It’s officially festival season in the city, and Pitchfork is returning for another year of live music shenanigans this weekend. Set to take place July 15-17th at Chicago’s Union Park, Pitchfork is bringing the heat with genre-spanning headliners such as The Roots, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, Toro y Moi, and the National. With an expansive lineup of amazing artists playing across three different stages, there’s something for everyone, so the crew over here at WLUW has decided to highlight some acts that you won’t want to miss!
Dry Cleaning
Listening to Dry Cleaning just makes you feel cool. The 4-piece post-punk band out of South London might be known best for Florence Shaw’s charismatic narration. On their 2021 release New Long Leg, the band backs her suave talky vocals, reminiscent of Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, with fuzzy guitar hooks and driving bass lines. In comparison to their earlier EP’s, the production quality has greatly improved without taking away from their character: refinement in a way that is appropriate for post-punk bands. Their newest single, “Don’t Press Me,” has us itching to hear what Dry Cleaning is bringing to the table next.
-Makenzie Creden
Kaina
Straight out of Chicago’s D.I.Y music scene, singer-songwriter Kaina is taking their sweet melodies to the Pitchfork stage this year. Kaina’s music blends genres in both a soulful and playful way. Her latest album It Was a Home features artists such as Sleater-Kinney, Hidalgo Negro, and Sen Morimento. It has been an exciting year for this artist as they embarked on their first headlining tour. Kaina’s soothing sound has me excited to see what they bring to their set, and you definitely don’t want to miss out on this act!
-Jess Dominguez
Spirit of the Beehive
Spirit of the Beehive is bringing the buzz to Pitchfork this year. Their hits “THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO” and “THE DOOR IS CLOSING” will transport you straight into the multi-dimensional realm that is their dreamy, electronic sound. They are able to evoke a whole series of emotions with few words and many miscellaneous sounds. TV and radio clips are mended with psychedelic beats to create ominous, yet addictive tunes—sweet as honey. You won’t want to miss these Philly natives on the Chicago stage this weekend.
-Abbey Farmer
Indigo de Souza
Hailing from North Carolina, musician Indigo de Souza creates music that is both thoughtful and dance-worthy. I had the pleasure of seeing her last year at Beat Kitchen after the release of her latest album, “Any Shape You Take” and she is not an act to be missed. Her tunes range from soft and soulful to raging and cathartic. One of my favorite tracks has to be “Take Off Ur Pants” because of how much it builds. Her strong stage presence and pure energy alone are enough to get you pumped. We’re excited to see her once again in Chicago with the Pitchfork crowd!
-Josie Stahler
Lucy Dacus
Indie-rock superstar Lucy Dacus is headed to Pitchfork this weekend, and I simply could not be more excited. She’s a powerful voice in the indie-rock scene, and her set is one that you definitely won’t want to miss. I saw her twice last year following the release of Home Video, and she did not disappoint. With a discography as powerful and diverse as hers, there’s no way her set will be anything less than fantastic. For people who find themselves gravitating toward music that feels like an emotional punch in the gut, look no further. Whether it’s grungier tracks like “Troublemaker Doppelgänger” or more polished indie-rock like “Hot & Heavy,” there’s going to be something for everyone to enjoy. She’s an indie-rock genius who puts on a fantastic live show, and she’s definitely a must-see at Pitchfork this year!
-Sarah Cline