William Lennon writesPitchfork 2016 Is Almost Here!

So far, it’s been a rough year for these great United States. Without delving too deeply into the darkness that’s enveloping us all anyway, suffice to say that a big beautiful summer festival is just what we need to take our minds off things. So, let us salute the three (hopefully) sun-soaked days of Pitchforkfest coming to Chicago in July.

On the first day of the festival (Friday, July 15th), native Chicagoans Twin Peaks will serenade us with their signature brand of jangly throwback rock. In case you’re not familiar, Twin Peaks are a gang of babyfaced stoners that play like The Rolling Stones would if they had been conceived in a post-REM world. Performing clearly isn’t work for these guys, at least not yet, and it’s hard to imagine a better band to day-drink to.

On the same day, Beach House will temper our escapist headbuzz with some meditations on life, the universe and the merciless drone of time, delivered as usual in a series of luscious, 5 minute pop songs. As far as we know, Eric Wareheim isn’t directing their stage show, but considering what he did with the video for "Wishes" we sort of wish he was. (Still, it’s Beach House. It’ll be great. I mean, have you listened to Depression Cherry?)

Keep in mind we’re still on day one and we haven’t yet talked about the Canadians. Toronto supergroup Broken Social Scene will be there, and so will Carley Rae Jepson, that girl you met one crazy time at a party who really-really-really-really likes you.

If we went over the whole weekend, we’d end up discussing the finer points of Sufjan Stevens or placing bets on who has the first out-of-body-experience when Neon Indian plays, so let’s not get bogged down in a full day-by-day breakdown. Simply put, Pitchforkfest looks absolutely delectable this year, and, even better, it’s being held in tandem with the CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights where Don Giovanni Records will be in attendance. There will be other great vendors of course-honorable mentions include Merge Records who bring us Spoon and The Mountain Goats and Sub Pop who needs no introduction-but make absolutely sure to check out Don Giovanni. This label has introduced the world to half a dozen of the best bands currently making music, including Waxahatchee, Shellshag, Priests and the glory that is Screaming Females.

It’s a lot to take in, granted, but if you take your time and keep an open mind, Pitchforkfest could be one of the best weekends of the summer. Just imagine, three sunny days of live music, digging through records and meeting likeminded people. Maybe 2016 won’t be so bad after all.

Hope to see you there.

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