Earl Sweatshirt at Pitchfork Festival 2022 (Photo Credit to Pooneh Ghana)

Now in its 11th year, Pitchfork Festival continues to grow, booking some of the most eye-catching lineups in the annual summer festival circuit. Mixed bills have become somewhat the norm these days, so it takes a lot to curate something that is truly intriguing to the average festival-goer, who now more than ever values genre eclecticism in their weekly listening palette.

Pitchfork Fest perennially delivers by showcasing some of the hottest names in indie and alternative. Because Pitchfork the publication has become such a grounding force in the world on online music journalism, its extension into festival planning has been a natural transition. You can catch some forward thinking r&b, post-jazz-punk, alt country, experimental pop, footwork, folktronica, and a bevy of other genres across the three days. 

Some of the acts must-see acts to look forward to this year  include Yaya Bey, King Krule Illuminati Hotties, Kelela, Jlin, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Vagabon, Perfume Genius, Alvvays, Weyes Blood, Jockstrap, and JPEGMAFIA. That doesn’t even include headliners The Smile (Thom and Johnny’s Radiohead offshoot), Big Thief, and Bon Iver. 

No festival is complete without the extra amenities to engage attendees. There’s a host of food options available, including Chicago Doghouse, Connie’s Pizza, Black Dog Gelato, and more local favorites. There will also be a host of businesses set up, including Bellows Film Lab for onsite photography needs (this writer/photographer will almost certainly drop off a roll of film for development at some point over the weekend). Buffalo Exchance, Bonitos Hats, and more round out the vendor side of things. 

Check out Allston Pudding’s previous coverage of Pitchfork Festival from 2018. View the full lineup below, and purchase last minute passes on the festival’s website. Keep up with our feeds for full coverage during the event as we travel out to Chicago’s Union Park for a music filled weekend.