Festival highlights emerging artists

From November 2 to 8, the Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris will host a variety of emerging artists across small venues, offering a platform for discovery. The event includes the smaller Pitchfork Avant-Garde, which features a selection of artists from the hundred scheduled to perform, though the list is subjective and incomplete, excluding headliners DIIV and Iceage, both of whom have already sold out.

Notable acts include Swapmeet and Piss

Among the highlighted acts are Swapmeet, Star Moles, and Piss, with the latter expected to be a phenomenon due to the singer Taylor Zantingh's exploration of themes related to sexual violence through intense and cathartic performances. Piss's approach is likely to draw attention for its emotional depth and raw expression.

Jackson Fourgeaud debuts new tracks

Jackson Fourgeaud, known as Jackson and His Computer Band, will present new tracks in premiere, following his stay at the Villa Medici. His work from the early 2000s, including albums Smash (2005) and Glow (2013), has remained influential, reflecting his ongoing impact on contemporary music.

Headache blends trip-hop and spoken word

The duo Headache, composed of writer and poet Francis Hornsby Clark and producer Joseph Thornalley (Vegyn), will perform songs from their album Thank You for Almost Everything, blending trip-hop, downtempo electronica, and spoken word. Their collaboration combines literary depth with electronic production, creating a unique sonic experience.

Diverse range of musical styles represented

The American duo Ear, whose gentle melancholic electro pop often takes on collage-like forms, will be featured, as will the London-based duo Bassvictim, known for their dissonant synths and catchy debut album Forever (2025). The festival also includes Maddie Ashman, who gained attention at the Napoleon Dynamite festival, performing microtonal music in a more accessible pop format.

Various genres and influences showcased

Victoryland, a Brooklyn-based group, will present lo-fi folk songs mixing various genres, including electro experiments and pop energy. Star Moles, having signed with Dead Oceans, will showcase songs blending folk melancholy with bedroom pop. The Femcels, a London duo, will address contemporary issues with humor and weirdness, their music sometimes approaching the naivety of 1980s twee. Swapmeet, an Australian group, will perform a mix of pop and shoegaze, reminiscent of bands like Pavement and Sonic Youth, having earned recognition at South by Southwest in early 2026.