Pitchfork London Announces First Full Wave of Acts for Fifth Festival Edition From 4

A mainstay in London’s cultural calendar, Pitchfork London has lit up the capital with an array of diverse and original programming over the past four years. Kicking off with specially-curated weekday events mirroring the publication’s mining of distant genre-corners, the week culminates in a weekend take-over at Roundhouse and the renowned Dalston Takeover - taking place across five of East London’s most-loved venues.

Today the festival is delighted to reveal its first full wave of artists, promising an unmissable set of events across the week - including a very special opening event at London’s Royal Albert Hall with a one-off orchestral performance from alt-rock legends, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Saturday’s Roundhouse festival headliner is the internationally celebrated Laurie Anderson- performing a special career-spanning set with live band and frequent collaborators, Sexmob. She will be joined by transcendental American artist Lonnie Holley, plus a full supporting bill across both rooms to be announced. French future-pop star Oklou headlines Roundhouse on Friday night, joined by Erika De Casier, Malibu and Nick León for an electrifying two room event.

10K Global (run by the rapper MIKE) take over Hackney’s Colour Factory on Thursday 6 November for a spectacular label showcase, featuring Sideshow, Anysia Kym, Niontay, duendita, Jadasea, Jespfur and redLee - plus very special guests to be announced.

Filling the bill is an eclectic array of musical talent - spanning across genres to curate a week of dazzling musical discovery. Further confirmed artists include Kali Malone, Indigo De Souza, Panchiko, underscores, Unwound, Upchuck, Jay Som, FullBody 2, Great Grandpa, Kathryn Mohr, Momma, Rachika Nayar, Ratboys, hey, nothing, Renny Conti, Runo Plum, Slate, Teethe, Body Meat, Deep Sea Diver, deathcrash, Divide and Dissolve, Ekko Astral, Winter and many more.

In previous years, Pitchfork has hosted artists including Ezra Collective at Royal Albert Hall, a special PC Music showcase, Black Midi playing a midnight show at Southbank, Fabric rap-takeovers and a feast of special headline sets from unique artists including Weyes Blood, Yaeji, Moses Boyd, Sleater-Kinney, Metronomy, Kae Tempest, Arooj Aftab, Courtney Barnett, Stereolab and many more. The festival now welcomes 20,000+ attendees each year for a unique and special run of festival events. Here’s a rundown of the artists performing by day at this year’s event.

On Tuesday 4 November, Australian experimental outfit King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard play the legendary Royal Albert Hall alongside the Covent Garden Sinfonia Orchestra. One of the most prolific, adventurous and inventive bands of all time, King Gizzard have taken the traditional rules of music making and thrown them out the window. Their acclaimed live shows are notorious for their frenetic energy and sprawling soundscapes - opening the festival with truly kaleidoscopic fervour.

The weekend will see groundbreaking artist Laurie Anderson headline Roundhouse on Saturday 8 November. Performing a set filled with illustrious material old and new – from her debut album Big Science to the fictionalised retelling of Amelia Earhart’s final voyage - she will be joined onstage with the New York City jazz collective SexMob. With work that spans the worlds of art, theatre, experimental music, and technology, Anderson’s richly enigmatic creations are “just right for a world gone totally wrong”.

Oklou also graces the stage at London’s Roundhouse on Friday 7 November. The French electronic pop artist has created a world of elegant ambience - working alongside electronic innovators A.G. Cook and Danny L Harle. Her breathtaking debut album choke enough is expressive and dynamic - showcasing an artist creating in a borderless musical landscape. The multi-bill also features performances from Erika de Casier ambient electronic creative Malibu and future dance DJ Nick León.

Reunited underground alt-rock heroes Unwound play their first UK show in over 25 years at KOKO on Wednesday 5 November, joined by the intricate alt-metal of US duo Divide and Dissolve, and UK slowcore four-piece deathcrash. Over in East London, Kali Malone’s post-minimalist pieces come to life at EartH Theatre, alongside the electronic stylings of Rachika Nayar & Nina Keith and an opening set from Oakland field recordist Kathryn Mohr. The raucous and revolutionary Upchuck (freshly signed to London’s Domino Records) and Chicago emo-punks Ratboys take to the stage at Village Underground, as well as the experimental rock rhythms (and #1 rock record of the year on Pitchfork) from D.C. outfit Ekko Astral, for a very exciting night of new punk music.

Saturday 8 November sees the return of the Dalston Takeover - a multi-bill event spotlighting rising and vital artistic talent. Filling some of East London’s most iconic venues, one wristband grants entry to EartH Hall & Theatre, The Victoria, Shacklewell Arms, Cafe OTO and St Matthias Church for a day filled with new musical discoveries. This year will host: Panchiko, Indigo De Souza, Momma, underscores, Jay Som, Great Grandpa, Deep Sea Diver, hey, nothing, Teethe, Body Meat, Full Body 2, Slate, Renny Conti, Winter, Nadia Kadek and Runo Plum, plus many more to be announced.

Many more weekday special events and additional artists are to be announced in the coming weeks. Full details of the festival events can be found on the festival website: pitchforkmusicfestival.co.uk.

Tuesday 4 November #

Royal Albert Hall

King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard with the Covent Garden Sinfonia

Wednesday 5 November #

KOKO

Unwound
Divide and Dissolve
deathcrash

EartH Theatre

Kali Malone (solo electronic)
Rachika Nayar & Nina Keith present Disneiblud
Kathryn Mohr

Village Underground

Upchuck & Ratboys
Ekko Astral

Thursday 6 November #

Colour Factory

10K Global x Pitchfork London

Sideshow

Anysia Kym
Niontay
duendita
Jadasea
Jespfur
redLee
Plus special guests

Friday 7 November #

Roundhouse (and Roundhouse Studio Theatre)

Oklou
Erika de Casier
Malibu
Nick León

Saturday 8 November #

Roundhouse (and Roundhouse Studio Theatre)

Laurie Anderson
Lonnie Holley
+ a full supporting bill across two rooms

Dalston Takeover

Panchiko
Indigo De Souza
Underscores
Momma
Jay Som
Body Meat
Teethe
Great Grandpa
hey, nothing
Winter
Deep Sea Diver
Full Body 2
Renny Conti
Runo Plum
Slate
Nadia Kadek
+ More to be announced

TICKETING INFO #

Tickets for each Pitchfork Music Festival London event are sold separately. Tickets are available from pitchforkmusicfestival.co.uk

Announce: Tuesday 1 April, 10AM
DICE Pre-Sale: Thursday 3 April, 10AM
On-Sale: Friday 4 April, 10AM

For the latest news including lineup announcements, and additional programming, follow @pitchforkparis, @pitchforklondon, and @pitchfork on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and visit pitchforkmusicfestival.co.uk and Pitchforkmusicfestival.fr.

About Pitchfork

Pitchfork is the most trusted voice in music. Pitchfork.com is the preeminent resource for fans looking to discover and experience new music in a thought-provoking way. Its comprehensive reviews and analyses of the people, trends, and events influencing the industry have shaped music journalism for 26 years. Not only does Pitchfork set the standard for music coverage, it has a global reputation for hosting unique and eclectic music events, including annual Music Festivals in Chicago and Paris. For more go to Pitchfork.com and follow @pitchfork.