Prospectus

Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: News

Media Credit: McClatchy Tribune file photo Ryan Schreiber, editor in chief of Pitchforkmedia.com ran the indie music website from a Chicago, Illinois, basement in 2005.

On July 17, 18 and 19, the Prospectus will be hitting the road once again, this time to cover the Pitchfork Music Festival: three days showcasing popular indie bands and artists on three stages in Chicago's Union Park. Pitchfork is a relatively young music fest, starting in 2006 and becoming a popular and growing event every year since. What draws in most attendees is the exemplary musical lineup, as well as the overall affordability of the event.

According to pitchforkmusicfestival(dot)com, the goal of the event is "…to create a reasonably priced summer music festival that provides an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable and fun festival experience for both attendees and musicians."

Reasonable pricing has led to two and three day passes selling out before July and single day passes for Sunday have recently sold out as well. Friday and Saturday passes are still available, but at $35 dollars, they are going fast. Looking at the musical lineup, it's not a surprise.

The last three years have boasted music acts including The Futureheads, Band of Horses, Spoon, Sonic Youth, Mastodon, Public Enemy, Yoko Ono, and Vampire Weekend. of Montreal, a band signed to Champaign-based record label Polyvinyl also made an appearance in 2007.

Returning bands from previous years include The National, The Walkmen and Grizzly Bear, while the New York duo Matt and Kim and world music band, Beirut are performing for their first time.

Another band new to this year's Pitchfork is The Flaming Lips, whose genre of music falls into everything from alternative to neo-psychedelia to space rock. They are widely known for their strange song titles and psychedelic performances, which may account for Sunday passes selling out first.

Friday and Saturday tickets are still available at the Web site, but will not be for long. A full listing of the musical performances is also available. If you have the time to make the trip to Chicago, this is definitely a music fest worth checking out. If you can't make the trip, The Prospectus will be there to cover it in its entirety so that you can read about it later.

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