In the shade at Pitchfork 2015 - Green Stage dead ahead, and note the Sears Tower (Willis whatever) in the distance
It’s that time again. The Pitchfork Music Festival is back for its 11th weekend extravaganza in Union Park, Chicago (or 12th if you count the 2005 Intonation Festival). Three days, three stages, 43 bands or solo artists who will present a healthy mix of alternative rock, electronica and dance music, hip-hop and rap, punk, jazz, and some sounds that are hard to label. You can find this year’s lineup here.
On the non-musical side of things, there’s a poster fair, vinyl sales, craft fair, non-profit booths, and numerous sponsored activity stations. Plus the people-watching at an event like this is amazing. Food and drink options are good and getting even better – last year they finally added a wine vendor (they already had several beer options) and I heard that this year someone is building a wood-burning pizza oven in the park. Yes!
Attendance is capped at 18,000 per day – still a lot of people for little ol’ claustrophobic me, but I can manage that much better than, for example, Lollapalooza with 100,000. My festival strategy is to establish a home base in the shade of a large tree on the perimeter of things. I bring supplies and make camp – chairs, sunscreen, frozen water bottles, hand sanitizer, etc. Friends drop by all weekend long, and the “tree dweller community” looks out for each other.
I’ve written before about my Festival Kit. That’s a big part of the prep work and next on my to-do list.
The last, best part of my festival preparation ritual is to make an awesome Pitchfork Playlist and crank it up real loud for the next 24 hours until the real thing gets underway. As lengthy as this playlist is, it includes only a sampling of all the musicians on the bill. But I did kick us off with not one but two songs from Welsh psychedelic rockers Super Furry Animals, the band I am MOST EXCITED to see this year! I hope you like them too. Please join me in the rocking out! And look for a festival recap next week.
On the non-musical side of things, there’s a poster fair, vinyl sales, craft fair, non-profit booths, and numerous sponsored activity stations. Plus the people-watching at an event like this is amazing. Food and drink options are good and getting even better – last year they finally added a wine vendor (they already had several beer options) and I heard that this year someone is building a wood-burning pizza oven in the park. Yes!
Attendance is capped at 18,000 per day – still a lot of people for little ol’ claustrophobic me, but I can manage that much better than, for example, Lollapalooza with 100,000. My festival strategy is to establish a home base in the shade of a large tree on the perimeter of things. I bring supplies and make camp – chairs, sunscreen, frozen water bottles, hand sanitizer, etc. Friends drop by all weekend long, and the “tree dweller community” looks out for each other.
I’ve written before about my Festival Kit. That’s a big part of the prep work and next on my to-do list.
The last, best part of my festival preparation ritual is to make an awesome Pitchfork Playlist and crank it up real loud for the next 24 hours until the real thing gets underway. As lengthy as this playlist is, it includes only a sampling of all the musicians on the bill. But I did kick us off with not one but two songs from Welsh psychedelic rockers Super Furry Animals, the band I am MOST EXCITED to see this year! I hope you like them too. Please join me in the rocking out! And look for a festival recap next week.
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