Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago returned this year for three days to pack Union Park with more openly queer performers than ever before. This annual event relocated to Chicago in 2006 and is a spinoff from the Pitchfork publication founded in 1996 in Minneapolis.
The eclectic lineup from July 19-21 included various genres ranging from jazz, pop, rock, rap and punk to electronic music.
Starting on July 19 at 1 p.m. the Black Duck trio kicked things off, and the Black Pumas duo ended the night on the same Green Stage at 9:45 p.m. Creatives from the LGBTQ+ community were sprinkled in between with Yaeji, Doss and 100 gecs leading the charge.
Saturday displayed more rainbow representation with acts like Kara Jackson, Water From Your Eyes and Bratmobile. The fans attending responded well to the disco-tinged vocals from Jessie Ware and pop princess Carly Rae Jepsen. English musician Jamie xx closed the festival down with a DJ set in the dark.
Classic rap artists De La Soul and Grandmaster Flash also mixed up tunes on the turntables for ticket holders to reminisce and reflect on. Activations from Nespresso with iced coffee and complimentary cans of Celsius supplied the energy to keep patrons dancing. Concert cuisine at the PitchFORKED Food Court offered vegan and gluten-free options.
Leading the day on Sunday, lesbian local singer Akenya talked to Windy City Times before her set.
“Queer people have always been here but now no one is hiding anymore,” she said, describing her song “Hades Moon” as “taking your deepest pain and transforming it into power. It’s about making your trauma into a source of empowerment.”
Other queer performers such as Brittany Howard, Model/Actriz, and members of Mannequin Pussy proudly took to their stages to belt out tunes in the park. Non-binary identifying trio MUNA continued their rise as rock stars, sounding especially good on their track “Silk Chiffon.”
Alanis Morissette closed out the festival with a strong set, and projected messages onto video screens about female equality.
The weekend was focused on more than music, however. The concertgoers could explore the Renegade Craft Fair, CHIRP Record Fair and Flatstock Poster Fair. They could watch backstage interviews with musicians at the Visit Austin area, and bring their kids to the Music House Kids Zone.
For three days, folks could unwind in a safe space for everyone and immerse themselves in the world that the organizers of Pitchfork have built in the Windy City.
Visit pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more information about future festivities.