Each of Chicago’s giant music festivals transports listeners to a sonic wonderland. Lollapalooza is a massive party bus, Riot Fest is a cool, classic convertible, and the Pitchfork Music Festival is an electric vehicle loaded with cutting-edge features. Pitchfork (July 21-23) is where early adopters go to hear the indie headliners of tomorrow on relatively small stages.
This year’s edition of Pitchfork is set to include 42 bands performing on three stages in Union Park. The diverse lineup includes The Smile (featuring Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood), folk-rockers Big Thief, transcendent R&B artist Kelela, and hip-hop icon Killer Mike. The festival closer is Bon Iver, whose profile was elevated far beyond the indie-rock community thanks to collaborations with Taylor Swift.
