It's one of our favorite weekends of the year as the prime summer treat that is Pitchfork Music Festival makes its way back to Union Park. This is your chance to check out a nice highlight of local acts, diverse sounds and just a well curated lineup of 42 bands/artist/performers. Now that number may sound daunting, that's why we're here with who we're interested in seeing this Pitchfork Music Festival weekend!
It must be said, all the acts on the lineup are absolutely worth experiencing this weekend. Each one offers a unique perspective and that why it's always fun heading to Pitchfork Music Festival: there' simply no wrong answers. So take a look at our picks and see if it helps you figure out how to navigate the stacked lineup
Tickets for the festival are still available! Single day passes are $134 and three-day passes $254 plus fees. You can check out the full lineup and schedule at their website and listen to our playlist featuring one track for every artists performing to get ready for one of the better festivals of the summer!
FRIDAY
Yaeji @ The Red Stage5:15PM
The only rain I want to see at Pitchfork this weekend is Yaeji’s “Raingurl” thunder through the red stage amps and vibrate the city. The multi-talented New York native singer, DJ and producer; Yaeji returns to Pitchfork with full force (and a hammer in hand) after last year’s release of her rather striking LP, With A Hammer. If you’re a dancer and love electronic/house music, Yaeji is your 5:15pm pick. Last time Yaeji performed at Pitchfork, she played at a very crammed blue stage in 2021. Now she graduates to a larger stage; and you do not want to miss her quirky powerful beats and dreamy vocals that will be the ideal set to welcome the first evening of this year’s Pitchfork.
- Andrew Lagunas
100 Gecs @ The Green Stage6:15pm
The chaotic yet charming hyperpop duo, 100 Gecs are performing on the green stage and their set will be undoubtedly explosive. Their early evening set is expected to draw a massive crowd as the band released their highly acclaimed album 10,000 Gecs just last year. The band consists of duo Dylan Brady and Laura Les; and you do not want to miss their unique charisma on stage Friday night!
- Andrew Lagunas
Jai Paul @ The Red Stage7:25pm
Pitchfork’s schedule moves seamlessly throughout the late afternoon with a rich lineup of back to back electronic acts alternating between the red and green stages. Concluding this run is the electronic/R&B singer and producer Jai Paul on the red stage. I already know this is going to be a highlight for the entire weekend as this is his very first time performing in Chicago as well as being one of his only live performances to date. Paul’s first performance was at last year’s Coachella; I urge everyone attending the fest that this set is a must see this weekend!
- Andrew Lagunas
Jeff Rosenstock @ Blue Stage 7:45pm
Jeff Rosenstock is an incredible performer and all of his songs from his incredible debut We Cool? to his latest Hellmode, deliver such an explosive experience that you can help but mosh all over the place. It's the kind of atmosphere you want from a stage closing set. If all the great acts haven't tired you out on day one, then take every bit of energy you have left and go wild with Rosenstock at the the blue stage.
- Julian Ramirez
SATURDAY
Kara Jackson @ Green Stage 2:15pm
Kara Jackson is a staple of the Chicago music scene and fro good reason. Nearly every performance of Jackson's I';ve seen have been completely entrancing thanks to her fantastic songwriting and immaculate voice. Add tot hat her fun and relatable stage banter to introduce song that are both poignant like "why does the earth give us people to love?" and hilariously targeted like "dickhe*d blues". Make Jakcson one of the reason why you get to the fest early!
- Julian Ramirez
De La Soul @ Red Stage 5:15pm
This one's a little bittersweet. While you don't get more fun than De La Soul, this set is coming a little over a year after the death of Trugoy the Dove. So while it may not be the full group, Posdnuos and Maseo are still going strong remebering their fallen member and performing tracks from their 30+ year career. De La Soul has made masterpiece after masterpiece, have been featured on tons of projects like Gorillaz and Tean Titans GO!, and will surely blow minds at the red stage!
- Julian Ramirez
Sweeping Promises @ The Blue Stage5:15PM
Let’s be real; you’re a true indie rock fanatic at Pitchfork and you’ve been running around trying to catch all the midday alternative and indie bands and you get to the dreaded 5:15p conflict… Of course you should go see Sweeping Promises! This duo from Boston are sure to satisfy that craving you have for the latest and coolest indie rock band you’re sure to obsess over after you catch their electrifying set on the blue stage!
