Pitchfork Music Festival 2024 Tour

July ??-??, 2024 in Union Park in Chicago, Illinois

Likely acts playing:
Wednesday
Kara Jackson
Water from Your Eyes
Caroline Polachek
Feeble Little Horse
Joanna Sternberg
Hotline TNT

Maybe:
Ratboys

 

I hope vampire weekend headlines a day

 

Is this the year I finally go for a day?

 

Would love to go this year at least one day. The park is like a 10 min walk from my apartment, but the last couple lineups haven't been for me. My left field choice is I hope they get Kali Uchis. She's probably more likely for Lolla but she'd be an easy headliner at Pitchfork vs. prob a direct support at Lolla, and Pitchfork loves her.

 

They are playing Hinterlands or whatever that fest in Iowa is called, so if they're touring this year I think that could make a lot of sense.

 

Even if it's not full of acts you want to see, I stand by previous statements that it is the best large festival in the city.

 

I'm kind of expecting them and maybe Hozier. We'll see. But usually there is some slight overlap.

Expect possibly Lizzy McAlpine, Ethel Cain, Japanese House...

 

Hozier won't play, they panned his last two albums and have only posted one news story about him ever. He's pretty much a lock for Lolla. The Japanese House is likely for Lolla as well. Lizzy McAlpine has never been reviewed or posted about by Pitchfork so she's not in the cards either, but could be in for Lolla. If Ethel Cain gets another album out this year I could see it. She's the rare example where they gave the album a not great score (6.4) but still booked her for the festival. I know that goes against my Hozier reasoning, but they are two different scenarios haha.

Vampire Weekend I could see headlining for sure. I thought Faye Webster would come back to headline but she's out with the new dates.

 

The only bad part about this festival is the sound bleed and people talking during sets, but you get that at literally any festival. Otherwise it's super easy to get around, the food and drinks are pretty cheap (as far as festival prices go), and it never feels overcrowded or anything.

 

Separate the festival from the publication. They regularly bring in acts that aren't critical darlings to headline or appear high up on the billing.

 

I don't know about that. A lot of who they bring in have either been posted about for years on the website or are new and getting critical acclaim/buzz. Last years headliners were The Smile (I have no doubt they have wanted for years to get Thom Yorke in some capacity), Bon Iver (who they have adored for years), and Big Thief (who they have also loved for years). The year prior they had Mitski (who they had given love to quite a bit prior), The National (who are pretty much Pitchfork darlings regardless of how they are rated and were booked post-Taylor Swift buzz), and the Roots, (the R&B/Hip Hop headliner they were having on Sunday for years). 2021 had Phoebe, St. Vincent, and Erykah Badu who fall in line with the reasonings above. It's no coincidence most of who they book is who they give critical love to or have in the past. The festival does book based on the website, at least it feels like that to me.

But also I have no idea who may headline this year and until the lineup is officially out it's all just speculation haha. Unrelated, but Hozier is waaaay more popular than I think he is. I don't really listen to him but he sells out some pretty massive venues.

 

I can see your argument, but I also feel like there's not much to do to kill time when you're not into sets like there is at other fests. And the sound for the headliners can feel so muted that it's hard to get into if you don't get a good spot. Riot is my favorite because it feels like a good middle ground in terms of size and layout.

But I've done Pitchfork all 3 days once in 2017, and it was one of my favorite fest weekends ever, particularly the Saturday which I went to solo and had the time of my life.

 

Pitchfork the organization/publication is being moved under the GQ brand. Not sure if that means anything for the festival, but someone posted this on the fest's subreddit.

Max Tani on X: "News: In a note to staff, Condé Nast announces that Pitchfork is being moved under GQ. https://t.co/8NzvtYKFLB" / X (twitter.com)

Edit: and this is in the replies from the same person Max Tani on X: "@MikeIsaac Pitchfork is going to continue publishing, but future seems unclear medium/long term. I’m told this was a business side decision, advertising is stronger at other Conde brands like GQ. But don’t have much more info yet…" / X (twitter.com)

Double edit: They are laying off some of the staff Jill Mapes on X: "I've referred to my job at pitchfork as being on a ferris wheel at closing time, just waiting for them to yank me down. after nearly 8 yrs, mass layoffs got me. glad we could spend that time trying to make it a less dude-ish place just for GQ to end up at the helm" / X (twitter.com)

 

Neither of these have been recent darlings of theirs and they brought them back.

Last time he played he he sold out Northerly Island just like Phoebe. He's one of those that could do either festival but do you take a headline slot at p4k or an early evening slot at Lolla?

 

I don't know how Sufjan's doing in terms of feeling up to playing shows, but if that's a possibility he feels likely as a headliner, it's been eight(!) years since he last made an appearance.

 

I've had that thought, too.

 

Apparently Alanis might be headlining this. There was another comment in between these from a different user who mentioned Alanis has a gap and Pitchfork dates (or typical dates since they haven’t been announced yet) are open.

 

I have a hard time believing that the change in org structure is impacting the lineup this close to it.

 

https://consequence.net/2024/01/ratboys-2024-us-tour-dates/

Almost guaranteed.

 

Excuse me ???

 

They got Jai Paul and Fiona Apple

 

Joanna is the only one to have shared this so far but it seems likely she would play this year so I doubt it’s fake

 

Okay I’m reading it’s a mock someone made but idk why she would share that if so? Very weird.

 

She deleted the post so definitely realized she was posting a mock LOL. Here is what she posted though:



(I should have seen Faye Webster’s name and realized immediately it was a fake since she’s playing Lolla but anyways)

This at least confirms that Joanna will be on the lineup this year lol.