ML Buch, Hotline TNT, Rosali, & more are ready to ascend at Chicago’s premier indie music fest
Pitchfork Festival, one of the best music festivals on the planet, returns a week from now on July 19-21 at Chicago’s Union Park. As always, the lineup is stellar, with a diverse array of acts covering the entire indie spectrum and beyond, from promising up-and-comers to jazz-funk legends and more. Find out who we’re excited to see below.
Friday, July 19
Angry Blackmen
Chicago-natives Angry Blackmen infuse hardcore hip-hop with experimental production on their 2024-release The Legend of ABM. On The Legend of ABM, listeners can find catchy, intelligent verses layered upon meticulous, powerful instrumentals. Their Pitchfork Festival debut marks their return to music after a few years of silence, and will be a worthy set to attend as the duo performs in their hometown.
Set time: 2 p.m. at the Red Stage
Song to listen to: “Dead Men Tell No Lies”
ML Buch
ML Buch’s 2023 album Suntub landed on countless 2023 Album of the Year lists. Buch’s second studio album is glistening in earthy tones and peaceful harmonies. Her vocals add iridescent flavors to her stunning guitar melodies. I listened to this record over and over again when it was released in the fall but found myself even more in love with it in the slow heat of long summer nights.
Set time: 2:30 p.m. at the Green Stage
Song to listen to: “Well bucket”
Rosali
Bite Down, Rosali’s most recent release, is gentle and carries range. The record has a fresh take on Americana folk music of the ’70s with vocals akin to the likes of Stevie Nicks. It’s a record waiting to be discovered by new listeners, and will surely make a fan out of anyone who presses play.
Set time: 2:45 p.m. on the Blue Stage
Song to listen to: “On Tonight”
Saturday, July 20
Hotline TNT
New York’s Hotline TNT made a dent in indie music last year with their release Cartwheel. The noisy record is nostalgic of grunge teenage coming-of-age films in the early ’00s. The record is best paired with a long drive gazing out the window or a late night outside in plastic lawn chairs. It’s mood-setting and tone-shifting, and their fiery live set is not to be missed at the festival.
Set time: 2:45 p.m. at the Blue Stage
Song to listen to: “Protocol”
Water From Your Eyes
Water From Your Eyes’ Everyone’s Crushed instantly caught my attention upon first listen last year. Rachel Brown’s lead vocals are eerie and gripping. Their music is genuinely fun to listen to as it’s not something you hear every day. Water From Your Eyes are just cool, whether or not they’re trying.
Set time: 4:00 p.m. at the Blue Stage
Song to listen to: “Out There”
L’Rain
L’Rain is the moniker of Taja Cjeek, a New York-based instrumentalist, singer and composer. Her sexy new release I Killed Your Dog is interesting and captivating. It’s hard to put L’Rain in a box, her newest record has a little bit of everything for everyone; there’s moments of loops, r&b, heavy synths, piano forward melodies, and even some that almost sound like a rock n’ roll stadium ballads.
Set time: 1:45 p.m. at the Red Stage
Song to listen to: “Pet Rock”
Sunday, July 21
Joanna Sternberg
Joanna Sternberg is one of the most vulnerable new singer-songwriters in the game. Her music is honest, filled with joy and pain and everyday life, and she knows how to have fun with it. There’s a simplicity to her melodies that accompany bold gestures of the human experience. Her 2023 record I’ve Got Me fell into our laps and reminded us just how nice it can feel to turn inward and be honest with ourselves.
Set Time: 1:45 p.m. at the Red Stage
Song to listen to: “I Will be With You”
Hailu Megira
You either love Hailu Megira or you just haven’t listened to Hailu Megira yet. The Ethiopian keyboardist has been making music since the ’70s. His albums are full of beautiful funk and jazz compositions that are pleasing to any ear. Megira and his band are the perfect Sunday afternoon act before the end of the festival.
Set Time: 4:00 p.m. at the Blue Stage
Song to listen to: “Migibima Moltual”
Mannequin Pussy
It’s unlikely that at this point you haven’t heard about Mannequin Pussy, whether it’s from the boldness of their name, or from spending time with their stunning 2024 release, I Got Heaven. The record is full of twists and turns, from the sweet, soft addictiveness of “I Don’t Know You” to the heavy hardcore of “OK?OK!OK?OK!” I Got Heaven has solidified Mannequin Pussy as a genre-bending band that we will be hearing about for many years to come.
Set Time: 5:15 pm at the Blue Stage
Song to listen to: “I Don’t Know You”
