The initial lineup for the 2006 Pitchfork Music Festival [ tickets ] has been announced, the first part of a roster expected to grow to 36 acts for the July 29-30 event in Chicago's Union Park.

The first batch of performers includes Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (who recently announced a move to a new label, Touch & Go and are currently touring the US), Mission of Burma [ tickets ] (whose new album, "The Obliterati," is set for a May 23 release), and Mountain Goats (whose most recent album, "The Sunset Tree," hit stores last April).

Other acts announced in the initial batch are The National [ tickets ], Jens Lekman and Hot Machines.

The 36 acts will be spread out over three stages in Union Park, with tickets to the event going for $20 for one day, or $30 for the entire weekend. On-sale information will be announced next week.

The event, sponsored by the music website pitchforkmedia.com, and will also include a record fair set up by Chicago radio station WLMU, as well as a craft and clothing fair sponsored by DEPART-ment, a Chicago clothing boutique.

Pitchfork "curated" last year's Intonation festival at a different Chicago park. That two-day event featured 24 acts, including The Decemberists, The Fiery Furnaces and Broken Social Scene, and part of the proceeds from ticket sales went to the Chicago Park District's after-school music programs.

Pitchfork will also host a free party during the upcoming SXSW music festival in Austin, TX. The March 17 daytime party at Emo's Annex will feature performances by Art Brut, Love Is All and Jose Gonzalez, among others, as well as DJ sets from Ladytron, Rjd2 and Matthew Dear as Audion.