By K.D. Norris

kdnorris.com

Music festivals are returning in force this summer but if you want to get in on “the rising indie class” you might want to schedule a road trip to Chicago’s Union Park in mid-July. 

Pitchfork Music Festival will return Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, with a line-up of the familiar — including headliners The National, Mitski, and The Roots — but also the “what’s next” in indie and alt and about half a dozen other genres undefinable.

“This year’s lineup is a celebration of the rising indie class, and those who continue to pave the way for innovation,” Puja Patel, editor in chief of Pitchfork, said in supplied material. “Our goal was to highlight a diverse group of artists who are taking their musical genres to new heights.”

Day 1

The Festival kicks off on Friday with The National, who played Pitchfork Music Festival’s first year in 2006,, as well as Spiritualized, Parquet Courts, Tierra Whack, Amber Mark, Dawn Richard, Tkay Maidza, Indigo De Souza, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, SPELLLING, Camp Cope, Wiki, Ethel Cain, and CupcakKe.

The National will be the “name” on that day/night/the weekend — the show marks a return to touring for the band in fact: “The last couple years have given us ample time for reflection and rejuvenation. Summer 2022 is a time for reunion. We look forward to gathering with friends, old and new. United in music and light, suspended in time,” the band states on their website.

But maybe the best of the early Friday acts will be the outstanding Parquet Courts — their late 2021 release Sympathy for Life was outstanding. And for the “I saw her when …” crowd, CupcakKe should be tasty.

Day 2

On Saturday, headliner Mitski will be joined by Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus, Low, Magdalena Bay, Dry Cleaning, Karate, Iceage, yeule, Arooj Aftab, The Armed, Chubby & the Gang, Hyd, and Jeff Parker & the New Breed.

You can’t turn on a radio (over-the-air or celestial) these days without catching Mitski’s catchy 1980s-retro bad-girl hit “The Only Heartbreaker” off her 2022 release Laurel Hell. But Japanese Breakfast is sure to be tasty too.

Day 3

The festival closes Sunday with The Roots, Toro y Moi, Earl Sweatshirt, Noname, BADBADNOTGOOD, Cate Le Bon, Tirzah, Xenia Rubinos, Erika de Casier, Injury Reserve, KAINA, L’Rain, Sofia Kourtesis, and Pink Siifu.

Hey, I have grey hair … You had me at Roots …

Details, details …

Pitchfork Music Festival tickets are available, with three-day passes, single-day passes — and  “The Pitchfork PLUS”  For tickets and more information visit here.

The Pitchfork Music Festival showcases the best up-and-coming music from around the world, as well as “special performances from touring stalwarts and legends alike,” according to festival promotional material. It also features diverse vendors, including specialty record and craft fairs, and it works to support local businesses while promoting the Chicago arts and food communities as a whole.
 
The Pitchfork Music Festival will adhere to the city of Chicago’s current-at-the-time COVID-19 protocol, according to supplied material, and will remain in close contact with city and state officials as regulations evolve. Festival attendees will be updated on COVID-19 protocol via email, and can find the latest safety guidelines on Pitchfork Music Festival’s FAQ page, and by following @PitchforkFest on Instagram and Twitter. 

Pitchfork is one of the most read voices in music, and is often considered the preeminent resource for fans looking to discover and experience new music through reviews and features of the people, trends, and events shaping the music industry. Pitchfork hosts annual Music Festivals in Chicago and Paris. For more go to Pitchfork.com and follow @pitchfork.