Although Saturday’s unexpected tumultuous thunderstorm in Union Park may have produced much mayhem amongst some, those that stuck around were in for a splash of sunshine, both literally and metaphorically. Early on Saturday evening, the fluffy white clouds started to change to a dark grey and heavy raindrops began to tilt the wind sideways. Festival go-ers began using their complementary FLOR carpeting samples as a makeshift umbrella as the crowd gathered underneath trees in search of relief from the rain. During Mr Twin Sister’s mystical performance, the festival announced that it would be officially closing. However, despite this announcement, tons of people opted out of leaving and decided to wait it out; they weren’t giving up that easily. Individuals had traveled near and far from all across the country for these musical moments, and they were not going to let some petty storm get in the way of their festival experience. And so, sooner or later, the power of music overthrew the power of the weather and the gates of the festival were once again open. This incredible moment may have been the most impactful of the entire weekend: it was a reminder that in the end, music conquers all. It was a reminder that everyone, no matter your race, gender, socioeconomic status, and so on, is all here for the same reason and that in the end, the power of music can move masses and allow people to do the impossible. Maybe if people didn’t stick around, they would not have opened the festival back up, but because of the crowd’s persistence and tenacity, they were able to move storms.

However, it should also be noted that on a more holistic note, the catastrophic weather was only a small segment of the entire three day festival. The rest of Pitchfork Music Festival, celebrating their 10th anniversary, was superb, as usual, providing a great mix of old and new musical talents. Some of the most noteable acts are described below:

Mac Demarco
Demarco’s playful, anything but serious tone, never ceases to disappoint, as he truly never seems to hold back or try to be anyone but himself, which is refreshing, and honestly, everything that the Pitchfork Music Festival strives to embody. Demarco hammed it up with jokes about his addictive tobacco use by warning kids that “smoking is actually bad and not cool” and telling the audience that he has a new album coming out and that he doesn’t care if they download the leaked version. Additionally, a momentous moment was Demarco’s dedication of “Reeling in the Years” to all the dads out there.

Shamir
Shamir’s funky beats and even funkier dance moves brought the crowd straight to their feet moving to the beat. Despite the first listen surface-level fun beats the 20 year old performer may endure, his music captures several pressing issues relevant in today’s society, such as gender classification. Shamir’s entrancing beats and novel way of strutting from one side of the stage to the other left the audience demanding more.

CHVRCHES
The band’s minimalistic black sleek look added to their vibrant, all encompassing sound. Heavy synths and rhythmic drums transcended the audience into an electro-pop dreamworld. By taking the audience on a versatile journey of both slow beats and fast pace dance singles, ending with “The Mother We Share” brought much connectivity and synchronization amongst the crowds’ energy. And did I mention how hot Lauren Mayberry is? This lady is fire.

Run the Jewels
Talk about a high energy show! Killer Mike and El-P’s liveliness was infectious. From encouraging the audience to partake in illegal activities and leading the crowd in a dialogue of curse words between the audience and them, these peeps know how to put on a performance. Whether you were situated at the front of the stage or the back, the energy of the crowd and the performers alike was remotely electrifying.

-NATALIE RAPHAEL, PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

Review: Pitchfork Music Festival 2015