The 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival is shaping up
By Jim DeRogatisThe 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival is shaping up
By Jim DeRogatisWhen the first round of acts for the sixth annual Pitchfork Music Festival was announced a few weeks ago, the response—at least from this commentator—was, yawn.
To be sure, the Union Park musical celebration—which takes place this summer from Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17—is the best of its kind in the festival world: The crowds are manageable, the bookings are imaginative and diverse, and a communal spirit permeates the West Side park.
The only problem with the initial bands was that they seemed all too predictable and didn’t really hold any surprises or the promise of anything special, a la the “Don’t Look Back” series of bands playing their classic albums. Blame “festival glut,” blame the difficulties of maintaining momentum six years on, or blame an “off” summer on the touring circuit. The result is the same: Yawn.
Now, the second group of bands has just been disclosed, and while the “wow” factor still is minimal, at least a few more highlights have been added to the weekend’s roster.
Mind you, such griping means nothing at all in the big picture: Three-day passes sold out in a record 24 hours, though single-day passes still are available for $45 via www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.
In any event, here’s what we got so far, with the new acts marked with a “*.”
FRIDAY
Animal Collective
Neko Case*
Guided By Voices*
James Blake
Das Racist
Curren$y
SATURDAY
Fleet Foxes
The Dismemberment Plan
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
No Age*
Gang Gang Dance*
G-Side*
Woods
Sun Airway
Kylesa
Chrissy Murderbot*
SUNDAY
TV on the Radio
Cut Copy
Deerhunter
Destroyer
OFWGKTA
HEALTH*
Kurt Vile*
Yuck
The Fresh & Onlys*
Radio Dept.*
Baths*
Shabazz Palaces*
Twin Sister*
How To Dress Well*