words by VERONICA TLAPANCO-SZABÓ
Music festivals are, for many, a way to epitomise summertime, combining wonderful destinations and landscapes with good music. Every year, a lot of us go through the same amnesiac line of thought, in which we believe that all the fun there is to be had has been left behind in the warmer months, and that whatever lies ahead is laced with gloom and shivers. That is simply not true. There is so much life to live, songs to sing, so much to discover and so many things to find oneself drawn to. Pitchfork Festival Paris encapsulates all of those things. Launched in 2011, it crossed the Atlantic to arrive in Paris for the autumn. For this year’s edition, the City of Lights will shine its spotlight on artists such as Headache, ear, Bassvictim, DIIV and Iceage, spanning indie, alt-rock, electronic, hyperpop, post-punk, noise, trip-hop and cloud rock. These genres may or may not mean much to you, but the point is that, disparate as this lineup might sound, it makes for an incredible ensemble you shouldn’t miss as it is brimming with new discoveries.
photography by MAGDA KUCA
What, when and where will all this take place? The festival is broken down into roughly four parts: listening parties, its Headliner programme, three days of Pitchfork Avant-Garde, and three accompanying Pitchfork Club Nights. The breeze and sporadic rainfall of the moment certainly beckon for indoor venues, and what makes this festival particularly appealing is that it doesn’t stick to just one. Every act on the lineup will take place in a different storied Parisian venue. Think Silencio Club, designed by director David Lynch and inspired by the surrealist club in his film Mulholland Drive. Think the intimate scale of Badaboum or Trabendo, recognisable by its red architectural structure, courtesy of architect Bernard Tschumi. Last but not least, there’s the Élysée Montmartre, dating back to 1807 and steeped in a legacy tied to the French cancan.
As for when, it all slowly begins this Sunday, 1 November, easing us into the month and the coming week of concert-going. First up, two separate listening sessions will take place at L’Antenne, a space set up to offer optimal acoustics and listening conditions. The first honours the ever-inspiring Björk and her otherworldly album Homogenic, with its monumental electronic beats. The second is dedicated to Bon Iver’s heart-pinching, wintry For Emma, Forever Ago.
photography by ALVA DE FEBVRE
Then the week begins to pick up the tempo with Headache and Jackson Institute on Monday, 2 November. Prepare for an evening in which the ecstatic delirium of internet culture dissolves into something more tender and human. On Tuesday, 3 November, you shouldn’t miss the rare appearance of Spanish artist AMORE, who is reshaping the contours of Spanish pop. Her nostalgic lyricism and glitchy production will be accompanied by mori, who blends bedroom pop with warped lo-fi production. Or, for those who can appreciate music even as it rattles beneath the rumble of a New York subway, the electronic duo ear are certainly ones to watch. On the evening of Wednesday, 4 November, there’s plenty to choose from. Bassvictim and Horsevision occupy a similar internet-native musical wavelength.
On Thursday, 5 November, the festival changes rhythm once again with the arrival of the Avant-Garde evening programmes: curated ensembles of artists performing across seven venues on the Pitchfork festival circuit. You get the full festival experience of moving from act to act throughout the night, from 6 pm to 10:30 pm. And if you’re keen to keep the night going, you can dive straight into the experimental club sounds of Pitchfork Club Night. This format repeats for another two nights, running through Saturday. The Avant-Garde nights are where things get particularly exciting, with Becky and the Birds, MGNA Crrrta, DJ Suzy and The Femcels among the names to keep on your radar. Embrace the unknown! Your next niche musical obsession awaits! Just think how good you’ll look having discovered them first!
image courtesy of HETHER
