Pitchfork Music Festival

For music lovers worldwide, festivals are a truly unique experience in which you get to share your love of music, genres, artists and of course songs with your friends and strangers alike. They are a place where love, music, color and diversity are championed and an opportunity to truly lose yourself in the emotions that music can give us and the joy it brings.

Some of the most popular festivals in the world from EDC to Glastonbury to Coachella and Lollapalooza often attract millions of fans every single year. Pitchfork Festival is another music festival which is capturing the hearts and minds of music fans all across America and beyond and here we give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about this special event.

Where Is Pitchfork Music Festival?

This is probably one of the first questions any music fan has when it comes to a festival as they see if it is logistically possible for them to attend. After a break from 2019 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which decimated festivals all over the world, the festival came back last year and is back again this year.

As usual, Pitchfork Music Festival will take up residence in Union Park (1501 W Randolph St), directly next to the Ashland Green and Pink Line station which is easily accessible by local public transport. You really can’t miss Union Park given its prominent location within Chicago and this festival is rightly staged at such a popular spot!

What Is Pitchfork Music Festival?

Pitchfork Music Festival is a truly unique event that gives the spotlight to artists that you probably won’t consider as ‘well-known’ as other headliners when it comes to traditional festivals. The festival itself is owned and organized by the popular music publication Pitchfork and is held annually in Chicago.

The festival highlights rising acts that deserve their shot and give them the opportunity to really announce themselves on the music stage to a vast audience. The festival showcases what are sure to be future stars across a range of genres, although primarily billed as a rock n roll festival. The festival includes indie favorites, and headliners, who are perhaps more used to being the pre-headline acts but are thrust into the limelight here after putting in the hard yards and getting their shot to really take off.

The main Chicago event often hosts in excess of 60,000 keen music fans from all across America and indeed worldwide and has grown year on year since its first event which was held in 2006 to become a key staple within the music festival calendar for fans of all ages.

Although the primary festival takes place within Chicago, Pitchfork Music Festival has spawned some spin-off events due to its popularity. Most notably, there is a festival bearing the same name which is also owned by the same company and follows the contemporary rules of the main Chicago event that has been held yearly at various different venues across Paris since 2011.

The event has gone from strength to strength and often garners attendance figures in the tens of thousands, although it varies yearly depending upon the venue which has been secured to host this highly popular event. Other notable Pitchfork Music Festival events took place in Berlin, Germany in 2020 and in London, England in 2021 as Pitchfork brought their unique festival overseas to European audiences as they continue to grow.

What Time Does Pitchfork Music Festival Start?

In terms of when the festival will start, gates will open each day at 12pm although when artists take to stage will of course vary. However, guests should note that gate times are subject to change and keep an eye on the official website and social media for the latest, up to date news on the festival. The main gates for entrance to the festival are on Ashland, south of Lake Street, and Washington Blvd./Ogden Ave.

Like most music festivals, guests will need a valid photo ID and a digital or printed ticket in order to enter the venue. Children who are aged 10 and under can attend the festival for free and do not require a ticket nor any ID but must of course be accompanied by an adult who has a ticket and ID.

What Date Was Danny Brown? | Pitchfork Music Festival 2017 | Full Set

Danny Brown provided perhaps the most iconic Pitchfork Music Festival performance to date in 2017 when he took to the stage and wowed fans with his legendary set that captured the hearts and minds of everyone lucky enough to be in attendance. The performance took place on July 24, 2017 at Chicago’s Union Park venue, which has hosted every year of the festival since its inception in 2006 and continues to this day.

Brown’s setlist was a real treat for fans and was both gripping and flat-out fun at the same time. It was a mammoth performance and one which featured many of the hits which have made him such a popular artist at such festivals up and down the country. The Detroit-born rapper was at his mercurial best here and his setlist was a real delight, outlined below;

  • Die Like a Rockstar
  • Lie4
  • Outer Space (Excerpt)
  • Adderall Admiral
  • Monopoly
  • Kool Aid
  • Side B (Dope Song)
  • Smokin & Drinkin
  • Break It (Go)
  • Dip
  • 25 Bucks
  • Grown Up
  • Ain’t It Funny
  • Really Doe (First verse & chorus only)
  • When It Rain
  • Pneumonia
  • Attak

This was a real celebration and Brown really took it to another level with his performance. There aren't many rappers, mainstream or otherwise that revels in the mosh pit-enthused atmosphere more than Brown and you are always assured that at the Pitchfork Music Festival. The biggest drop of the performance was saved for his hit “Die Like A Rockstar” which is one of Brown’s truly seismic tunes.

