a great job at creating a well-rounded lineup, and this year is no exception. While Lil B might be the big hip-hop name at the festival this year, Brooklyn based artist El-P is another great one to check out. His early afternoon timeslot on Sunday is also perfect for pumping you up after two and a half days of raging in the Chicago humidity.
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Let us know who you’re most excited to see at Pitchfork this weekend in the comments below (or who you would see if you could go). And if you haven’t crafted your schedule yet, check out the full lineup here!