It’s been a year for Pitchfork since last year’s festival, a full corporate takeover and massive layoffs of their core staff and writers. I can only speak for myself but heard my concerns echoed everywhere whether or not their festival would even continue. The additional concerns were if they did, how would they be able to compete with the rising waves from recent years’ lineups that had continued to elevate as well annually. My personal wishlist for this year included : Sleater Kinney, Blonde Redhead, maybe Lana Del Rey and the “swing for the fences” Sufjan Stevens. Obviously and unfortunately none of those artists turned up on this year’s lineup but there is also a reason why it’s called a wishlist.

As in past years and given their track record, I’ve also come to a point in my career where I can temper my expectations and embrace the chosen lineup otherwise neither you (the readers) or me will enjoy the coverage from the weekend. Please don’t misunderstand just because none of the fore mentioned artists aren’t playing Pitchfork this year doesn’t mean there aren’t many other artists I’m looking forward to capturing.

Once again, when I began digging through this year’s artists I found myself having a hard time only choosing six artists/bands to spotlight in this preview. Having now being fully immersed in the music scene, I had a lot more familiarity with a lot of the lineup, some of which landed on my top albums list for 2023 so the challenge for me this year was to not solely lean on those and listen to more of the ones I wasn’t familiar with at all. I would be remiss if I did not include a couple of those personal favorites on here as well.

Mannequin Pussy (5:15p Sunday / Blue Stage)

Mannequin Pussy may be at the top of my list of bands to see this weekend. Still on the heels release of their fourth album, I Got Heaven the punk band out of Philly made a stop through Chicago earlier this year playing a sold out  Thalia Hall. Since that evening, lead singer Missy Dabice’s voice has lingered in my head but probably because their music has also been on repeat since as well. They’re playing the  “magical” time slot the day on Sunday at 5:15 on the blue stage and you won’t wanna miss It. Photo credit: Josh Darr

Rosali (2:45pm Friday / Blue Stage)

I love not being familiar with an artist and playing their music and from the first song on feeling like I’ve known them for years. North Carolina based songwriter, Rosali Middleman known as Rosali was and has become exactly that for me. Hanging on this years personal heavy rotation, her music has hints and nods to her predecessors (soft hints of Stevie Nicks in her voice) bringing a nostalgic familiarity while building on those layers with her own flair that makes a name for herself. Recently signed to Merge Records, releasing her fourth album, Bite Down (first with Merge). By the second track of the album, “Rewind” she continues etching in her presence with a hum along tune and words that not only catch your attention but also your heart and shatters that glass of separation that allows you the listener to want to keep listening.  She plays the blue stage fairly early on Friday at 2:45. If you’re playing hooky in the afternoon from work she’s definitely a can’t miss. Photo credit: Merge Records

feeble little horse (3:20pm Saturday / Red Stage) 

In true tradition of that “indie rock” music you want to find during the weekend at Union Park. Pittsburgh’s feeble little horse fills that need, and I say that genuinely with no cynicism. What began as two friends playing music in the garage has quickly grown into a fleshed out band who released their second album, Girl With Fish on Saddle Creek last year. There is a raw, chaotic erracticness to their sound some might find unnerving but I find to be a nice balance for my brain and heaven to my ears. Hopeful their live hiatus was the break they needed and excited to catch them this weekend. They’ll be playing on the Red Stage on Saturday afternoon at 3:20. Photo credit: feeble little horses

Alanis Morrisette (8:30pm Sunday / Green Stage)

I’ve gone back and forth this year on whether or not I should mention any of the headliners and after a while I decided to let the music make the decision for me. And when putting on Jagged Little Pill I found myself back in my teenage years “ratatouille style” remembering how much I enjoyed that record and the countless times drove with the windows open in Atlanta singing along at the top of my lungs. Clearly Alanis Morrisette has written a timeless gem as now thirty years later both old and new fans are embracing those same raw emotions that made her music so appealing all those years ago. She closes out the weekend festivities at 8:30 Sunday on the Green Stage. Photo credit: Marianne Van Meel

Wednesday (4:15pm Saturday / Green Stage)

While on the subject, I can humbly admit when I was that age all I wanted to do was immerse myself in a variety of different bands that allowed me to wallow in my angst and anger all at once. Never having the skill set to learn an instrument to play through my emotions I relied on many of those bands to soundtrack those years both good/bad. Wednesday to me very much seems like all those bands wrapped up into one. The alternative rock band is from Asheville, NC and plays a style of music some describe as a country shoegazey rock but on their most recent release, Rat Saw God on Dead Oceans they're clearly pushing their creative boundaries as a band in their sound while lead singer, Karly Hatzman painting a visual narrative with her lyrics. I highly recommend you go experience their story on Saturday at 4:15 on the Green Stage.

Lifeguard ( 1:00pm Saturday / Green Stage)

And I would be remiss if I did not mention the local trio, Lifeguard the band of teenagers who can play those instruments I would've to wanted to learn how to play when I was their age. There are a slew of genres you could classify their music in probably more so post-punk but it doesnt really matter they perform well beyond their ages and tap a musical root that leaves you with goosebumps and the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Theyre clearly in their own element when on the stage, and at this point have only released a couple Eps and a new single on Matador Records. You can catch that magic in person on Saturday at the Green Stage at 1:00.