The more well-known hits such as “Dip” and “I Will” were mixed in with some choice cuts such as “Monopoly” and “Lie4” to maintain an excellent cocktail of Danny Brown’s finest moments. Brown never talks to the crowd much, occasionally shouting out Chicago or remarking on how epic the audience was, but besides that, he marathoned through almost two hours of high-frequency songs that were designed to showcase his talent at the Pitchfork Music Festival and he did just that in providing one of the most iconic performances in its 16-year history and one which is still talked about to this day whenever you mention Pitchfork.

Pitchfork Music Festival 2017 was one for the ages and is often looked back on by fans as one of the best festivals that have come from this event in its whole storied history. That was in no small part to the plethora of truly great artists that graced the stage across this three-day celebration of music.

Aside from Brown, some of the biggest headline acts included; LCD Soundsystem, A Tribe Called Quest, and Solange. They were joined for a wonderful cocktail of music by the likes of PJ Harvey, The Avalanches, Ride, Dirty Projectors, Thurston Moore, Vince Staples, Madlib, Nicolas Jaar, Angel Olsen, Arab Strap, SURVIVE, Mitski, and Jamila Woods, George Clinton, The Feelies, American Football, Hamilton Leithauser, Colin Stetson, Isaiah Rashad, Arca, Frankie Cosmos, Pinegrove, Ne-Hi, Priests, William Tyler, Hiss Golden Messenger, Francis and the Lights, and Joey Purp.

The list, of course, could go on due to the wonderfully diverse nature of this event and the great many artists that grace the stage by these acts truly made it their own. The full setlist for the event is a real mash-up of wonderful music and provided different artists on each of the three days, all of which produced iconic performances. The setlists are outlined below;

Friday, July 14, 2017

  • Arca
  • Danny Brown
  • Dawn Richard
  • Dirty Projectors
  • Frankie Cosmos
  • Hiss Golden Messenger
  • Kamaiyah
  • LCD Soundsystem
  • Madame Gandhi
  • Priests
  • Thurston Moore
  • Vince Staples
  • William Tyler

Saturday, July 15, 2017

  • A Tribe Called Quest
  • Angel Olsen
  • Arab Strap
  • Cherry Glazerr
  • Francis and the Lights
  • Jeff Rosenstock
  • Madlib
  • Mitski
  • PJ Harvey
  • Parliament-Funkadelic
  • S U R V I V E
  • The Feelies
  • Vagabon
  • Weyes Blood

Sunday, July 16, 2017

  • American Football
  • Colin Stetson
  • Derrick Carter
  • Hamilton Leithauser
  • Isaiah Rashad
  • Jamila Woods
  • Joey Purp
  • Kilo Kish
  • NE-HI
  • Nicolas Jaar
  • Pinegrove
  • Ride
  • Solange
  • The Avalanches

The 2017 Pitchfork Music Festival was undoubtedly a great event and gained great reviews from critics as well as making music fans fall in love with this great festival, enhancing its growing reputation amongst music lovers everywhere - if that was even required.

What To Wear To Pitchfork Music Festival?

This is a question that is so often asked by festival-goers - "what do I wear?!" Well, Pitchfork Music Festival is a rain-or-shine event, but don’t let a little drizzle get you down; some rain dances during your favorite set are sure to help turn it around for you. Shorts, tank tops, short sleeves, and sundresses are appropriate for this peak summer month, but hats, closed-toe shoes, and raincoats are of course advised for bad weather so you'd be well advised to take one just in case. The clothing on display is often a real mixed bag but is usually colorful as well as being practical so choose wisely.

