Tomorrow begins another Pitchfork Music Festival at Chicago’s Union Park. From Saturday’s LCD Soundsystem disco-punk dance party to Sunday night’s Pavement reunion, this one should be pretty freakin’ amazing. But of course you know all about those guys, and there’s so much more music to be seen before 8:30pm that we decided to focus on our favorite mid-tier acts, and perhaps through our clever turns of phrase, guide you in their direction as well. This is your Loud Loop Press Pitchfork Fest 2010 Preview.

FRIDAY, JULY 16

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LIARS: Connector Stage, 5:30 p.m. | Friday, 7/16. Bottom Lounge, 9:00 p.m. 17+. $15.

Brooklyn trio Liars make art-rock music that you’d find difficult to digest upon first listen, but when you get it, you “get it”. Liars first stormed New York’s dance post-punk scene in 2001, but after a lineup change the band gradually shifted to more experimental leanings on the David Sitek-produced 2004 release They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. The band continues to dabble in the more noise, experimental and psychedelic side of things today, which resulted in their exceptional self-titled 2007 release and their most recent LP Sisterworld. Liars should keep things interesting on a Friday evening littered with modern, and occasionally bland, indie rock. (Richard Giraldi)

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COMEDY STAGE: Balance Stage, 5:45 -- 9:00 p.m.

Hannibal Buress, Wyatt Cenac, Michael Showalter, & Eugene Mirman? Our own Andy Kondrat breaks it down for you right here.

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SATURDAY, JULY 17

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NETHERFRIENDS: Balance Stage, 1:00 p.m. | Sunday, 7/18. Double Door, 8:00 p.m. 21+ $15

Chicago’s own Shawn Rosenblatt is the mastermind of this local indie-psych outfit. Powered by sometimes errie, sometimes soaring synth, pianos and guitars, Rosenblatt has been taking Netherfriends around the country to all 50 states for a pretty massive and ambitious tour project. It’s still a work in progress, but he’s back in his hometown making a triumphant debut at Pitchfork Music Festival. So be sure and get there early, you’ll want to have a good spot for a nice Saturday morning mind-trip. (Richard Giraldi)

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REAL ESTATE : Connector Stage, 1:45 p.m. | Sunday, 7/18. Subterranean, 10:30 p.m. 17+. $12.

New Jersey’s Real Estate specialize in dreamy, lo-fi tunes that will fit snugly into this hot Chicago summer. Another in the fine line of Woodsist artists, Real Estate are the perfect reason to get to Union Park early, lay down a blanket and just, you know, chill before the crowds get there. If you oversleep or just really like what you hear, they’re also playing an after show Sunday at the Subterranean with Zola Jesus. (Ross Meyerson)

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KURT VILE: Balance Stage, 2:50 p.m. | Saturday, 7/17. Subterranean, 10:30 p.m. 17+. $12.

Philly’s self-proclaimed constant hit maker Kurt Vile seems to be hanging around Chicago a lot these days. I may have not been fully convinced of his constant hit making abilities when I reviewed Constant Hitmaker, but I liked it enough to buy his Matador Records debut “Childish Prodigy” as well as the Record Store Day only re-issue of “God Is Saying This To You” on Mexican Summer Records. So, he’s doing something right. He too is playing an after show at the Subterranean with the very good Cloud Nothings. (Ross Meyerson)

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SMITH WESTERNS: Balance Stage, 4:45 p.m.

Chicago’s own Smith Westerns seem poised to break out. I’ve been hearing about them for awhile now. Plus Pitchfork loves them, and that means something to someone. The fact is these kids (and they really are kids, man) play uplifting ramshackle garage pop with the best of them. So don’t be jealous that kids who aren’t old enough to see most of the shows they play are garnering quite the buzz. No. Just enjoy the small wonders before they’re all grown up. (Ross Meyerson)

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WOLF PARADE: Aluminum Stage, 6:15 p.m.

Rarely do you find a band with two lead singers that can co-exist and compliment each other without causing the group to suck. Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, each talented and harmonic vocalists in their own right, keep the powerfully rocking Wolf Parade interesting and dynamic. Last month’s Sub Pop release Expo 86 proves this band is pumping out captivating and quality material right now. (Andrew Kahn)

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PANDA BEAR: Connector Stage, 7:25 p.m.

Noah Lennox undoubtedly has most favored nation status at the festival this year. Having taken home Pitchfork’s best album of the year honors with Animal Collective for 2009’s Merriweather Post Pavilion and his 2007 solo effort, Person Pitch, he’s bound to be well received. But just this week he put out new songs which hopefully make it into his energetic set. You don’t get those honors for nothing -- check this guy out. (Andrew Kahn)

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SUNDAY, JULY 18

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CAVE: Balance Stage, 1:00 p.m.

