Pitchfork Music Festival 2012 Activities and Vendors

With the Pitchfork Music Festival swiftly approaching, the moment is now for final preparations to be made. Sure, you’ve outlined and color-coded your custom performance schedule, but buzz bands aside, every festival goer should be well-versed in the weekend’s spoils. While Pitchfork has certainly hit some high points in the awesome extras department (free iPhone case, anyone?), they’ve also struck out miserably (four words: Axe body spray angels). Despite any prior missteps, this year is looking to be their most promising and we’ve compiled a full outline below, from provisions and crafts to videogames and art installation.

Activities
A new addition this year is the Book Fort, a go-to hangout for the literarily inclined. Sponsored by Poetry Magazine, it will feature panel discussions and readings hosted by Chicago-based Featherproof Books. Vendors, in addition to Poetry Magazine and Featherproof Books, include McSweeneys, Drag City Books, Write Bloody, The Paper Cave/Green Lantern Press, MAKE Magazine, Publishing Genius and Continuum’s 33 ⅓ music book series. A detailed schedule of Book Fort events can be found here.

Another new venture this year is the Soundplay Arcade. A collaboration between Pitchfork and Intel, Soundplay explores the relationship between music, gaming and technology. Having commissioned some of the leading game developers, the arcade will boast original games whose soundtrack and narratives are inspired by music. The games were produced by Kill Screen magazine and feature tracks by M83, Cut Copy and Matthew Dear.

No stranger to Pitchfork is the CHIRP Record Fair hosted by the Chicago Independent Radio Project. The impressive array of vinyl supports a good cause, as all proceeds go to the not-for-profit community radio station, independent record stores and labels. As an added bonus, the fair serves as a great opportunity to challenge that smug jerk next to you on his vinyl prowess.

Also returning is Coterie Chicago with all the craftware a festival goer could pine for. Forty carefully selected artists and craftspeople will be selling their locally designed clothing, handmade jewelry, paper goods, artwork, community-sourced home furnishing and more. Consider it an Etsy store IRL, allowing you to simultaneously avoid shipping fees and online buyer’s remorse.

Pitchfork definitely wouldn’t be complete without their other mainstay, the Flagstock poster show. Hosted by the American Poster Institute, the show will feature the crème de la crème of gig posters from around the country. Vendors include The Bird Machine, Aesthetic Appartaus, Landland, Burlesque of North America, Crosshair, Sonnenzimmer, Delicious Design League, Casey Burns and many, many more. Just be sure not to spill any beer or sunscreen on your expensive silkscreen.

Food
This year’s provisions have been revamped to include a promising array of local favorites, like Big Star and Black Dog Gelato. Options range from vegan to meat and cover most corners of the world. Heineken remains the beer sponsor with several tents positioned throughout the grounds, including the “dome” from last year’s fest. In addition to the above, vendors include Wishbone, Rice Table, Bombay Station, Abbey Pub, Urb Garden, Robinson’s, O’Briens, Chicago Diner, Temptation Dessert, Goose Island, Chicago Homemade Pizza Company, Big Delicious Planet and Star Lounge.

Extras
An exciting new parternship this year is with Chicago’s own Johalla Projects, promising two large-scale art installations. Curated by Johalla Projects Director Anna Cerniglia, the installations by Chicago artists Matthew Hoffman and Andrea Jablonski are adventurous to say the least. Next to the Blue Stage will be Hoffman’s 80 foot long text sculpture spelling “THESE MOMENTS.” Jablonski’s will enlist hundreds of various balloons filled with LED lights. Unfortunately, the second installment will only be visible to those in the VIP area. Sorry, laypeople.

Finally, two new practical opportunities for attendees are rentable lockers and a rideshare program. Both offer fine alternatives to carrying around a heavy backpack and an overcrowded Ashland bus.