Artists and Attendees Strike a Political Chord at Pitchfork Music Festival

Punk anthems and pop tracks weren’t the only notes resonating at Pitchfork Music Festival 2024. Performers, vendors and guests embraced politics throughout the festival’s run from July 19 to 21.

Throughout the weekend, lead singers from Water from Your Eyes, Mannequin Pussy and MUNA all shouted “Free Palestine” during their sets — a sentiment echoed by appreciative roars from the audience. Representatives for the artists were not available for comment.

“I respect no politician who does not let people just fucking live,” Mannequin Pussy’s lead singer Marisa “Missy” Dabice scream during their Sunday set.

Besides performances, the festival included tents for crafts, vendors and local artisans. One booth was filled by Artists Against Apartheid, an international network of artists, musicians and activists united against what the International Court of Justice has called the Israeli apartheid of Palestine, according to the Associated Press.

Four artists performing at Pitchfork had already signed the network’s statement endorsing Palestinian liberation, according to Artists Against Apartheid organizer Tahia. Tahia requested her last name be withheld due to security concerns.

“At this moment in time you either stand for humanity or you’re standing for genocide,” Tahia said.

Nonprofit organization Chicago Votes also ran a booth throughout the weekend. Pitchfork invited them to be an official civic education partner at the festival, according to member Alexandria Boutros.

“Young people are so powerful, especially in Chicago,” Boutros said. “There’s so many young people that come [to Pitchfork] so it’s such a great place to engage people in politics.”

Chicago Votes describes itself as a group striving to make democracy more equitable and engaging for everyone, especially young people, according to its website. The booth included voter registration forms and other educational materials for guests.

Neighboring Chicago Votes was a stand for the sexual healthcare nonprofit Planned Parenthood. Volunteer Claire McNorton, who graduated from Loyola in December 2016, said the organization appears at Pitchfork annually.

The booth was set up specifically for guests to sign a petition which would set standards for sex education in Illinois public schools.

“There are people at Pitchfork who want to get involved,” McNorton said. “We have to be here, we have to be present and we have to tell the people what we’re up to.”

Activism was a common thread throughout Pitchfork’s three-day span. On the festival’s first day, pro-Palestine posters which appeared to be affiliated with the festival lined the perimeter of Union Park.

Despite the posters displaying the Pitchfork name and branding, organizers denied any connection between the posters and the festival, according to festival representative Ben Demars. Some posters were torn down before the second day of the festival.

Keffiyehs — scarves traditionally worn across the Middle East which have become a symbol of Palestinian resistance — were worn by several individuals amid the sea of attendees. 

Attendee Mandy Billups said her keffiyeh not only helped protect her from the sun but also displayed her support for Palestine.

“It’s important for people who are feeling unsafe right now to see people on their side,” Billups said. “I’m planning to show my solidarity all weekend.”

A backup singer for Kara Jackson’s set Saturday performed with a red keffiyeh. Jackson herself has been vocal about her support for the Palestinian cause.

“Trust it’s free Palestine forever,” Jackson wrote on X last year. “We need to see systems and movements.”

Yaeji, Jeff Rosenstock, MUNA and Mannequin Pussy were among other artists performing at Pitchfork who had previously voiced their support for Palestine. 

In contrast, headliner Alanis Morissette has faced criticism for performing in Israel, according to the Jewish Chronicle.

Representatives for Water from Your Eyes, Mannequin Pussy, MUNA and Alanis Morissette weren’t available for comment. Representatives for Jeff Rosenstock declined to comment.

Featured image by Holden Green | The Phoenix