John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePeople refill water tubs at the entrance to Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePeople attend Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneThe crowd cheers as Charlie XCX performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribunePeople listen to Parquet Courts at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneFrench musical duo Ibeyi performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneThe crowd cheers as Charlie XCX performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneErnie Isley performs as part of the Isley Brothers at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneMavis Staples performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneHip-hop artist Ric Wilson performs at Pitchfork in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneChicago Transit Authority buses are used as cooling centers at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneRonald Isley leads the Isley Brothers at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneMavis Staples takes the stage at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneHip-hop artist Ric Wilson performs at Pitchfork in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees put sunscreen on each other during hip-hop artist Ric Wilson's performance in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Kevin Williams / Chicago TribuneAttendees of Pitchfork Music Festival huddle under a tree as a thunderstorm moves through Chicago on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneSky Ferreira performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneJeremih performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneFans cheer and sing along as Rico Nasty performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneHaim performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneParquet Courts performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Union Park in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePeople attend Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneValee Taylor performs at Pitchfork on July 19, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePitchfork festivalgoers take in performances despite the heat on July 19, 2019.
Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneRico Nasty performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2019.
Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneErnest Dawkins, left, directs the Great Black Music Ensemble at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneRapper JPEGMAFIA crowd surfs during his performance at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneFans sway as hip-hop artist Ric Wilson performs at Pitchfork in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneAttendees sing along with Parquet Courts at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneSky Ferreira performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees flee to the Green Line's Ashland station after thunderstorms caused the festival to temporarily close on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneThe band Low performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneTasha performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribunePeople exit the Pitchfork Music Festival as the fest is temporarily shut down due to a rainstorm at Union Park in Chicago on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees flee to the Green Line's Ashland station after thunderstorms caused the festival to temporarily close on July 20, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribunePeople head for the exits as the Pitchfork Music Festival is temporarily closed due to a rain storm at Union Park in Chicago on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneJerome Riley Jr. dances and sings as Sky Ferreira performs on July 19, 2019, at Pitchfork Music Festival.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePitchfork festivalgoers take in performances despite the heat on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneTasha performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneSwedish singer and headliner, Robyn, performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneStereo Lab performs following a weather evacuation at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneJPEGMAFIA performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneConcertgoers rest between performances at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork volunteers grab water bottles to give to attendees of the music festival during an excessive heat wave in the Chicago area on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees dance during hip-hop artist Ric Wilson's performance after he asked fans to form a soul train on July 19, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneParquet Courts performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneEarl Sweatshirt performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneMimi Parker of the band Low performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneRonald Isley leads the Isley Brothers at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneNaomi Diaz, half of the French musical duo Ibeyi, performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneA woman cools off with a bottle of water at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneSwedish singer and headliner, Robyn, performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneStorm clouds roll in at Pitchfork in Chicago's Union park while attendees wait near the Green Stage moments before thunderstorms caused a weather evacuation on July 19, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneStereolab performs following a weather evacuation at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneDylan Martinez and Nikki Johnston, both of Woodstock, attend Pitchfork on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees flee to the Green Line's Ashland station after thunderstorms caused the festival to temporarily close on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneCharlie XCX performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneThe Isley Brothers perform at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA person puts on a poncho after Pitchfork Music Festival was evacuated as a rain storm rolls into Chicago on July 20, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneCharlie XCX performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneFrench musical duo Ibeyi performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 21, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePusha-T performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA person lies in the grass at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 20, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneMary Wrobel, left, and Amanda Freeston, both of Plainfield, enjoy ice cream at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Union Park in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneHAIM performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneErnie Isley performs as part of the Isley Brothers at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneFestival attendees refill their water containers at Pitchfork on July 19, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneParquet Courts performs at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Union Park in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneAttendees of Pitchfork quickly gather their locked-up belongings after thunderstorms caused a weather evacuation on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneRapper JPEGMAFIA crowd surfs during his performance at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Christopher Sweda / Chicago TribuneStereolab performs following a weather evacuation at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 20, 2019, at Union Park in Chicago.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneAttendees of Pitchfork flee to Ashland Avenue after thunderstorms caused a weather evacuation on July 19, 2019.
Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneJeremih performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneConcertgoers watch the band Low perform at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneCourtney Clark holds a beer in each hand, plus another in her boots at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePusha-T performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park on July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Terrence Antonio James / Chicago TribuneErnest Dawkins, center, directs the Great Black Music Ensemble at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribuneAlan Sparhawk of the band Low performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
John J. Kim / Chicago TribunePitchfork festivalgoers take in performances despite the heat on July 19, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribuneCharlie XCX performs at Pitchfork music festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sunday, July 21, 2019.
Camille Fine / Chicago TribunePitchfork attendees get water at a station during an excessive heat wave in the Chicago area on July 20, 2019.
John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune
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People refill water tubs at the entrance to Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, 2019.
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By Tracy Swartz
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
The founding director of the Pitchfork Music Festival last week applied for a permit to hold the festival Sept. 10-12 in Union Park, according to paperwork obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information Act request.
In his Jan. 12 permit application to the Chicago Park District, Michael Reed said he is expecting 200 performers and 19,000 daily attendees at the Near West Side park. A Pitchfork representative did not immediately return a Tribune request for comment. Dates for a 2021 festival or a lineup have not been announced at pitchforkmusicfestival.com.
It’s unclear whether there will be any music festivals in Chicago this year as the coronavirus pandemic continues and vaccine rollout lags behind expectations. Dates for Lollapalooza have not been announced, though representatives for Riot Fest have said their festival will happen Sept. 17-19 in Douglass Park with My Chemical Romance, the Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels and other acts set to perform.
Pitchfork representatives announced in May 2020 the festival would not take place in July 2020 as scheduled because of COVID-19. The announcement came weeks after Reed also applied to hold the festival in August, according to a Park District permit application the Tribune obtained last year through FOIA. That event — just like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and other summer festivals — didn’t happen either.
tswartz@tribpub.com
