By Camryn Montebruno
This year’s Pitchfork Festival is just around the corner and we can’t wait! The lineup is absolutely stacked with indie rock favorites, massive pop acts, hip-hop icons, up and coming artists across every genre and I (Camryn) will be there to cover it all for Penny.
While this is Penny’s fourth Pitchfork, it’s my first, and I’m beyond excited to be there and share my experience with you all. With that being said, here are some must-see acts playing this year that I’m super excited about, and you should be too!
MUNA
Because it would be disingenuous of me if I didn’t include MUNA on this list I’m going to cut to the chase and start off with them. They’ve been one of my favourite bands since 2016, and they’re able to completely own any stage that they’re put on whether they’re in a club or stadium, headlining or opening, or playing a show or festival with their introspective approach to pop music. They’ve long proclaimed themselves to be the greatest band in the world, and while I’ve long believed this to be true, if you’re skeptical you check for yourself by attending their set. They’re in between albums right now and only playing a small handful of festivals this year, so Pitchfork will be the perfect place to catch them.
Listen to: Runner’s High
When to see them: Green stage, Sunday @ 6:15pm
Rosali
On her latest record Bite Down, Rosali has crafted a folk rock sound that’s bright without ever feeling overdone. I love getting lost in the album and I can’t wait to hear it live. It truly feels like the perfect album to listen to with the sun out in the middle of the day. And even if the sun isn’t on our side that day, it’s sure to be a stunning set regardless.
Listen to: Slow Pain
When to see them: Blue stage, Friday @ 2:45pm
Sudan Archives
Sudan Archives is the project of Brittney Parks — if she’s not already on your radar, she combines R&B, pop and electronic influences with her violin to create something that’s entirely her own. I saw her perform at Winnipeg Folk Festival in 2022 only really familiar with “Confessions”, and it’s a performance that absolutely captivated me and has stuck with me since. Her latest album Natural Brown Prom Queen is nearly an hour long, and doesn’t waste a minute; Parks is incredible at what she does, and she knows it. While her set does overlap with 100 Gecs, they’re stacked in a way that will allow you to at least partially catch both acts and I cannot recommend getting to her set enough.
Listen to: Freakalizer
When to see them: Blue stage, Friday @ 6:30pm
feeble little horse
Girl With Fish is feeble little horse’s second album in their three years as a band, and it takes a fuzzy, distorted and super fun approach to rock that I can’t get enough of. They’ve recently returned from a hiatus from playing live, and I can’t wait to see how their sound translates to the stage.
Listen to: Pocket
When to see them: Red stage, Saturday @ 3:20pm
Model/Actriz
Model/Actriz are possibly my most highly anticipated act of the entire festival.hey make high energy noise rock that I’m completely obsessed with (my favourite way of describing them to people is “what if Nine Inch Nails referenced Lady Gaga in their music”), and their performances have the intensity to match. When I first listened to Dogsbody I was instantly hooked and immediately regretted not catching their headlining show a few months prior — I have a feeling their set is going to be the craziest of the festival and is absolutely not to be missed.
Listen to: Amaranth
When to see them: Sunday @ 3:20pm on the Red stage
Mannequin Pussy
Mannequin Pussy’s spring tour in support of their latest album I Got Heaven was completely sold out, even after venue upgrades and additional nights in several cities. Their approach to punk is sometimes angry, sometimes gentle, and always cathartic and they’re sure to draw a great crowd (and great pit, if you’re in to that). I can guarantee you they’ll be an incredible start to the last night of Pitchfork.
Listen to: Of Her
When to see them: Sunday @ 5:15pm on the Blue stage
Akenya
In November 2023, Akenya released her first solo track in five years, “Hades Moon” and it’s a glorious expansive art-pop journey of a song that sprawls over its four minute runtime. She’s performed with Noname, Leon Bridges, and Hayley Williams (who called her “one of the best singers I’ve heard in my whole life”) to name a few, and I’m stoked to see what she’s been pursuing on her own. Her album Moon In The 4th is set to be released soon and I’m certain she’ll be previewing some of it during her set. She opens the green stage on Sunday and will certainly be worth showing up early for.
Listen to: Hades Moon
When to see them: Sunday @ 1:00pm on the Green stage
Pitchfork Music Festival takes place from July 19-21 at Union Park in Chicago and you can get tickets here!
See Penny coverage from past Pitchfork Festival years:
Pitchfork 2023 - Print Recap
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