Pitchfork Music Festival Announces 2015 Lineup
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 13, 2015 4:15PM
Wilco is headlining this year's Pitchfork Music Festival, photo by Samantha Abernethy.
Pitchfork Music Festival announced its 2015 lineup and at first glance we think it's showing a festival growing ever more mainstream without succumbing to pulling from the same pool as every other summer festival.
Headliners like Wilco and Sleater-Kinney are sure crowd pleasers. Joining those two in the top tier is Chicago's own Chance the Rapper, who more than proved he can pump up a festival crowd at Lollapalooza 2014. New Pornographers are also near the top of the bill, proving they seemingly can't go a year without playing at least one Chicago-based festival. Other acts that aren't exactly surprising include Panda Bear—the obligatory Animal Collective appearance—though even a skeptic like this writer can concede his latest album Panda Bear Vs Grim Reaper is a delightfully loopy and woozy listen, giving me hope that his show will follow suit. Hopefully in the dark and with a killer light show.
Run The Jewels will also be appearing and based on the glowing praise of their latest album, we anticipate that will probably be crowned one of the most energetic sets triggering spasms of dancing across the fields of Union Park. Although we bet Madlib & Freddie Gibbs, A$AP FERG and another Chicago mainstay Vic Mensa may give that title a run for its money.
We'd hoped Ex Hex would be on the bill, since their live shows have proven to be even better than their excellent debut album could even lead one to hope. And seeing Kathleen Hanna's Julie Ruin on the bill means lots of younger folks are going to see the woman who gave Nirvana the title of their biggest hit get her freaky, spiky and punky funk on. Further down the bill we're happy to see Steve Gunn is making an appearance since we thought last year's Way Out Weather was a delightful blend of laid back rock with a psych tinge that should be perfectly suited to an early set to ease folks into the rest of the day. Courtney Barnett also made the cut, and based on what we've heard of her new album and the reactions to it, she may very well be the early act that ends up drawing a headlining crowd, especially if she plays the side stage, so camp out early for her set.
The full line-up, so far, is below. The festival takes place in Union Park July 17-19 and tickets are still available.
WILCO
CHANCE THE RAPPER
SLEATER KINNEY
FUTURE ISLANDS
CHVRCHES
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
RUN THE JEWELS
CARIBOU
PANDA BEAR
TODD TERJE & THE OLSENS
MAC DEMARCO
KURT VILE
PARQUET COURTS
JAMIE XX
ILOVEMAKKONEN
MADLIB & FREDDIE GIBBS
A$AP FERG
ARIEL PINK
EX HEX
FUTURE BROWN
WAXAHATCHEE
ICEAGE
OUGHT
VIC MENSA
CLARK
PERFUME GENIUS
THE JULIE RUIN
COURTNEY BARNETT
VINCE STAPLES
TOBIAS JESSO JR.
HOW TO DRESS WELL
SOPHIE
SHAMIR
A. G. COOK
JESSICA PRATT
MR. TWIN SISTER
PROTOMARTYR
STEVE GUNN
VIET CONG
RYLEY WALKER
BITCHIN BAJAS
MOURN
NATALIE PRASS
SINGLE MOTHERS
BULLY
JIMMY WHISPERS