Festival season has kicked into top gear and with Pitchfork Music Festival 2021 taking place this week we finally get to enjoy one of our favorites of the year. After missing out on the 2020 fest, this year’s #p4kfest lineup was able to salvage many of those names to bring together another fine collection of artists that will feed music fans’ craving for memorable live music experiences.
The Dope Dozen series previews music festivals by highlighting the key performances you won’t want to miss. Check our list of the top 12 artists to see at Pitchfork Music Festival 2021:
Animal Collective
This group is a Pitchfork staple, with over twenty reviews almost all being positive, their performance at this festival cannot be more fitting. Animal Collective is another one of those groups that has an insanely tight and psychedelic live set that will transcend those in the audience. Their most coveted album Merriweather Post Pavilion is nothing but beautiful tracks, and if you are a fan of acts like Tame Impala and Flying Lotus you have to find time for Animal Collective.
– Frankie P
black midi This British outfit is one of the most unconventional of this list, which is partially their appeal. They thrive on noise with jagged edges and generating an energy that will liven up a crowd, no matter how well the weather may be behaving. I had already highlighted black midi as one of my favorites of Pitchfork Fest 2019, and with their recent releases they’ve only given me more reasons to sing their praises. They’re experimental, noisy, jazzy, and their jamming will keep you engaged every step of the way.
– Oscar
Danny Brown
Detroit-native Danny Brown is guaranteed to bring fans a memorable set each and every time he steps on stage. I’d keep an ear out for new music during Danny’s Sunday set, he hasn’t released a full-length since 2019’s uknowhatimsayin¿ and I figure he’s bound to drop soon. Energetic tracks like “Grown Up” and “Ain’t It Funny” are always entertaining to see live… I hope this year’s Pitchfork crowd is ready to get rowdy during Danny’s set!
– Jack
Dehd
One of the best things about the Pitchfork Music Festival, which we appreciate about as much as how well they select their headliners, is that their annual lineups are curated in a way that also celebrate the hometown scene. Chicago will be well represented once more this year and one of the arguments for that is Dehd, a band that combines raw emotions with warm melodies that deliver a wonderful lo-fi vibe that will have you dancing like that scene from “Homerpalooza.”
– Oscar
Flying Lotus
To many, Flying Lotus is considered a pioneer within the realm of electronic music. Although he is the creator of Brainfeeder Records, FlyLo has been producing and curating impeccable music long before Brainfeeder’s inception in 2008. I was fortunate enough to see him during his 3D tour supporting his last full-length, Flamagra. This show at The Vic Theater was one of the most enthralling performances I’ve ever witnessed and I can guarantee his set during sunset on Sunday will leave attendees wondering what exactly they just experienced – in a good way.
– Jack
Jamila Woods
Longtime PoD-favorite Jamila Woods is set to showcase her heavenly singing and songwriting on Saturday at the Blue Stage. Jamila has offered listeners fantastic music throughout her career and we’ve fortunately had our eyes on her for years. Tracks off of HEAVN transport me back to great times in high school and I can’t wait to possibly hear them live this weekend. Jamila’s vocals are soulful, delicate, and resonating; be sure to catch what’s sure to be an immaculate set this weekend at Pitchfork Music Fest!
– Jack
Maxo Kream
Houston-bred artist Maxo Kream has been producing quality music for several years now. I first heard of Maxo in 2015 after his hard-hitting cut “Cell Boomin” featuring Father caught my ear. “Cell Boomin” was released on ‘Maxo 187’, Maxo’s third mixtape. Following that tape, Maxo released one more tape and then began dropping full-length albums. I’d highly recommend checking Maxo’s debut album Punken out if you have never heard the artist before. His albums touch on a wide range of hip-hop styles; the diversity of production within his bodies of work keep each very interesting throughout. Lookout for an energetic performance on Saturday from Maxo!
– Jack
Oso Oso
Oso Oso, performing on Sunday, is the long running project of the very talented singer-songwriter Jade Lilitri. His sound is very eclectic, ranging influences from Midwest emo to indie rock and even some catchy pop tracks. I cannot attest to their ability to perform live in a festival setting because this will be my first time seeing them as well, although evident through their KEXP and Audiotree performances (both available on YouTube) they have a really tight live sound.
– Frankie
Phoebe Bridgers
I would argue that Phoebe Bridgers is the biggest draw on this year’s lineup. Bridgers is on an incredible run since releasing her album Punisher in 2020. After racking up a handful of GRAMMY nominations for that album, Bridgers has also collaborated with legends like Paul McCartney and Metallica, showing off an eclectic artistic vision that is sure to translate well to the stage. On top of all that, #P4kfest will be her only stop in Chicago despite her embarking on a Fall 2021 tour of the U.S. soon, so you won’t want to miss this chance to see an artist on this hot of a streak in her career.
– Oscar
St. Vincent
St. Vincent feels like the embodiment of what a Pitchfork Music Festival performer should be: original, creative, and artsy. Annie Clark returns to the fest after leaving her stamp in the music world, winning GRAMMY awards and releasing critically-acclaimed albums since she last played back in 2014. In 2021, St. Vincent released a new album entitled Daddy’s Home for which she adopted a “downtown NYC in the 70s” aesthetic, which we’ve already seen can bring some dope vibes and entertaining theatrics. St. Vincent is at the top of her game, and I bet that this headline performance will be one to remember.
– Oscar
Thundercat
There aren’t a lot of artists that give the spotlight to the bass, but thankfully there’s Thundercat. I can’t get enough of how nice his high register vocals pair with the groovy and complex bass lines he creates. He’s also a funny and quirky artist, so getting a bit of that LA swag will be a bonus bit of entertainment on top of the music. Last year’s album It Is What It Is is a fine blend of all the elements that make Thundercat a dope artist so if you want to vibe out at this festival and just have an all-around good time, Thundercat’s set is one that you should be at the top of your itinerary.
– Oscar
Ty Segall & Freedom Band
I will always recommend seeing Ty Segall live to anyone who is interested in his music. The biggest factor to this is because of the sheer mass of his discography, and that each show is incredibly different. For example, I saw him live just about three years ago, since then he has released seven albums all varying in length and genre. If you are interested in anything that encompasses the rock genre I would definitely recommend you make it out to Ty’s set.
– Frankie P
