Pitchfork Music Festival took place in Union Park July 21-23, with three days of music and entertainment on the Near West Side of Chicago. Since 2006, this independent music extravaganza has successfully ran with the weather challenges summer in Chicago brings—and in 2023 things were no different.
The weekend began Friday with promising temperatures, and local Chicago talent Sen Morimoto singing a cover of Cher's "Believe." Openly gay singer Perfume Genius ("Queen," "Die 4 You") followed later in the day. He quickly became the talk of the town for his electric set of material while wearing long, red, latex gloves on a sunny day.
Masked rapper Leikeli47 ("Girl Blunt," "Fuck the Summer Up") drew in a diverse crowd over at the Blue Stage on the same day, before Canadian indie band Alvvays ("Archie, Marry Me," "Saved by a Waif") finished their set at the Red Stage.
The Smile closed down Friday night, accompanied by all the expected wild wailing, guitar riffing and electronic feedback. Two of the members of Radiohead are part of The Smile with Thom Yorke on vocals along with guitarist Jonny Greenwood plus Sons of Kemet's Tom Skinner on drums. With only one album, A Light for Attracting Attention, out so far, we will have to wait and see what comes next to this trio in the future, but this was a chance to see legends do what they do up close and personal while being outdoors.
Saturday fans started experiencing unpredictable precipitation around 5 p.m. as the festival goers were asked to leave the park and find nearby shelter. The music continued shortly thereafter as ticket holders were allowed to reenter the main gate just before 6 p.m.
Wild Chicago weather was not going to stop Big Thief, led by queer singer Adrienne Lenker, from returning to headline and close down day two of Pitchfork. Lenker's skilled guitar playing captivated the crowd, and the pure talent displayed by all the musicians involved that night left a lasting impression.
Chicago DJ Ariel Zetina, who is trans, played an early set on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Green Stage. Philadelphia art rock band Palm soon followed. New York rock group Florist also performed; Emily Sprague, Florist's lead singer, identifies as part of the LGBT+ community, as well as solo act Kelela, who joked about her song "Bank Head." Despite that tune being one her own audience knows well, she said, it does not fall into in her usual vocal range.
Bon Iver closed the festival on Sunday evening and did not allow outside photographers in the pit. Gravelly-voiced lead singer Justin Vernon sang his heart out, and belted out personal lyrics through the very last song, "Naeem."
The festival has found its rhythm over the years and the layout has grown into familiar territory for many devotees. Around 60,000 people were expected to attend in 2023, so perks such as the PLUS Lounge came in handy with air-conditioned bathrooms, seating and special refreshments.
Major sponsors included DoorDash, #SmartTox and Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream, who had three different large activations inside the festival grounds. Singer JoJo popped into the #SmartTox Pink House on Sunday to check out the services. Beverage sponsors White Claw, Espolon Tequila and Goose Island Beer Company were some that divided out the drinks for the party people in attendance.
The nonprofit agencies were noticeably in full force, with West Side of Chicago's Redemptive Plastics, One Tail at a Time and several women's health-centered clinics among them. The Chicago Independent Radio Project once again hosted the CHIRP Record Fair under a large white-tented area. Not only was a massive amount of vinyl sold there but a wide range of artist offerings were grouped nearby with the Renegade Art Fair and Flatstock Poster Fair.
The Pitchfork Music Festival experience is much more than just discovering and listening to rising artists play live. It's a time to enjoy the outdoors if the weather permits, buy merchandise, sample local cuisine and savor much of what the city of Chicago has to offer. Visit pitchforkmusicfestivall.com for mor information.