Devoted readers of this here site are well aware I’m back on the Cave bandwagon after I had maybe taken one foot off of briefly. Pure Moods has fully grown on me, and I can think of no better reason to get your lazy asses out of bed then to catch Cave where they kind of don’t belong: In the sunlight. If they can wake up, then surely you can as well. (Ross Meyerson)

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BEACH HOUSE: Connector Stage, 3:20 p.m.

It’s gonna be hot this weekend. No shit, right? Well Beach House will be providing the perfect soundtrack to a swelteringly high heat index. Stand close enough to the speakers during their midday set to catch their chill brand of breezy dream pop – it just may cool you down. (Andrew Kahn)

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LIGHTNING BOLT: Aluminum Stage, 4:15 p.m.

Drum n’ bass noise rock duo from Rhode Island? Yes, please. Drummer and vocalist Brian Chippendale and bassist Brian Gibson have been playing since 1994 and making a whole lot of racket since then. Chippendale usually wears a gas mask microphone during their seemingly-upper-induced insane live show, which is usually in the middle of the crowd rather than on stage. Here’s hoping they’ll do this at P4K. In fact, I’m counting on it because I love to sweat. (Richard Giraldi)

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HERE WE GO MAGIC: Balance Stage, 5:45 p.m. | Saturday, 7/17. Schuba, 9:00 p.m. 21+. $12.

Having completely smitten the likes of Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear and Sufjan Stevens, Here We Go Magic is making a special side-trip to Chicago amidst their current world-wide tour. Although former soloist Luke Temple added 4 more members to create HWGM, fans won’t miss Temple’s famous high, high tenor voice to keep the toes curling of indie folk rock lovers with songs from their newly released album, Pigeons. HWGM will bring their eclectic, ambient music to both Schuba’s and Pitchfork this year. (Britni Day)

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NEON INDIAN: Balance Stage, 6:45 p.m. | Thursday, 7/15. Bottom Lounge, 6:00 p.m. 18+. Free.

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I should hate Neon Indian. All the ingredients for my rage are there: they’re from Brooklyn, they employ 80′s style synths, and they’re from Brooklyn. But I’m a sucker for melancholy and am open to different approaches to bringing forth that feeling. What can I say? Neon Indian may wrap their sadness in keyboards and drum machines but there’s still hazy pop dreariness seeping out and it’s pretty okay by me. You thought you had me pegged. For those that can’t wait they are playing the kick-off party at Bottom Lounge on Thursday. (Ross Meyerson)

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SLEIGH BELLS: Balance Stage, 7:40 p.m.

It seems like minutes after elementary school teacher Alexis Krauss and former hardcore guitarist of Poison the Well, Derek E. Miller, formed Sleigh Bells they were famous. The duo has been an unstoppable, hardcore indie force, combining pop vocals that bounce over top thrashing guitar and enough bass to blow the teeth to the back of your skull. Sleigh Bells is on a merciless tour after the recent release of their debut album Treats, so Sunday will be your only time to see them in Chicago this summer. (Britni Day)

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COMPLETE SCHEDULE

a = Aluminum Stage, b = Balance Stage, c = Connector Stage
XXX = Loud Loop Pick

Friday July 16 (gates at 3 p.m.):

3:30 Sharon Van Etten (a)
4:00 The Tallest Man on Earth (c)
4:35 El-P (a)
XXX 5:30 Liars (c)
XXX 5:45 Hannibal Buress (b)
6:25 Robyn (a)
XXX 6:30 Wyatt Cenac (b)
XXX 7:15 Michael Showalter (b)
7:20 Broken Social Scene (c)
XXX 8:00 Eugene Mirman (b)
8:30 Modest Mouse (a)

Saturday July 17 (gates at 12 p.m.):

1:00 Free Energy (a)
XXX 1:00 Netherfriends (b)
XXX 1:45 Real Estate (c)
1:55 Sonny & the Sunsets (b)
2:30 Delorean (a)
XXX 2:50 Kurt Vile (b)
3:20 Titus Andronicus (c)
3:45 Dâm-Funk (b)
4:15 Raekwon (a)
XXX 4:45 Smith Westerns (b)
5:15 The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (c)
5:45 WHY? (b)
XXX 6:15 Wolf Parade (a)
6:45 Bear in Heaven (b)
XXX 7:25 Panda Bear (c)
7:40 Freddie Gibbs (b)
8:30 LCD Soundsystem (a)

Sunday July 18 (gates at 12 p.m.):

1:00 Allá (a)
XXX 1:00 Cave (b)
1:45 Cass McCombs (c)
1:55 Best Coast (b)
2:30 Girls (a)
2:50 Washed Out (b)
XXX 3:20 Beach House (c)
3:45 Local Natives (b)
XXX 4:15 Lightning Bolt (a)
4:45 Surfer Blood (b)
5:15 St. Vincent (c)
XXX 5:45 Here We Go Magic (b)
6:15 Major Lazer (a)
XXX 6:45 Neon Indian (b)
7:25 Big Boi (c)
XXX 7:40 Sleigh Bells (b)
8:30 Pavement (a)

For More information about the Pitchfork Music Festival, visit: http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com.