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Pitchfork Music Fest says farewell to Chicago
The festival will not return to Chicago next year.
CHICAGO - Pitchfork Music Festival will not be returning to Chicago in 2025.
After nearly two decades, the popular event—which usually draws roughly 60,000 people over three days each summer—is saying ‘farewell’ to its original home in Union Park.
"This decision was not made lightly," the Pitchfork team said. "For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Festival has been a celebration of music, art, and community—a space where memories were made, voices were amplified, and the shared love of music brought us all together."
The announcement, which states that the move comes amid a rapidly evolving music festival landscape, has rocked Chicago’s music and arts scene.
The festival, founded in 2005 by the online music magazine, Pitchfork, features a mix of alternative rock, indie rock, hip hop, and electronic artists.
"It was definitely different than other festivals in Chicago; more curated, really focused on the music. If you’re a huge music fan, that was probably your festival," said Greg Kot, co-host of Sound Opinions, a music podcast.
The festival has never strayed from its Near West Side roots, but Kot explains why that might be happening now.
"When Condé Nast bought Pitchfork, and then in the last year folded it into GQ, the writing was kind of on the wall. They’re looking for profit margins, and they’re looking for bigger names, and they’re looking for bigger budgets," Kot said. Music is being co-opted by multi-national organizations that are looking for a totally different thing than a community event like Pitchfork started out."
Since its inception, Kot says Chicago jazz drummer Mike Reed has produced the festival. Reed also founded Constellation, a performing arts nightclub on Western Avenue.
"Mike really was the driving force in bringing those acts in, and really built it up to where they were pretty much selling out from the get-go," said Kot.
Reed took to Instagram on Monday, writing, in part: "The time has finally come to take a bow and exit stage left."
Still, it's not a chapter others wanted to close.
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward) released the following statement to FOX 32 Chicago:
"We are very disappointed that pitchfork will not be returning to Union Park. The city and I already had gears turning to see if they would reconsider.
"Pitchfork has been a breadwinner for the city, and we get a lot of auxiliary economic development from them.
"The heart of Pitchfork is in Chicago, and we are looking at all our options to keep it going."
While it didn't elaborate, Pitchfork assured fans that it will continue to produce events in 2025.
Since 2011, Pitchfork has also hosted an event in Paris. It's unclear if that, too, will be canceled next year.
Pitchfork Music Festival’s Full Statement:
"To our Chicago Festival community:
"As the music festival landscape continues to evolve rapidly, we have made the difficult decision not to host Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago in 2025.
"This decision was not made lightly. For 19 years, Pitchfork Music Festival has been a celebration of music, art, and community-a space where memories were made, voices were amplified, and the shared love of music brought us all together. The Festival, while aligned with the taste of the Pitchfork editorial team, has always been a collaborative effort, taking on a life of its own as a vital pillar of the Chicago arts scene. We are deeply grateful to the City of Chicago for being our Festival's home for nearly two decades, to the artists who graced our stages with unforgettable performances, and to the fans who brought unmatched energy year after year.
"Thank you to At Pluto and the rest of the hardworking Festival team whose dedication and creativity were the backbone of every event, and to the broader community whose spirit and support made the Festival a truly unique experience. And thank you to Mike Reed for founding the Festival and for your inspiring vision.
"Pitchfork will continue to produce events in 2025 and beyond. We look forward to continuing to create spaces where music, culture, and community intersect in uplifting ways-and we hope to see you there."