Pitchfork Music Festival kicks off Friday in Chicago

The second annual Pitchfork Music Festival will be held July 13 to 15 in Chicago.\nThe event is hosted by online music zine Pitchfork Media. The Web site has become a leading source for news about independent music and has garnered praise for its album reviews. \nOn Saturday performer Gregg Gillis, a.k.a. Girl Talk, wrote in his Myspace blog that his album “Night Ripper” “immediately exploded” when Pitchfork listed him as a “Best New Music Artist.” Gillis said Spin, The New Yorker and MTV News contacted him shortly after. As the Internet becomes more influential, a seal of approval from Pitchfork can pave the way for success. \nFriday night, three acts will perform their respective classic albums. Sonic Youth will revive “Daydream Nation,” Wu-Tang Clan member GZA will perform his work “Liquid Swords” and Slint will perform “Spiderland.” Saturday night artists include Clipse, Cat Power and the Dirty Delta Blues Band, Grizzly Bear and Dan Deacon. Sunday’s performers include De La Soul, Of Montreal, The New Pornographers and The Cool Kids. \nWhile summer festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapallooza recruit hundreds of acts, Pitchfork opts for a quality-over-quantity approach. Thirty-nine acts will be performing in the three-day span. Whereas larger festivals place ticket prices at more than $100, Pitchfork subsequently offers lower prices. Friday passes are $15, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $35 and the three-day passes are $50. However, all tickets have already sold out. \nWith inexpensive tickets, a diverse lineup and proximity to Bloomington, Pitchfork Music Festival can be a weekend getaway for IU students.\nIU sophomore and Chicago suburbanite Heather Zurek said, “I’m really looking forward to spending a day in Chicago listening to a lot of great music and seeing friends back from school that I have not seen all summer.”