Stephen Mejias

While John Atkinson, Jason Victor Serinus, and many more of our friends and colleagues prepare for Axpona in Chicago, where they’ll face what we all hope is this winter’s last frigid gasp, I’ve got my eyes set on this summer’s Pitchfork Music Festival, to be held Friday–Sunday, July 19–21, at Chicago’s Union Park.

I hear it's gonna be hot.

Tickets are on sale now, with single-day passes priced at $50 and three-day passes selling for an attractively discounted $120. But, taking into consideration the outstanding headliners and the well-rounded initial lineup, I suspect most music fans will have a very difficult time attending this Pitchfork Music Fest for just a single day. Three-day passes are practically mandatory.

The initial lineup, highlighted by Bjork, Belle & Sebastian, and R. Kelly, was announced this week:

Friday, July 19
Bjork (hot!)
Joanna Newsom (hotter!)
Angel Olsen (hottest!)
Trash Talk

I’m not familiar with the Sacramento hardcore band Trash Talk, but I absolutely love matching Joanna Newsom with Angel Olsen. [Double swoon!] And, come on, Bjork is Queen of the World.

Saturday, July 20
Belle & Sebastian
The Breeders playing Last Splash (!)
Rustie
Swans
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead
Mac DeMarco

Whoa. Saturday’s lineup is like a best of new and old grunge/indie/post punk/electro prog freak out. Not a band or performer here I’d want to miss.

Sunday, July 21
R. “Freaky in the Club” Kelly (!!!)
Chairlift
TNGHT
Sky Ferreira
Killer Mike
El-P
Foxygen
Tree

Yow. And Sunday is obviously for lovers: R&B, soul, slinky pop, and dirty hip-hop.

Click here for more info on the 2013 Pitchfork Music Fest. I'll see you there on Sunday.