Hooligan Picks': Artists to See at Pitchfork 2022
Pitchfork is one of our favorite music festivals not just because it’s Chicago-based or because the lineups are always stellar, but also because it feels like one big hang with all our friends from far and wide. While we’re going to do our best to see everyone on this list and then some, we’re also going to enjoy the fresh air, remember what a music festival feels like, and be grateful we can be doing this at all.
We also plan to be on site this year capturing the festival through photos and mini Hooligan Hangouts. Want to chat with us and tell us how the fest is treating you? Be sure to find us!
Rosie’s picks:
Lucy Dacus
SATURDAY - GREEN STAGE
6:15-7:15 PM
Lucy Dacus is a Taurus, master storyteller, and long-time pal of Hooligan Mag. Her third record, 2021’s Home Video (Matador) explores the ephemeral nature of memory and childhood, looking back on various firsts from kisses to crumbling friendships. As she sings on “First Time,” “You can feel it for the first time/ the second time.
This record also contains some of her most detailed and evocative writing to date – it’s like a short story collection with instrumentation. Whether she’s detailing snorting nutmeg in a bunkbed (“VBS”), or skipping school for the movies on “Brando,” Dacus’ ability to transport listeners into a specific time and place is unparalleled.
Ethel Cain
FRIDAY - RED STAGE
1:45-2:25 PM
In a way, it feels cheesy to say that Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter is one of the most immaculate records to come out of 2022. At times both gut-wrenching and triumphant, Cain’s songwriting is a reckoning as she confronts her relationship with queerness and growing up religious. In “American Teenager,” the guitars and drums drop out as she sings, “Jesus if you’re listening/ why do I feel so alone?” Only to introduce a scintillating bevy of power chords in the chorus begging us to, “Say what you want/ but say it like you mean it with your fist for once.” The curation of this album is masterful, careening from instrumental tracks to power ballads with supernatural ease. Catch Cain’s set to experience your own Indie rapture.
Indigo De Souza
FRIDAY - GREEN STAGE
4:15-5:10pm
To put it simply Indigo De Souza crafts emotionally intelligent indie bangers with undeniably lush instrumentation. Her perceptive lyrics are paired with unfurling Midwest-emo-adjacent guitars and steadying drums as she confronts her own growth. On the devestating“Pretty Pictures” she sings, “I promise/I’ll always grow with you/And if my promise ever slips/ Just trust I’ll have the heart to quit.” This record is a gut punch for anyone navigating the complicated terrain of vulnerability.
Whether their voice is soaring on “Die/Cry” or affirming on “Good Thing,” De Souza is guaranteed to deliver a cathartic, ultimately healing set.
Rivka’s picks:
Xenia Rubinos
SUNDAY - BLUE STAGE
5:15-6:00pm
With a voice that transcends and a style that subverts expectations, Xenia Rubinos is an artist that will leave you covered in chills. Though I’ve been a fan for a long time, I have never seen her live. After releasing her 2021 record, Una Rosa, I am excited to see her signature eclectic, impassioned, playful style in person. Heavy with synth and electronic teasing, she switches from Spanish to English, incorporating Caribbean rhythms and beats, jazz and hip-hop into the new record. Rubinos is a one-of-a-kind artist, and will no doubt grace the Pitchfork stage with her bold and exceptionally unique sound.
BADBADNOTGOOD
SATURDAY - GREEN STAGE
4:15-5:10pm
I’ve listened to BADBADNOTGOOD since I was a teenager, but I’ve never seen them live. I am beyond excited for their jazzy instrumental hypnosis – ready to be lulled by their gentle musical brilliance. I’m excited to see the Canadian ensemble bring their signature sound to the Pitchfork stage, ready to tap my fingers against my legs in synchronicity while my head gentle bobs to their subtle yet intricate sound.
KAINA
SUNDAY - GREEN STAGE
2:30-3:15pm
Kaina Castillo is a long-time friend, but I am also a long-time fan of everything she does. Her newest record, It Was a Home, is a love letter to childhood, the house she grew up in, Chicago and her fam (chosen + blood). Knowing so many of the people who worked on the record and with Kaina on her music videos and tours, I am even more excited about her Pitchfork debut this year. KAINA will bring her soft yet powerful voice alongside her loving, talented band full of friends and fam. It will feel like one big Chicago block party.
Sharah’s picks:
Tkay Maidza
FRIDAY - BLUE STAGE
2:45-3:30 pm
If you ever find yourself searching for new songs to add to your “I wish I was dancing in the club, but we are still in the midst of a global pandemic” playlist, then turn to the work of Tkay Maidza. Filled with catchy and beautifully crafted lyrics that urge you to remind you to stand in your power, their music will never fail to add a boost to your day.
Noname
SUNDAY - RED STAGE
5:15-6:10pm
Whenever I reflect on what keeps me going to build towards an abolitionist future in which all our community members are safely held, I find myself constantly returning to the work of Noname. Born and raised in Chicago, Noname has worked on a vast amount of projects with artists such as Akenya, Raury, and Saba. In addition to putting out songs over the past few years that call out the oppressive forces that aim at not allowing us to collectively flourish, Noname also started a Book Club that believes “building community through political education is crucial for our liberation.” Witnessing an artist who makes references to the importance of fighting against things such as anti-Blackness and capitalism while engaging in tangible actions and communal care is incredibly important.
*If you are a non-Black person who finds yourself watching Noname, I urge you to make space for Black people by being cautious of the amount of space you are taking up. Make room for Black people to be at the front and centered throughout the set (and beyond).
CupcakKe
SATURDAY - RED STAGE
1:45-2:25 PM
Do we even need to explain this one?