Pitchfork Music Festival 2016: Ten To See

25 June 2016, 18:00 | Written by The Line of Best Fit

(News)

While the line up at this year's Pitchfork Music Festival (15-17 July) in Chicago leaves you pretty much spoilt for choice, with great line-ups comes great responsibility. Understandably, you'll be making time to see Brian Wilson playing Pet Sounds, but for the rest of the artists we've helped narrow down some of our faves to guide you through the Union Park three-dayer accompanied by some fantastic photos by Kirstie Shanley. And once you've decided, don't forget to check out the set-times too.

Savages

Savages put out a stellar debut in Silence Yourself and likewise amazed the festival with it when they were last here in 2013, but the tracks of their latest release are even more triumphant and filled with an urgency of life that promises to make you feel just as empowered as you are in awe. We found their second album, Adore Life "ten urgent, taut new songs are equally determined to snap us out of our revelry, while also challenging listeners to find love where we can and make the world a better place in the process." And live, band's presence has grown even stronger, and you'd be really missing out if you didn't get the witness them and the new record in all their glory. They play Saturday 16 July on the Green stage at 4:15pm.

Super Furry Animals

If you're looking for transcendentally weird, look no further than these Welsh psychedelic rockers. Chicago music fans have been experiencing a severe withdrawal since lead singer Gruff Rhys announced he didn't want to play indoor venues with roofs. To his credit, their music really is just too epic for the indoor experience but it's left fans without a visit from their favourite band since 2008. The band also celebrated the 15th anniversary of their Welsh language revolutionary LP MWNG, so tracks off this classic are likely to feature. This is the first time Super Furry Animals will have played Pitchfork Music Festival so Union Park should be prepared for something as unpredictable and fun as their music would suggest. Let's just say there will be incredible costumes. They play Saturday, 16 July on the Green stage at 6:15pm.

Beach House

There probably isn't anything more dreamy and delicious to your ears than the lovely floating sounds of Beach House. Victoria Legrand's vocals set a sublime tone underpinned by Alex Scally's masterful guitar work, most recently showcased on their fifth record Depression Cherry, which we concluded was "a beautiful record about darker times being a point in a journey, not the final destination." Thank Your Lucky Stars they'll be returning once again to the festival this year and with a great headlining spot perfect for just as the sun goes down. Don't miss Beach House as they close out the Green stage on Friday, 15 July at 8:30pm.

FKA Twigs

Tahliah Debrett Barnett or FKA Twigs is an exceptional artist in more ways than one - her music, style, and sense of movement on stage all make for an intriguing visual and auditory presentation. We couldn't get enough of her recent track "Good To Love" a catchy, yet slow-building ballad complete with a frenetic monochrome video. Pitchfork Fest goers are lucky to see this unique experience return to Chicago and this time in a headlining spot on the green stage! Let her captivate you as you end your Pitchfork weekend. Don't miss her performance closing out Sunday, July 17 at 8:30pm.

Holly Herndon

As unpredictable Holly Herndon's live set is, combining visuals with music in a way that seems adeptly synchronised, she also has a way of reassuring you about the creative process as a whole and making the audience realise one can truly be unique in this day and age. You'd be hard pressed to find another artist with such exact timing and complex composition as Herndon and this will wow any fan interested in an independent musician who explores the boundaries of what makes her an effective artist. Herndon closes out the blue stage on Saturday, 16 July.

Sufjan Stevens

To say Sufjan Stevens is talented may be the understatement of the century. He has a whole past history of amazing albums, and most relevant for this weekend - one celebrates the great state of Illinois. With his most recent release Carrie & Lowell, he "takes his first conscious step back to a former style...reflecting the hushed, folk-heavy nature of earlier albums like Michigan and Seven Swans". And the results are stunning. Those who might be put off by folk music on a Saturday should note that his stage show is incredible, with everything from confetti to unicorns so there is much to get stuck into. Sufjan closes out the green stage on Saturday, 16 July.

Circuit des Yeux

Chicago's own Haley Fohr of Circuit Des Yeux is one of the most talented musicians the city has to offer. Her slender form seems unlikely to house such a deep soulful voice and yet she will surprise and more than meet any expectations a newcomer might have. At times, her sets can be almost chilling in her vocal projections as they are indeed powerful. Fohr is a musician we should cherish and she deserves a large audience. Start your Saturday off the right way! Circuit des Yeux plays the green stage at 1pm on Saturday, 16 July.

Jenny Hval

Hval's performance will probably surprise you. She has a sweet and lovely voice befitting of a Norwegian Apocalypse girl but her set has, in the past, been a large performance piece challenging identity and often leaves the audience speechless. She has a unique sense about music and what it means to be alive. Her third solo release, Apocalypse, girl "is staggering in so many ways; funny, shocking, engaging, musically ambitious and uncompromising." Hval told us that on doing this record she "wanted to start doing stuff that was beyond how I saw my identity as an artist, in terms of what type of artist I think people saw me as." We're pretty sure this show will be the festival highlight of fans and newcomers alike. Jenny Hval plays the blue stage at 4:30 pm on Saturday, 16 July.

Empress Of

Lorely Rodriguez is the exciting creator behind the music of Empress Of, with engaging electro-pop compositions where, as previous Pfork festivals have shown, she really gets into her own music. The music is just experimental enough to make it interesting and just enough synth and beat heavy to make it dance-able. Either way, it's appealing to behold and should not be missed. Empress Of will be performing at 3:45pm on the blue stage on Sunday, 17 July.

Julia Holter

Holter tends to perfectly walk the line between experimental and accessibility. Her vocals are tranquil but the backing music is sometimes composed of experimental folk or even free jazz to leave the listener fulfilled yet filled with wonder. We rated her album as the best of 2015, and if that isn't reason enough to head to her stage on Friday we don't know what is. Holter describes her music as "...trial and error, and I embrace that side of things. If what is appealing to others about my music is that it is playful, than I can understand that I guess." Holter makes for another amazing female addition to the overall Pitchfork music lineup this year. You can catch Julia Holter play the Green stage at 4:35 on Friday, 15 July.