Two years since it last opened, Pitchfork Music Festival returns this weekend to Union Park. While there are (rightful) concerns about hosting an event this size, there is also  a lot of hope and undeniable excitement to enjoy one of Chicago’s best summer experiences.

Amid a still a very real pandemic, but with news of vaccinations increasing and cases showing a downward trend, if you feel comfortable and are vaccinated, the festival can be a great avenue to decompress, vent, and catch some of your favorite artists perform live.

The line-up is filled with artists that accompanied us during the loneliest and most debilitating times of 2020. In my case, Yves Tumor’s Heaven of a Tortured Mind was a constant fixture in my running playlist (which didn’t exist until last summer) and the exuberance of the record allowed me to escape reality briefly.  I’m hopeful those same feelings of comfort and solace will surface again this weekend.

Of course, I’m also thinking about the Chicago acts who we love covering, listening to, and rooting for here at These Days: KeiyaA, DEHD, DJ Nate, Divino Nino, Horsegirl, and Jamila Woods. 

The event’s headliners include Erykah Badu, St. Vincent, and Phoebe Bridgers. And other Respect The Neighbors’ favorites like Maxo Kream, Yaeji, Jay Electronica, Mariah the Scientist, Thundercat, Faye Webster and Flying Lotus favorably round up the line-up. 

You can view the full lineup and each artist's set times below. And if you haven’t gotten your tickets and are up to attend this year’s fest, you can purchase either single day or 3-Day (resale) passes here.  

For those going, be sure to review Pitchfork’s COVID-19 entry requirements - we highly recommend you come ready with your proof of  vaccination, wear a mask, and get tested before and after the show. After all, a whole year without live music left a prolonged void in many of our lives. Now that shows are back and we have the luxury of seeing our favorite artists perform live again, let’s do our part as fans and come back to enjoy this experience as safely as possible.