- Andrew Lagunas
Jessie Ware @ The Green Stage6:15pm
Jessie Ware is bringing the disco and funk to Pitchfork on the green stage Saturday evening! The English singer and songwriter released her LP, That! Feels Good! Last year which was received with critical acclaim by Pitchfork. Make sure to leave plenty of room around you and be aware of your surroundings because I just know that her set is going to have her entire audience dancing and forgetting their worries even if it's just for a sadly short hour-long set. Jessie Ware is an artist I have been wanting to see for quite some time and her being at this year’s fest is sure to go down in Pitchfork history!
- Andrew Lagunas
Carly Rae Jepsen @ The Red Stage7:25pm
Saturday is THE day for pop and dance music lovers! Closing out the red stage, the vastly adored Canadian pop-star Carly Rae Jepsen is taking the limelight to perform her anthemic catchy tunes. I’m sure she is saving some room for the cultural reset of a song, “Call Me Maybe” on the setlist along with many more jams that will bring a huge pop moment to Pitchfork’s Saturday evening!
- Andrew Lagunas
Jamie XX @ The Green Stage8:30pm
Having an extensive background in the indie music scene; Jamie XX is a well rounded artist and producer that has deservingly made a name for himself and continues to wow the masses with his work. After nearly 10 years, he will be releasing his new album, In Waves later this September; which already has some pretty impressive single releases! Headlining Pitchfork will truly be something special and not a set to pass up, so don’t forget to catch Jamie XX close out the green stage with a classic electronic set before you head out of the festival on Saturday night!
- Andrew Lagunas
SUNDAY
Jessica Pratt @ The Green Stage4:15pm
Looking for the perfect midday set to just chill out and soak in the festival’s ambiance? Folk singer Jessica Pratt will be performing a sincerely heartfelt set on the green stage Sunday afternoon that you won’t want to miss. Her latest album which came out earlier this year, Here in the Pitch is a gut punch of emotions wrapped up in an LP. The simplicity in her tunes paired with her unique and vintage sounding vocals makes for a lively and comforting sound that Pratt has mastered beautifully.
- Andrew Lagunas
Mannequin puss* @ The Blue Stage5:15PM
Are you looking to let some last minute anger out before Monday inevitably rolls around? Walk no further than to the blue stage Sunday afternoon and catch Mannequin puss*’s explosive set! The Philadelphia native punk rock band is known to put on some crazy yet energetic shows that will leave you buzzing afterwards. Lead singer Marisa Dabice has vocals that are ready to pierce everyone’s ears; as there are not many bands that can match Mannequin puss*’s energy. The band is currently on tour in support of their acclaimed album, I Got Heaven. The band’s eclectic sound is enough of a reason to choose them for Sunday’s 5:15p conflict, as this is going to be one of the final sets of the weekend and it is not one to miss out on!
- Andrew Lagunas
Grandmaster Flash @ Red Stage 5:15pm
Just like Saturday, the 5:15pm conflict has a fantastic newer band and a old school staple and innovator going head to head. and just like Saturday, you can go wrong. But how can you deny the history, talent, and party vibes that will surely go down at Grandmaster Flash's red stage set? Grandmaster Flash is an innovator through and through having created the Quick Mix Theory and the slipmat, giving the earliest of hip hop sounds their base which has thrived throughout the years. There' no no doubt you'll have a good time dancing along to his DJ set.
- Julian Ramirez
Crumb @ The Blue Stage6:30pm
The overlapping set times with MUNA is slightly criminal; however, psychedelic rock band Crumb have just released their latest album, AMAMA. It truly was worth the wait for the latest Crumb LP and I am almost positive they will be performing some of these new tunes. If you are a fan of hazy psychedelic rock and dream pop; make sure to catch their set, I promise it will not disappoint!
- Andrew Lagunas
Alanis Morissette @ The Green Stage 8:30pm
What better way to close out your Pitchfork experience than with a bonafide living legend Alanis Morissette. From the moment she released Jagged Little Pill, Morissette has been an icon of the 90s sound and hasn't let up since. With a long list of hits to choose from and a venerable endless number of deep cuts, this set should be a wonderful cap to you festival experience.
-Julian Ramirez
