Remember Pitchfork? The three-day blowout is just a few months past, but some of the festival’s best acts are already returning to Chicago. As with the three stages at Pitchfork, October 8 presents fans with a choice between three festival alums: piano balladeer Tobias Jesso Jr. at the Empty Bottle, beat master DJ Jamie XX at Concord Music Hall, and the infectious groove of Shamir at Lincoln Hall. On October 9, Bully perform at Lincoln Hall, putting Alicia Bognanno’s scorching lyricism on display. The venue also hosts Protomartyr, on tour behind their upcoming second album The Agent Intellect, on October 25. And on October 27, artsy Canadian postpunkers Ought bring their Talking Heads-inspired sound to Beat Kitchen. October 22 and 23 sees the return of not one but two Pitchfork acts: Kurt Vile and the Violators, with Waxahatchee opening, will be at Thalia Hall. But if there’s one act that should reignite those warm-weather vibes, it’s Mac Demarco. His set of spaced-out guitar tunes on November 7 at the Metro is a great excuse to bust out your best fest duds in the off-season.
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