What To Do At Pitchfork Music Festival 2022

What to do at Pitchfork Music Festival? This may seem like a pretty dumb question (listen to the music, of course!) - however, festival lovers often go for the full experience beyond simply listening to the music. When you need a break from enjoying the utterly wonderful music on display at the stages, you should first line your stomach and check out some of the many tasty food vendors on site, such as Black Dog Gelato, Bang Bang Pie, Leghorn Chicken, and Wow Bao.

Learn about a good cause at a non-profit booth like Girls Rock. Chicago or One Tail at a Time. There's no shortage of things to do and plenty of local artists will be displaying their work, as well as a pop-up craft festival, book fair, and even a record shop that has become common-place at the festival in recent years.It is literally impossible to become bored at Pitchfork Music Festival and this has seen a rise of families attending the event as it showcases its truly versatile nature.

Under 10s who attend the festival actually get in for free and it is perfectly safe and even pretty common for festival-goers to bring their kids along to enjoy the event with them safe in the knowledge that they won't get bored as there is also a children's area at the event which is held at the kid-friendly location of Chicago's Union Park - a sprawling park in the heart of Chicago. As you can probably guess, there is no shortage of things to do at Pitchfork Music Festival and this is perhaps one of the key reasons for its growing popularity with music lovers everywhere.

Where To Stay During Pitchfork Festival 2022

For those who aren't local to Chicago, wondering where you're going to stay during the three-day festival. finding a good place to stay can really make or break your experience. In terms of the 2022 event, partnered hotels include the Chicago Marriott at Medical District, which is closest to the fest. Others are the Chicago Athletic Association, Hyatt Regency, and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Acts often frequent these hotels so an added bonus may be running into one of them after the show or even just while you're hanging out as they relax before their performances. Of course, these hotels can be a little pricey so other options include AirBnB and the many hostels which are pretty frequent in the huge metropolitan city that is Chicago.

Essentials For Pitchfork Music Festival 2022

If you want to see the best music at the festival, you should get a ticket to enjoy all three days. While you’re there, be sure to check out the other festival offerings, such as the food truck competition.

You can also enjoy some of the other amenities of the festival. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, try the Pitchfork Premium Pass. For more information on that, visit the festival’s website but make sure you act quickly to avoid disappointment because these sell out pretty quickly.

This year’s festival will feature the best alternative rock, electro-pop, and hip-hop artists. During the festival, you will probably be in your element listening to Animal Collective’s set. Phoebe Bridgers’ music made a breakthrough with her song, Punisher, during the pandemic. You will also get to see some of the most exciting new acts of the year as is the nature of the festival and can boast to your friends that you were the first one to see them live.

As a footnote and something you really won't want to miss out on if you get the chance - you can also catch a live show at BUKU, which has been around for ten years at the festival. BUKU is a subculture that reflects the progressive side of New Orleans and brings it to Chicago for Pitchfork Music Festival.

It has several outdoor and indoor stage environments and pop-up breakdancing crews. The lineup features some of the most exciting musicians and some wonderful breakthrough talents to delight audiences.

Who Owns Pitchfork Music Festival?

Pitchfork Music Festival is actually owned by its namesake, the well-known music publication ‘Pitchfork’ which operates out of the United States. Pitchfork are a real modern day musical success story, starting from humble beginnings as a website out of suburban Minneapolis established in 1995 by two record shop workers to owning and operating a music festival that brings joy to thousands of music fans every year in the heart of Chicago.

When Is the Pitchfork Music Festival?

The 2022 Pitchfork Music Festival will be held from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17 at Chicago’s Union Park and will be the 16th edition of the festival. More than 60,000 fans are expected over the course of the three days.

Some of the upcoming festival’s (2022) headline acts include the likes of The National, Mitski, The Roots, Japanese Breakfast, Earl Sweatshirt, Spiritualized, Parquet Courts, Toro y Moi, and Lucy Dacus and many more who will be looking to leave a lasting impression on fans as they get their big shot on the biggest stage in the heart of Chicago. It promises, once again, to be a truly unique event.

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