The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
It’s summer in Chicago and one of the best fests of the season kicked things off with style and substance. Chicago’s own Ric Wilson, the always amazing Alvvays, Perfume Genius and many more artists made the day one to remember, but it was The Smile who added an extra special kind of magic to the Friday night festivities.
Comprised of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner, The Smile shared a variety of songs from their critically-acclaimed 2022 debut album, A Light for Attracting Attention, and more during their headlining set. With impeccable musicianship, the trio – along with Robert Stillman – created a cacophony of sounds that transformed Union Park into a sonic wonderland. “Pana-Vision,” “The Opposite,” and “A Hairdryer” kicked off an incredible setlist.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Earlier in the evening, Chicago’s own Ric Wilson performed a fun-filled set on the Blue Stage. After shouting out all his friends in the crowd, Wilson shared the inspiration behind one of his songs.
“One of my favorite heroes and organizers is this person named Marsha P. Johnson. One time, she was in court and the judge asked her, ‘What does the P stand for?’ And she said it stands for, ‘Pay it no mind.’ So I got inspired. I took that quote and I wrote this song,” he said leading into “Pay It No Mind.”
Sen Morimoto, Youth Lagoon, Grace Ives, and Nourished by Time – who performed his first-ever festival set – also added to the delight of the day.
Check out photos from the first day of the Pitchfork Music Festival 2023 below and visit Pitchforkmusicfestival.com for more information about the remaining two days of the event.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Leikeli47 performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
The Smile performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Leikeli47 performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Alvvays performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Alvvays performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Alvvays performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Perfume Genius performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Perfume Genius performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Jonny Greenwood is interviewed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Nation of Language performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Nation of Language performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Nation of Language performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Ric Wilson performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Ric Wilson performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Youth Lagoon performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Fans enjoy the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Youth Lagoon performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Mavi performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Grace Ives performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Nourished by Time performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Nourished by Time performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Sen Morimoto performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
Contour performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 21, 2023.
