Clusterfest Update: Pitchfork Gets Local

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2006 4:30PM

In an effort to hype its Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park this summer, organizers are tying themselves in to some already existing arts events in the city this summer.

According to Pitchfork Media, the Chicago Cultural Center’s Lunchbreak series, in the weeklong run-up to the fest, will be devoted to bands handpicked by the owners and operators of several clubs affiliated with the League of Chicago Music Venues like Schuba’s, the Hideout, Metro, Martyr’s and Empty Bottle. This will likely scare the ass off the blue-hairs that show up for Classical Mondays.

Pitchfork is also tying itself in to the Siskel Center’s monthly Music Movies screenings in stating that the films that screen that week will “express the spirit of the Pitchfork Music Festival" (what would an ironic t-shirt look like as a movie?).

(Incidentally, Chicagoist would like to take this opportunity to announce that we’re collaborating with Al’s Italian Beef down on Taylor Street. They’ll be serving Italian sausage sandwiches through the end of the week that express the spirit of Chicagoist.)

But no one can take away the thunder that Pitchfork will bring to its opening night party at Metro. Appearing on July 28th will be Suset Rubdown, Voxtrot and Joggers (yeah, we had to go look them up too). Tickets are $16. Plus, they’ve worked out a nice bonus with the League by allowing anyone who hasn’t got enough music in the 10 hours previous to get free admission to any of the above clubs after the fest. (So far the only booking announced at any of those venues is local artist Jai Alai Savant at Hideout.)

Let the one-upmanship continue! Intonation and Lollapalooza, whattaya got?