Pitchfork 2010 preview

Pitchfork Festival, running July 16-18 in Chicago’s Union Park, is the one of few events in the world where you can catch indie rock immortals Pavement, Modest Mouse and Broken Social Scene along with members of iconic hip-hop groups Outkast and Wu-Tang Clan in one weekend.

Their (self-) critically-acclaimed lineup never fails to pack in an enthusiastic crowd, and the typical herd of Pitchfork Media fanatics hailing from Chicago’s west side have all but made it our country’s official modern hipster convention. Other must-see acts include electro-pop pioneers LCD Soundsystem and Panda Bear along with promising record-label newbies Surfer Blood and Girls.

It’s not an overnight event, so no camping gear is necessary. Union Park is relatively small and usually houses three stages hardly more than a football field apart, which means minimal walking. The headliners are definitely worth getting up close for, but during the day, it’s best to save energy and sit in the field toward the back of the crowd to absorb the smaller acts.

Bring a large blanket and as many sealed water bottles as you want — most other festivals have a limit on that, including Chicago’s other main event, Lollapalooza.