Hooligan Picks: Artists to See at Pitchfork 2023
Photo by Bella Peterson from Pitchfork Music Festival 2022
Every year, Hooligan goes to Pitchfork to celebrate art, music and community. As a Chicago staple, Pitchfork always embodies people’s sincere love for live music by platforming artists of all genres, making the festival a perfect place to discover new music. Hooligan writer, Sharah Hutson, and writer/photographer Bella Peterson + Hooligan Co-Founder + writer, Rivka Yeker, wrote about which bands to check out at this year’s curated Pitchfork experience.
We’ll be there, talking with artists and taking portraits. See you there!
MAVI
Friday
Blue Stage
2:45pm - 3:30pm
After spending the last few months replaying Mavi’s “Let the Sun Talk” and “Laughing so Hard, it Hurts,” I found myself feeling overwhelmed with joy when Pitchfork released the artists who would be taking the stage this summer. With every listen and reading along of his lyrics, I often find that my reactions to his music are always changing, forever becoming more profound than it was before. To listen and experience the sounds of Mavi is a journey as he takes his listeners through his reflections on his relationship with his loved ones and continuously understanding himself in this complicated world. In the words of Mavi in “Sense” when asked “‘What kind of songs you make?’”, he raps “I make the kind you gotta read.”
DEEPER
Saturday
Green Stage
1:00pm -1:40pm
When I first moved to Chicago and was looking for Chicago-based bands to delve into, Deeper stood out to me with their album titled “Auto-Pain.” For those who are on the search for a band that will have your mouth slightly ajar and irresistible head nodding, I highly recommend seeing Deeper.
JULIA JACKLIN
Saturday
Blue Stage
5:15pm - 6:00pm
With her release of “Pre-Pleasure” last year, Julia Jacklin continues to be an artist who creates bodies of work that leave me breathless and with a deep appreciation of the vulnerable narratives/insights into her life. With songs like “Too In Love To Die” that describes her profound love for a lover and “CRY” where Julia articulates the difficulties of showing those around you the sadness that you are experiencing, her songs speak to the most tender parts of one’s heart. For this set, I highly recommend that you bring your tissues and get ready to sway.
BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT
Saturday
Blue Stage
2:45pm - 3:30pm
The first time I listened to Black Belt Eagle Scout’s latest record The Land, The Water, The Sky, it felt almost like I was intruding on something so deeply intimate. Katherine Paul has a way of constructing songs to feel like you’re physically present inside her mind, seeing what she sees and feeling what she feels. The catharsis in her music is palpable. I anticipate this set to be something very, very special.
FLORIST
Sunday
Blue Stage
2:45pm - 3:30pm
Florist is a band that has managed to perfectly capture the feeling of the summer nights of my childhood and translate it to music. I listen and I hear the static of the crickets and cicadas, the breeze from an incoming storm, the scraped knees and sweaty sheets and warm hazy glow over everything. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of the festival - take this set as an opportunity to slow down for a moment and be present.
ILLUMINATI HOTTIES
Sunday
Blue Stage
5:15pm - 6:00pm
If you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up to power through the Sunday slump, illuminati hotties is just the thing. Sarah Tudzin is a master of melding the tender and brash, accompanying her witty and introspective lyricism with sick guitar riffs and high-energy performance. To put it plainly, they’re a fun time. All rippers no skippers, baby. Do not miss.
by Rivka Yeker
SEN MORIMOTO
Friday
Green Stage
2:30pm - 3:15pm
Sen Morimoto is a friend, musical wizard and someone you need to see live. Watching Sen play is getting entranced with his passion for music and his commitment to delivering it well. Bringing in his West Coast roots with his love for Chicago, his music is earnest, will have you moving your head + body and filled with jazzy-mathy goodness that challenges all of your expectations. With his recent EP Diagnosis, there is no doubt Sen Morimoto will bring exuberant amounts of love and energy to the Pitchfork stage and heal you of any worry for the day.
VAGABON
Saturday
Blue Stage
4:00pm - 4:45pm
Since Vagabon was on our 19th issue’s cover in 2017, Laetitia Tamko has released many catchy, nuanced indie-pop bangers. Collaborating with artists like Jamila Woods, Miloe and Courtney Barnett, Vagabon has stayed true to her intimate lyricism with a newer incorporation of club-inspired, lo-fi beats. In preparation for a new record, Laetitia has come through with scorching hot singles, “Can I Talk My Shit?” and “Carpenter”, which make you want to move and stare off into a sunset at the same time. That combo, in my opinion, is the perfect festival concoction.
SOUL GLO
Sunday
Blue Stage
4:00pm - 4:45pm
Soul Glo is hardcore with the melody. They’re for anyone who wants to slam dance and jump around with your friends smiling in pure giddy joy. With guest appearances on The Hirs Collective’s new record and collabs with Chicago’s McKinley Dixon, Soul Glo is hardcore punk that’s actually for the people. They’ll also make you bob your head, shake your ass and have you hxc 2-step at the same fokin’ time. Do NOT sleep on seeing them!
Check out the entire schedule for this year’s festival