Pitchfork + Lollapalooza Staff Picks

It’s your lucky day. We’ve decided to stop talking about Riot Fest (for once) to complain about the lineups for Chicago’s other major music festivals! Just kidding… Pitchfork and Lollapalooza actually booked some bands we don’t hate.

We’ve compiled all of our staff picks from the upcoming alternative rock and pop music festivals. Featuring Carly Rae Jepsen, Bon Iver, Killer Mike and more, check out the breakdown here and listen to our playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.

Soul Glo whoops major ass. I don’t think there’s much else that needs to be said. Go get your ass whooped by Soul Glo.

Have you ever driven down a long road through the woods in the middle of winter thinking about all your past mistakes and wanted to scream your lungs out? Well, have I got an artist for you. If it’s any indication how much I love Noah Kahan, I stayed up until midnight with my best friend to listen to the extended release of his album Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)—and yes, I sobbed my eyes out until I was nothing, but a husk of a person. It was great.

Nation of Language is a great pick if you like indie pop. I think they draw influence across decades and would appeal to fans of LCD Soundsystem and Television alike. Don’t sleep on one of the best bands to come out of Chicago in recent years either, Deeper.

I think a lot of the Riot crowd is already pretty well acquainted with Knocked Loose, but definitely go see them. Jean Dawson makes music that really doesn’t fit into one category but is all quality and interesting. One of my favorite new finds recently. Oh, and make sure to check out Dehd too. They’re from right here in Chicago! They rip and “Bad Love” is an instant hit. Big ups to Sincere Engineer too (but I’m sure you already knew that).

I’m an individual also… my wife and I used an instrumental of “Holocene” at our wedding.

I don’t know, did YOU sing the revamped Full House theme?

If I could get everything I wanted, I would be at FOH for Billie at Lolla and get to see Julia crushing the Blue stage at Pitchfork.

If the Illuminati Hotties live show is half as fun as the songs on Let Me Do One More, it’s going to be great. If the live show is half as intense as the stuff on Free I.H., it’s going to be unmissable. 

I would be fine if I never heard “Californication” or “Otherside” ever again, but… c’mon. Frusciante. The guitar work on “Eddie” is sublime, and then you realize that it’s propped up by one of the best rhythm sections in rock, and then you realize that The Chili Peppers still kinda got it?! 

I first got into Leikeli47 with her hit “Girl Blunt” and have kept listening for her unique house, hip-hop and R&B blended sound.

No song will ever scream freshman year of college to me more than “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers. “Maple Syrup,” “Just a Boy,” and “Out of Tune” are some of my other favorites.

One thing I love doing on a weekend off work is to go to someplace that feels like I am at work. So going to a 3 day outdoor music festival surrounded by people and bands and loud noises is super fun for me and not stressful at all. Sometimes I like to pretend I actually am working a music festival I am not actually working just to make it more fun. I like to stress about every problem that is not my responsibility and sometimes I even pretend to tweet like I am running that festival’s twitter account. It’s super fun for me. I don’t know what bands you should see, you’re an adult, figure it out yourself. 

The Related Rabbit Hole

Riot Fest Staff Picks For Pitchfork Music Festival Our Pitchfork Music Fest 2016 Picks Some Bands The Riot Fest Staff is Excited To See At Lollapalooza

Justine Fisher

Justine Fisher is a writer and journalist, originally from Los Angeles. She loves listening to music and writing about it... as you may have already gathered. See more of her articles on PAPER, LA Magazine or The Daily Northwestern.