Summer in Chicago is next to none because of its vibrant nightlife, diverse downtown atmosphere, food and music festivals. People travel from across the globe to attend events like Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, Open Air and the emerging Pitchfork music festival.

Pitchfork, the Chicago based company, has been around since 1996 but didn’t host its own music festival until 2006.

Over the years the genres represented have grown and this year was no exception. Three stages held the spotlight for over 30 artist and thousands of listeners. Acts such as George Clinton, Isaiah Rashad, A Tribe Called Quest, LCD Soundsystem, Colin Stetson, and Solange were nothing less than spectacular, but up and coming Chicago artists Joey Purp, Ne-Hi, and Jamilia Woods stood their ground in front of the home crowd.

Purp, a product of Whitney Young Magnet School and good friend of fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, lit up a crowd that was larger than some expected. The Humboldt Park native has collaborated with the new wave of Chicago artists, including Taylor Bennet and Chance the Rapper. His fan base was familiar with his work as he performed songs from his new project “iiiDrops”.

Woods took a different approach to the evening, serenading the stage adjacent to Purp’s with songs about love and women empowerment. She’s soulful and electrifying. On top of delivering an impressive range of vocals to crowds around the world, Woods also works as the Associate Artistic Director for the Young Chicago Authors.

What makes Pitchfork different from other festivals is the freedom of expression in all levels of the platform. There are areas designated for independent artists to sell their drawings and books. The festival does everything it can to give the audience every aspect of the arts.