Yeeseon Chae • August 6, 2018 / 4:00 pm

Pitchfork Fest Photo Diary

Even with tornadoes in the forecast and last-minute lineup changes, Pitchfork Festival turned out to be a glorious event to attend this year. The rain made the festival grounds look more like Glastonbury, but it made the festival community feel more tight-knit. Festival season is always a mix-up of emotions and filled with hunger and achy legs, but if there’s any festival that’s worth it, it has to be Pitchfork. If you couldn’t make it that weekend, here’s a snapshot of performances from the weekend of what you missed!

Day 1 – Friday, July 20

The day was rainy, but it didn’t dampen people’s spirits. The line for the festival was long and stretched around the block. We were a bit nervous about how to get the best content™️, but we figured we should just have a good time! Everyone comes to music festivals to have a heightened concert experience of collective effervescence. A festival experience can be really eye-opening because although you surrender a bit of comfort, you do it to have acceptance amongst other people who share the same passion for music and the arts. We also got some Pitchfork Fest merch which was amazing this year. (The beret is ?)

: It rained at the Blue Stage, but Julie Byrne was still luminous as ever

: The harp was an unexpected festival fit

: Byrne was a very calming way to start the festival weekend

: The Blue Stage

: Tierra Whack came out to do an energetic 30 minute set that did not disappoint

: DJ Zach’s tattoo (and devotion)

: Crowd at Tierra Whack

: I heard the reason she had her DJ do a 15 minute set was because she was nervous beforehand, but it didn’t show onstage

: “Fruit Salad” was my favorite

: I could only catch Julien Baker from the side of the Blue Stage

: She was still brilliant, though

: Big Thief, the band that feels like family

: Buck Meek of Big Thief

: Adrianne Lenker’s voice is magnificent

: Big Thief drummer, James Krivchenia

: Max Oleartchik of Big Thief looked like he could also play for Tame Impala

: Good spirits even with the rain

: The crowd for Big Thief was my favorite because everyone was smiling

: Courtney Barnett is my god

: Don’t know how I still managed to take pictures after she winked at me 😉

: The moon on Day 1

: The confetti cannon was a bit scary for the photographers as it went off right in front of them

: Kevin Parker of Tame Impala

: Rain at the beginning set an interesting mood

: The crowd yelled “Fuck Trevor” during “The Less I Know The Better”

: Trying to capture the moment!

Day 2 – Saturday, July 21

The ? came out for Saturday! It was a nice day to walk around the festival grounds and see all of the different vendors.We shopped around for vinyl and cassettes from the CHIRP record fair and even got some shirts from the Renegade Craft Fair. We also more than indulged on some great food from The Chicago Diner and BenjYehuda.

: Berhana at the Red Stage

: His set was earlier in the day so we could get a spot right at the rails!

: Zola Jesus mystifying the audience

: She had the veil on for most of the start of the set

: Everyone was captivated

: Nilüfer Yanya had the coolest guitar strap

: Details on her guitar

: Circuit Des Yeux at the Blue Stage

: Kelela’s indescribable performance

: Everyone went wild for “Rewind”

: The crowd in awe

: Everyone on stage was dressed in white

: Blood Orange at the Green Stage

: I want to hear Dev Hynes speak on his choice of concert background videos

: Berets never looked so good

: War On Drugs at the Red Stage

Day 3 – Sunday, July 22

For the last day of the fest, the weather was the best it had been and everyone was in a frenzy to see Ms. Lauryn Hill. We got to see her and her band do sound check at the beginning of the day, which was a little crazy for everyone to experience. I also stood in line for Japanese Breakfast’s signing and I got to meet her! Someone who was working there said that that line was the longest he’d ever seen for an artist signing at the festival.