This weekend we will be heading to Chicago for our third consecutive Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park. There are so many reasons this fest is so great especially when compared to the other huge fests I’ve gone to in the past.

Maybe one of the best parts of the fest is the ratio of big name acts to the small size of the festival grounds. There are only 3 stages at this fest, 2 of them being right next to one another, and a third just a 5 minute walk away. And there’s really only music going on 2 of those stages at any given moment. The beauty of this is that unlike the huge festivals (usually with 6+ stages), it is actually viable to catch all the acts you want to see without worrying about which of your 4 must see acts you will watch, since they’re all playing at the same time. And it’s not like these are no name bands either. Many of these acts actually performed at Coachella, including some headliners and just about headliners.

This year they’ve changed up the Friday format a little bit as well. In the past, there were only a few Friday performances on the A and C stages. Two years ago, some of the acts performed full albums from cover to cover sponsored by All Tomorrow’s Parties and last year the acts played requests from the audience as part of Pitchork’s Write the Night. This year it seems the acts are free to perform whatever they want, and the fest has opened up the B stage on Friday for a lineup of top notch comedians as well. The Fridays in the past have felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the weekend so hopefully this will correct that. All they need now is to revive the DJ tent that I’ve heard about from the fest’s first years. I also think the Friday action starts a bit earlier this year, so it won’t feel so much like that half day with a few bands before the real fest begins (at least like it has for me in the past).

Another pretty unique aspect of Pitchfork fest is all of the interesting and unique merch you can obtain. There are typically 2 huge tents with lots of vendors selling just about anything you can think of, on top of most of the indie record labels on site with plenty of vinyl to go around. And for all of you poster collectors, make sure to check out the entire walkway devoted to unique and (presumably) handmade posters for just about any indie artist you can think of.

And let’s not forget the food. While festival food in general has greatly improved over the past few years, Pitchfork has always had a great selection of any type of food you could possibly want, including plenty of veggie and vegan items. And the beer, which I believe was $4 or $5 a piece last year, is also pretty reasonably priced compared to other fests, not to mention that it’s delicious Goose Island beer rather than the typical Bud Light.

But, of course, the most important part of the festival is the crazy good lineup they manage to put together every year. I mean, looking at the Sunday lineup this year is almost like taking a look at my most played artists in my iTunes. I’ve seen a lot of these acts live before (and am greatly looking forward to seeing them again), but I thought I would just highlight a few of the acts I’m most excited to catch this time around that I haven’t seen before. I’m wondering who will take the cake as this years unexpected MVP (the title I so dubiously granted to the incredible, perfectly lit by natural light M83 performance last year).

I have to admit, over the course of the past year, I’ve found a whole new appreciation for well-done pop music, so I’m especially excited to catch Robyn live on Friday night (especially since I’ll be missing her Detroit stop on the tour the following night). I’m expecting a high powered performance that could be a highlight.

Saturday afternoon should get a jolt of high powered Spanish energy when Delorean takes the stage. Besides their own brand of summery and danceable tunes, these guys have put out some of the brightest remixes in recent memory.

Cold Cave – Life Magazine (Delorean Remix)

I have to admit, while I’ve heard and loved a handful of Wolf Parade tracks, I’m much more familiar with side projects Handsome Furs and Sunset Rubdown. But if the energy of those bands is any indication, I fully expect Wolf Parade to have its way with the Pitchfork Crowd.

Wolf Parade – Shine a Light

I’m not going to get into all the things I (and presumably many of you) love so much about San Fran rockers Girls. I will only say how excited I am to catch their early afternoon set.

Girls – Laura

Last but not least on my list of “most anticipated Pitchfork acts that I haven’t seen live before” is none other than Major Lazer. The Diplo and Switch-led live act is, by any account I’ve ever read, a not-to-be-missed all out party in all senses of the word.

Major Lazer ft. Ninjasonik – Pon de Floor (Diplo Rap Remix)

Make sure to check back next week when we will bring you our festival highlights as well as a whole boatload of pics from the weekend. A big boatload.