Since then, Pitchfork has considerably grown, and with Friday's release of the 2011 Pitchfork Festival Lineup, you can clearly see how big they have become. This year's headliners are Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, and TV on the Radio. Not to knock Tortoise, but its clear that the curators killed it this year on the headliners. Animal Collective may be the face of indie rock music right now. They are the definition of experimental rock as their sometimes trippy, sometimes cerebral sound of genre bending tribal electronics seem to seem to appeal to even some of the more conservative indie music fans. Their last full length release, Merriweather Post Pavilion, was at the top of every one's best of lists a couple years back and their live performances are becoming the stuff of legends. Group members Panda Bear and Avey Tare have also released strong solo records over the past couple years, with Panda Bear's Person Pitch being a real standout.
Fleet Foxes led the neo folk rival a few years ago with the release of their self titled debut. Their harmonies rival the best of the Beach Boys and Crosby, Still, and Nash. Their spring release of Helplessness Blues is one of indie rocks most anticipated albums in 2011. After seeing TV on the Radio twice live over the years, I am confident in giving them the title of the Best Live Band on the Planet. Front man Tunde Adebimpe moves like a man possessed as his long, gumby like limbs flail all over the stage. Their In Living Colour meets Radiohead type art rock blends post-punk, doo wop and funk with falsettos like you have never heard.
That's just the headliners. Two of buffaBLOG's favorites, Cut Copy and James Blake, both of who were recently featured as our Albums of the Week, in addition to Deerhunter, Destroyer, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (whose "Round and Round" is still my favorite song of 2010), Woods, Yuck, Das Racist, are among the 40+ acts that will be playing the three day festival in mid July. More bands are expected to be added as the festival draws near.
What makes the Pitchfork Music Festival standout among others is that the curators seem to have their finger on the pulse of what is "now" in indie music. Many festivals these days seem to try to branch out to other genres to attract bigger audiences. Others go the nostalgic route. I already gave my opinions on the rumored Lollapalooza headliners so you know how I feel about that. Pitchfork knows exactly who its readers are and what they like, so its nice to see them appeasing their fans. Accessibility is also key to the Pitchfork Festival. Unlike Bonaroo and Coachella, you are not required to camp out in hopes of barely seeing your favorite band. The great Chicago metro rail becomes your best friend for a festival like this.
The 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will take place in Chicago's Union Park on July 15th-17th. The 3-day, $110 passes are already sold out(good thing I already bought mine), but you can still buy single day tickets for $45 each. View the complete lineup and purchase tickets here.
~mm
Great post. I'm not from Chicago but will be in town for the festival...I'm so excited it hurts. Any recs for what to do after festival on Saturday. I know there are afterparties but I'm looking for other optionis too.