Documenting Pitchfork Music Festival 2021

Camilo Medina of Divino Niño at Pitchfork Music Festival 2021

In partnership with Pitchfork Music Festival, the These Days team geared up to document this year’s festival through interviews with the people that make the fest so special to Chicago.

Check out our full catalog of coverage from this year’s festival, which include an interview Divino Niño, conversations with festival attendees and standout moments during Pitchfork & Doordash’s BackStage DashPass interview sessions.

This year’s written entries are courtesy of managing editor Pedro Gonzalez and staff writer Iman Music, with photography by Morgan Durrah.

Chuck Magic • Festival Attendee

On our first day of PItchfork Music Festival, we caught up with Chuck, who lives a few blocks from Union Park and has been able to attend the festival for several years. "I'm a West Sider, so to see festivals closer to out west —because usually they wouldn't do something like that out here—and still see them getting bigger and bigger here in Union Park is pretty special." Chuck shared.

As for the artists he's most looking forward to seeing this weekend, Chuck has his eyes set on Sunday. "I came to see Flying Lotus, Erykah Badu, Thundercat & Danny Brown," Chuck said. "That day is going to be incredible."

Alan Deatherage • First Year Festival Attendee

Alan Deatherage came to Pitchfork on a whim for the first time this year and the artists, vendors, and attendees have won her over. “There’s a lot of cool people. A lot of the vendors are really unique, I haven’t seen them at other festivals.”

She caught St. Vincent last night and is eager to witness Caroline Polacheck’s set tonight. For someone who works in an elementary school, Pitchfork has been a surprising break for Naima. “I’m actually getting coughed on and spit on less than I usually would.”

Kobe • Backstage DashPass Team Member

Taking adventures to the next level, earlier today we met Kobe at the Backstage DashPass by @DoorDash, who travelled all the way from England to enjoy the city and work at this year’s Pitchfork Fest.

“I’ve been to Chicago many times, but I hadn’t tried anything different, so I was like, ‘You know what this is the perfect opportunity.’ Came here and got a chance to work the festival and it’s been beautiful.”

Raised just a few miles away from the Queen’s Windsor Castle, Kobe decided to take this overseas trip with encouragement of his missus and is looking to bring back more stories of his time at Pitchfork, including, hopefully, catching Erykah Badu’s headlining set.

“I actually can’t wait to see Erykah Badu tomorrow, that’ll be the top for me.”

Divino Niño • Debut Festival Appearance

Divino Niño’s electric Pitchfork debut was hands-down one of the best sets we've seen over the weekend.

Most of the band had been to Pitchfork in years past as attendees and recalled "epic" performances from Robyn and Charli XCX with the same fondness we expect fans who caught them on the Green Stage yesterday will be talking about their show in the years ahead.

Chatting after their 2:30pm set, Guillermo was crowned with the best dance moves by the group, but everyone rocked out and kept the audience energized throughout.

The group unanimously agreed that "Special" was their favorite track to perform, and they couldn't help but notice how electrified the performance was while it was happening.

"I close my eyes a lot, and I gotta remind myself to open it up and enjoy it." JV noted, "One of the times I opened my eyes, [Camilo] had his leg up on the monitor, just hardcore."

Camilo added that the experience felt like "just looking into their fucking demons." If you missed Divino Niño at Pitchfork, catch them at one of their upcoming shows and bring your demons with.

Thundercat • Backstage DashPass Interview

The conversation got deep with Thundercat when asked what he envisioned for the after life. “We always have these ideas these shades and gradients and different impressions of it, but we’ll know when we get there.” Even if it ends up like a cross “between Rick and Morty and Adventure Time,” the bottom line is that he’d hope to see his friends again.

Leah Schiffman • Festival Attendee

Even though it’s Leah’s fourth time attending Pitchfork —there’s no denying the magic is still there. “I think it’s the most important music festival in Chicago for me.”

Of course, part of the draw is the music, but for Leah, Pitchfork is also about “creating a community. People really dress up and show out so you can see everyone’s individuality.”

After memorable performances from Lauryn Hill and Schoolboy Q in years past, she‘s looking forward to Thundercat, Yves Tumor, and Erykah Badu on Sunday.

Devon Thomas • Festival Attendee

“I feel like Pitchfork is an event that’s special for a lot more than just the music. I think it’s the best festival in Chicago,” Devon shared with us. “The way they design the venue creates a lot of gathering space and keeps people engaged.”

The fest’s 2019 edition, particularly Robyn’s headlining set, marked for Devon the “best live music experience” she’s ever had. This year she’s back, vaccinated and ready to enjoy some of her favorite new and long-time artists.

One of her highlights so far was Faye Webster’s entrancing set, “I was anticipating liking it, but I was watching and was like, ’I could watch this all day.’” And she’s ready to reconnect with Danny Brown today, “I first saw Danny Brown when I was 15, so it’s super full circle.”

Speaking on the elephant in the room, Devon admitted that the lingering pandemic was still a point of anxiety, but she felt confident in the steps she had taken to stay safe: getting vaxxed and wearing a mask. “It definitely makes me nervous, but not nervous enough to not do it. If I wasn’t fully vaccinated, I definitely wouldn’t do it.”

Danny Brown • Backstage DashPass Interview

On March 16th, 2020, Detroit officially went on lockdown for the pandemic. It also happened to be Danny Brown’s birthday —which set the tone for the rest of his year.

“Oh it sucked. I was very depressed,” Danny shared with his signature laugh. “I was staring out the window crying, but I made some really good music.”

Danny also went through a bad break-up, spent a lot of his time streaming on Twitch, and moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to their burgeoning comedy scene. “I got more comedian friends than rapper friends now.”

However, the music never took a backseat, and Danny captured all his recent experiences in his forthcoming album, ‘Quaranta.’

Danny left us anticipating the project even more after he dubbed it one of his most personal to date. “This one is telling a story about my 30s, after ‘XXX,’ going into 40s. It’s very emotional.”

Danny is leaving it all out there, after all, as he put it, “Life don’t got no part two.”

Latesha • First Year Festival Attendee

The common thread amongst Pitchfork attendees isn’t just their love for music but their curiosity to explore and find new favorites at the fest. Latesha, who was attending for the first time, was sorting out the feelings of live shows. “It’s really weird to be listening to live music again at a festival.”

Despite noting a “huge difference in people’s willingness to go all in at sets,” she’s enjoyed every set she’s seen, especially Phoebe Bridgers. “Being in the crowd was crazy and then she performed ‘I Know the End’ and I was like ’wow even though I’m watching this on a screen, this is the best concert ever.”

Samuel Aaron • Festival Attendee

Sam’s first impressions of Pitchfork came with rave reviews. “I love it. It feels simple in all the right ways, very music-focused compared to other festivals that feel like they try to distract you with a million things to buy.”

After a tough years indoors, during quarantine, it was Pitchfork’s more off-center moments that helped him clear some stress. “We just saw Faye Webster and they said, ’We’re going to do one of our favorite songs from Animal Crossing and it felt like a release being here.”

Top three acts he’s looking forward to this Sunday? Thundercat, Caroline Polachek and, of course, Erykah Badu.