7 Artists You Need to See at Pitchfork Music Festival 2021

After its inevitable cancellation in 2020, Pitchfork is back with a three-day music festival full of stellar indie performers and local musicians. The festival will take place on September 10th through 12th at Union Park in Chicago. 

Over the years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has always compiled great lineups full of astounding artists. With a few changes made to the original 2020 roster, such as the addition of St. Vincent and Erykah Baduh, everyone is in for an amazing experience. Headliners, including Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief, are definitely worth watching, but some of the best acts will performing earlier in the day. Here are a few artists we think are worth watching at this year’s festival.

Ela Minus

Performing on Friday at Blue Stage (5:15 PM – 6:00 PM)

Colombian musician Ela Minus has had one hell of a musical journey — from her emo band back home to becoming a jazz drummer in Berklee and now an established musician/composer. She released her debut album “acts of rebellion” in October 2020 after releasing single after single in the midst of a pandemic. Minus proves she is an expert in contemporary dance music, as her debut features compelling beats, resonating messages with Latin American undertones. Her music already provides enough imagery of what her stage presence could look like, but experiencing it live and embracing the emotion as it happens could be enough to send you to another realm of existence.

Animal Collective

Performing on Friday at Green Stage (6:15 PM – 7:15 PM)

Animal Collective are known for their euphoric live sets and experimental noise rock. Up to this point, they have released a whopping 10 full-length albums, along with a handful of EPs and live albums. While the band hasn’t released new works since 2016, they have been teasing unreleased works at recent live shows. Their music is on another level, as each song on their discography tells its own story through exalted instrumentals and striking harmonies. With that being said, the band’s vibe definitely fits in with Pitchfork’s brand of showcasing “the cutting edge,” and will definitely be a worthy performance to enjoy.

Divino Niño

Performing on Saturday at Green Stage (2:30 PM – 3:15 PM)

Colombian musician Ela Minus has had one hell of a musical journey — from her emo band back home to becoming a jazz drummer in Berklee and now an established musician/composer. She released her dThis eccentric band from Chicago/Bogotá are blessing the Green Stage with their charming personas and captivating dream-pop tracks. After releasing two hit mixtapes, Divino Niño released their debut album Foam in 2019, which is honestly such an amazing listening experience. From Beautiful psychedelic instrumentals to tantalizing bilingual lyrics, any listener will crave more. The band recently released a new single called “Drive,” which takes their latin roots up a notch by adding experimental bachata and South American tones. If you catch Divino Niño on the Green Stage, be prepared to vibe out.

Waxahatchee 

Performing on Saturday at Green Stage (4:15 PM – 5:10 PM)

Katie Crutchfield, also known as Waxahatchee, is a legitimate indie folk and rock QUEEN (we stan)! After postponing her American Tour twice due to the pandemic, Waxahatchee returns and will finally play tracks from her well-written 5th album Saint Cloud. The album is a shimmering soundscape, with its evocative mixture of classic folk and indie along with her hopeful lyrics. Crutchfield’s voice is angelic and the band’s performance aesthetic is so heavenly, a combination that will result in an out-of-body experience for those who are planning to catch her set.

Oso Oso

Performing on Sunday at Blue Stage (2:45 PM – 3:30 PM)

It is very likely that you’ve heard of this iconic artist from Long Beach, New York. If you haven’t, you will know. Oso Oso consists of sole member Jade Lilitri and is known for their post-emo anthems like “This Must Be My Exit” and “reindeer games.” In 2019, Oso Oso released a third album (and best work to date), Basking in the Glow, which features radiant lyricism and glam-rock styles. His fanbase increased at a rapid pace, resulting in a sold out tour right before the pandemic. He’s back and better than ever, ready to please the crowds that have been itching for live music!

Mariah the Scientist

Performing on Sunday at Red Stage (3:20 PM – 4:10 PM)

It’ll be exciting to see one of the few R&B singers in this year’s lineup — Atlanta’s very own Mariah the Scientist. She released her debut album RY RY WORLD this past July and featured well-known artists like Lil Baby and Young Thug. The album is full of bops, from the catchy pop cadence “Aura” to the powerful vengeful anthem “Revenge.” She is currently on the bill for some pretty great festivals like Rolling Loud California and Made in America, making her poised to crush the stage. She’s one of the few R&B artists on the lineup, so she is definitely assured to crush the stage.

Yves Tumor

Performing on Sunday at Blue Stage (5:15 PM – 6:00 PM)

Yves Tumor is definitely one of the most-anticipated sets of the entire weekend. The experimental artist released a critically acclaimed fourth album called Heaven to a Tortured Mind in 2020 and most recently an EP called The Asymptotical World this past summer. Their music is indescribable as they are always shifting through different musical elements, from kitschy glam pop to nu gaze punk rock. Yves Tumor is unpredictable when it comes to stage presence, as they like to perform “behind the scenes” while putting their audience in a trance with a trippy environment. Because of their history with performing at festivals, Yves Tumor should easily be one of everyone’s favorite sets.