Date: July 18-20, 2008
Cost: $30 for single-day tickets, $50 for a Saturday/Sunday 2-day pass, $65 for a three-day pass
Organizer: Pitchfork
What to expect: Two stages of top-notch independent music, plus the usual festival fare of beers and greasy food, in Chicago's lovely Union Park.
Why to go: To fight the powers that be. This year's "Don't Look Back" guest on Friday night will be none other than Public Enemy, performing its classic album, It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back in its entirety.
Additional info: This year, Pitchfork will be partnering with Seattle-based radio station KEXP. The station will broadcast live from Chicago in the days leading up to the festival, with in-studio performances from festival and local artists, and will also be broadcasting at Union Park during Pitchfork weekend. Tickets went on sale March 12. The schedule:
A = Aluminum Stage; B = Balance Stage; C = Connector Stage
Friday, July 18 (in conjunction with All Tomorrow's Parties/Don't Look Back)
6 p.m.: Mission of Burma performing Vs. (C)
7:15 p.m.: Sebadoh performing Bubble and Scrape (C)
8:30 p.m.: Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (A)
Saturday, July 19
12:30 p.m.: Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar (B)
1 p.m.: Titus Andronicus (C)
1:25 p.m.: A Hawk and a Hacksaw (B)
1:30 p.m.: Jay Reatard (A)
2 p.m.: Caribou (C)
2:20 p.m.: Icy Demons (B)
3 p.m. Fleet Foxes (A)
3:15 p.m. Fuck Buttons (B) 4 p.m. Dizzee Rascal (C)
4:15 p.m. The Ruby Suns (B)
5 p.m. Vampire Weekend (A)
5:20 p.m. Elf Power (B)
6 p.m. !!! (C)
6:25 p.m. Extra Golden (B)
7 p.m. The Hold Steady (A)
7:30 p.m. Atlas Sound (B)
8 p.m. Jarvis Cocker (C)
8:25 p.m. No Age (B)
9 p.m. Animal Collective (A)
Sunday, July 20
12:30 p.m.: Mahjongg (B)
1 p.m.: Times New Viking (C)
1:25 p.m.: High Places (B)
1:30 p.m. Dirty Projectors (A)
2 p.m. Boris (C)
2:20 p.m. HEALTH (B)
3 p.m.: The Apples in Stereo (A)
3:15 p.m. King Khan & the Shrines (B)
4 p.m.: Les Savy Fav (C)
4:15 p.m.: El Guincho (B)
5 p.m.: Ghostface Killah & Raekwon (A)
5:20 p.m.: Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (B)
6 p.m.: M. Ward (C)
6:25 p.m.: The Dodos (B)
7 p.m.: Spiritualized (A)
7:30 p.m.: Bon Iver (B)
8 p.m.: Dinosaur Jr. (C)
8:25 p.m.: Cut Copy (B)
9 p.m.: Spoon (A)
Centerstage Reviewer: Ben Rubenstein