FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Pitchfork Music Festival 2018

Tame Impala, Fleet Foxes, Lauryn Hill Headline This Year’s Pitchfork Music Festival

Union Park, Chicago, IL | July 20-22, 2018
Three Day Passes ($175), Single Day Tickets ($75) & +PLUS Passes ($375) Available Here

Let’s be honest, if you’ve read any of my coverage of Pitchfork Music Festival over the last 4+ years of covering it, you already know how I feel. You already know it’s one of my favorite weekends of the year, and honestly, my favorite music festival experience year-in and year-out. But this year comes with a bit of a special caveat…

This will likely be my last year covering Pitchfork Music Festival.

I’m just putting this out there, as nothing is finalized, but as we prepare for a move across the country, things might not line up for Pitchfork Fest coverage next year. Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to covering West Coast festivals in the future, and I’m sure Coachella, Outside Lands, and all the rest have plenty to offer. But it just won’t be the same without Pitchfork Fest smack dab in the middle of my summer.

I’ll cut the bullshit this year. I’ve talked in years past about the pure enjoyment of the extracurriculars at Pitchfork Fest, and this year I’m gonna do my god damned best to experience it all: I’m going to buy some commemorative merchandise, I’ll pick up a keepsake poster at Flatstock, and I’m going to dig some crates at CHiRP Record Fair. And of course I’ll be looking to the incredible local beer and food the festival offers.

Sorry, I said I’d cut the bullshit… on to the music. Here’s a look at the festival lineup, with a more in-depth look at some of the artists I’m not going to miss.

Friday July 20, 2018
Headliner: Tame Impala

Obviously, Tame Impala is not only the biggest draw of the opening night of the weekend, but I’d argue it’s the casual music fan’s biggest draw of the weekend. Tame Impala have absolutely exploded since the release of their last full length album, Currents. Frontman Kevin Parker has worked with a who’s-who of artists, including Miguel, Lady Gaga, and supposedly Kanye West, and their track “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” was even covered by Rihanna on her latest album. Having seen Tame Impala a handful of times, I’d still expect a phenomenal set with minimal changes: dark stage lighting with heavy lighting effects, a screen backdropping the group with trippy visuals, and a set powered by chest pounding bass and clear sound. Tame Impala will bring a phenomenal set to Chicago on Friday, if that doesn’t happen, everyone reading this is allowed to punch me in the gut.

Sub-Headliners: Courtney Barnett, Mount Kimbie

The first of many difficult decisions comes Friday, and let’s be honest, Friday’s lineup is so crammed full of lineup conflictions, it’s unfair to call this the first (the full daily schedule is below, with our noted artists marked *). Either way, you should be able to catch some of each of these artists if you choose, but no matter what you won’t be wrong with either decision.

Courtney Barnett returns to Pitchfork, following her stellar set in 2015, around the time she burst into the headlines as one of rock music’s best talents following her debut LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit. Her follow up, Tell Me How You Really Feel released this year, and is gaining buzz as one of the top rock albums of 2018. I haven’t seen Courtney Barnett + band since that hot July day in 2015, and it’ll be nice to headbang along with her again.

Before that, I’ll be sure to check out Mount Kimbie at the Blue Stage for a bit. Their album Love What Survives was one of 2017’s hidden gems; a low-key electronic dream with plenty of guests. Those guests are likely too big to make an impromptu appearance at Pitchfork that weekend, but there should be zero doubt in your mind that this set will be worth checking out.

Best of the Rest + Full Schedule

Saturday July 21, 2018
Headliner: Fleet Foxes

To be honest, I was somewhat underwhelmed with Saturday’s headliner announcement. I enjoy the Fleet Foxes plenty, but always expect a little bit more from festival headliners. Granted, Robin Peckinhold and company have toured sparingly over the last 5 years, and Peckinhold did promise some surprises during Saturday’s set. The surprises are just an added bonus to checking one of the all-time great indie folk bands off my list.

Sub-Headliners: The War on Drugs, Blood Orange

When I think of all-time great Pitchfork sets, it’s hard to get too far down my list without thinking of not one, but two Blood Orange sets. 2014’s set was my first year covering Pitchfork Fest, and that year the masses were turned on to one of the most talented musicians we’ve seen in a long time. In 2016, Dev Hynes stepped his game up with special guest appearances from Empress Of and a performance that I still think about. I can not stress this enough: Do NOT miss Blood Orange’s set on Saturday.

Shortly after, The War on Drugs will take the stage just across the baseball outfield. TWOD is undoubtedly one of indie rock’s best groups in the game, and I can think of no better setting than seeing them take the Red Stage at the golden hour. A set time that has taken my breath away multiple times – Real Estate in 2015 most clearly comes to mind – hearing some of the new tracks from TWOD’s 2017 album A Deeper Understanding, as well as some old favorites during that golden hour will be near perfection.

Best of the Rest + Full Daily Schedule

Sunday July 22, 2018
Headliner: Lauryn Hill
Performing The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

This is a major bucket list performance for me. Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation came out 20 years ago, and it was one of the first albums I can recall that shaped my view in music. Seeing the legend perform an album that inspired so many artists will be an unforgettable experience. Kudos to Pitchfork for booking yet another legendary act, following up last year’s A Tribe Called Quest performance with another amazing artist in 2018. I predict tears during “Ex-Factor”.

Sub-Headliners: Chaka Khan, Japandroids

The downfall of Sunday’s schedule is the semi-conflicting nature of the schedule. Japanese Breakfast vs. Smino in the early evening, DRAM vs. (Sandy) Alex G later, and then Japandroids vs. Ms. Lauryn Hill to round out the evening. You’ll be able to catch both sets, as they don’t technically overlap at all, it still is difficult for me to shoot both sets. But I’ll do my best. I love the Japandroids, and have for a long time now, but missing out on a legend’s performance would be an all-time regret.

The Queen of Funk will be Ms. Lauryn Hill’s lead-in performer, another epic booking by Pitchfork Music Festival. Reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s insanely fun set in 2015, Chaka Khan will delight every fan within earshot when she takes the stage. Personally, I’m most pumped to see the reaction of the (all-male) crew I’ll be with when she belts out “I’m Every Woman”.

Best of the Rest + Full Daily Schedule

That’s all for now. If you haven’t done your homework yet, be sure to check out a playlist I set up with at least one song from every artist playing the festival this weekend, via Apple Music here. Follow along on Instagram and Twitter for live updates, photo highlights, and more!