Music Festivals

it's a weird bill in that depending on my mood, i'd either want to be there from open to close or i'd want to dip out at like 5
From my perspective, it helps that I've only seen, at most, 2 acts at each day of the festival before. I understand a lot of these bands are on tour a lot and aren't exactly rare.
 
I feel like every musical festival needs an "anchor" or "hero" band. Like, a big, well respected name that can draw a crowd. Examples could be The Cure, The National, Blur, The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Bjork, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pixies, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Beck, Sleater-Kinney, Pavement, Nick Cave, etc. etc. It's why you see some random music festival in Wisconsin or Maryland that has RHCP or blink-182 headline with a mid-af undercard. People go for those names and tolerate the rest of it. In my opinion, based on being a fan of music relevant to a lot of what Pitchfork covers, these headliners seem like really solid, second row right below the headliners but none of them are headliner material.
 
that black pumas headline spot is deeply unfortunate

still going to have to go that night for jai paul and amen dunes however. and then i'll probably stay for black pumas just b/c the CTA traffic will probably be lighter after their set than before it :cautious:
 
I feel like every musical festival needs an "anchor" or "hero" band. Like, a big, well respected name that can draw a crowd. Examples could be The Cure, The National, Blur, The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Bjork, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pixies, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Beck, Sleater-Kinney, Pavement, Nick Cave, etc. etc. It's why you see some random music festival in Wisconsin or Maryland that has RHCP or blink-182 headline with a mid-af undercard. People go for those names and tolerate the rest of it. In my opinion, based on being a fan of music relevant to a lot of what Pitchfork covers, these headliners seem like really solid, second row right below the headliners but none of them are headliner material.
pitchfork has always had smaller headliners than normal festivals because 1) the lineups had previously catered to bands/acts that pitchfork really championed and 2) the footprint of this festival is one of, if not the, smallest in Chicago - daily attendance is usually capped around 15k or so, so the headline acts it draws would usually play for around 3k for a headline show in Chicago. I think from that standpoint, the headliners are in line as are the rest of the acts on the lineup. It's more that Black Pumas and Alanis have not had really any attention from Pitchfork over the years that makes this a weird lineup to me, but I think this year, more than ever, this is a Pitchfork festival in name only.
 
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i just realized ludacris here sticking out like a unicorn on this lineup.
 
I'm finally to the point where I don't know most of these acts. I only recognize 5 names.
Pickathon is all about discovery, finding rising artists before they break out. Honestly, knowing 5 bands is par for the course for most folks.

The experience is a big part of why you go to Pickathon. That said, if past lineups are any indication, you will likely know (and probably like) 20 or more of these bands in a couple years.
 
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