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Once again, Bonnaroo has hit it big with their impressive–and expansive–2016 lineup. With so many artists, deciding what acts to see in between the headliners can be a daunting task. That’s why we created a guide on the best up-and-coming acts to catch on The Farm this year.
1. The Record Company
There’s no mistaking that this trio has a sweet blues sound, but one cannot miss the underlying beats that make them oh so similar to an early rock ‘n’ roll band. Their debut album, Give it Back to You, was released in February and they are currently the #1 Triple A radio artist. We caught their set at Hangout just a few weeks ago and impressive is an understatement. This band is going places and you do not want to miss their performace this weekend.
2. Stokeswood
Atlanta-based Stokeswood will bring an incredibly unique and undeniable energy to the Club Stage. For their debut Bonnaroo performance, it’s a guarantee that the guys will bring pumping synths, dance vibes and powerful vocals. Their dynamic gives them a fierce electronic edge and it will leave you with songs that won’t want to get out of your head.
3. Lawrence
Led by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, this New York-based soul pop group blends old school and new school vibes to create a sound that will keep you hanging out at the front of the stage. With the release of their debut LP, Breakfast, it’s exciting to see the success this young duo has on the horizon.
4. Joseph
A trio of sisters, Joseph brings beautiful harmonies and earnest lyrics to the stage. Named after a small town in northeast Oregon, the indie folk act hails from Portland. Their debut album was released in 2014 and with the recent release of the upbeat single, “White Flag,” we are excited to see what the band has in store for the future.
5. Civil Twilight
Civil Twilight has a powerful sound that brushes on every corner of human emotion. The delicate lyrics make you think, while the rolling drumbeat and vibrant guitar vamps keep you intrigued. It’s easy to hear the dynamic beats inspired by their native home of South Africa, the connection that keeps the band going while they are far from home.
6. Whitney
With sounds that make you want to roll down your car windows and sing along, Whitney is one act you won’t want to miss at this year’s festival. Their debut album, Light Upon the Lake, was released early this month so the duo is sure to bring an exciting new sound to the stage and a high-energy performance that will keep you singing along.
7. Sun Club
Hailing from Baltimore, Md., effervescent indie poppers Sun Club put a colorful, punk-infused spin on traditional pop. In October, the band’s first full-length album will be available through ATO Records, making them one up-and-comer you will not want to miss.
8. Sunflower Bean
What do you get when you channel a passion for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Velvets? The sweet sound that is Sunflower Bean. The indie trio hailing from NYC is sure to take the Bonnaroo stage by storm with their rock-influenced vocals and sweet riffs. Their debut album, Human Ceremony, is self-described as a “conflicting interest”—a mixture of dream pop and rock ‘n’ roll. The diversity this group brings to the stage makes them a must-see.
9. Sir the Baptist
Through the combination of pop, hip-hop, R&B and gospel, Sir the Baptist creates a sound that is truly unique and intriguing. With the deep-rooted mission of progressing people past the old ways of religious teachings and being a voice of positivity amongst an often negative landscape, Sir the Baptist not only brings an interesting sound to the stage, but an intriguing social message as well.
10. Grace Mitchell
Young artist Grace Mitchell has a fiery sound that puts an innovative and experimental twist on traditional pop music. The undeniable dance beats will keep you on your toes and her intriguing vocals will pull you to the front of the stage, making this one act you will not want to miss. The catchy single, “White Iversion,” was released earlier this year, paving the way for more exciting work from this artist.
11. Powers
Intimate, rambunctious and heartfelt are just a few adjectives that could be used to describe Powers. The electronic pop duo got their start as songwriters, creating tracks for big names including Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue and Skylar Gray and Eminem, but got their big break as artists with their debut EP, Legendary, in 2015. The infectious beats and contagious lyrics this duo brings to the stage is one you will want to add to your list.
12. Dylan LeBlanc
The soulful, bluesy vocals and guitar that make up Dylan LeBlanc can only be described as undeniably intriguing. His latest release, Cautionary Tale, highlights the singer’s maturity and obvious talent and takes the listener on a journey of clarity, truthfulness and purity.
13. Firekid
Hailing from Nashville, the indie folk project that is Firekid is shaded in synths and heavily influenced by bluegrass. The hit single, “Lay By Me,” topped the charts and grabbed the attention of indie folk lovers everywhere and there’s no doubt that there are many more exciting things to come from this artist.
14. Oh Wonder
London-based duo Oh Wonder craft mellow, slow-moving, R&B vibes that, although not fast-paced, are upbeat and perfect for the Bonnaroo stage. Their self-titled debut was released in 2015 and we can’t wait to see what exciting sounds this duo will create next.
15. Amasa Hines
With influences from a diverse range of soul, afro-beat, psychedelic, blues, dub and indie rock, the sounds of Arkansas-based Amasa Hines are as large as their wide range of influences. Their debut album was released in 2014 and we can’t wait to see what sweet sounds the band will release next.
16. Bully
The Nashville-based quartet brings a noisy, upbeat sound to the stage that is sure to keep you on your feet. With a sound undeniably influenced by grunge, the band has a unique sound and a raw talent. Their fiery debut album, Feels Like, was written, produced and engineered by lead vocalist Alicia Bognanno.
17. Mail the Horse
This Brooklyn-based quintet has a captivating folk-rock sound. Their newest record joins instrumentation of the late ‘60s with early ‘00s garage rock, making it an act you won’t want to miss.
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R A // R A // R I O T . photo by Nikki Greene
When Ra Ra Riot announced they were hitting the road to promote Need Your Light, I was anxious to see how the new material would translate to the stage. When I heard they’d be bringing Sun Club AND PWR BTTM with them, I was ecstatic. Then I found out these three would be playing steps away from my humble abode, so it only made sense that it quickly became the hottest ticket in town…Safe to say the ATL was in for a treat.
PWR BTTM
Mission to shred.
P W R // B T T M . Photo by Chris Hunkele
With all the press this band has received over the past six months, I was prepared for a letdown. The hype machine is a monster and has the ability to create novelties out of anyone with a hint of talent and quickly reduce them to a fading trend. I was worried I’d see into the eyes of the beast, but PWR BTTM put that notion to bed in about a minute and thirty seconds. They’re playing their first round of SXSW showcases this week and they’ll be one of the hardest acts to see. Usually I’d say you should never wait in line longer than ten or fifteen minutes to see a band at South by, but they’re different. Fresh. Dramatic. Unapologetic about their in your face queer agenda. And I like it.
Ugly Cherries is the best song I heard last year. The finger tapped riffs are replicated with ease under the lights and the drums are even heavier in person. Their song 1994 has been following me everywhere over the last few weeks, so I was happy to belt out a few ooooh woo oooh oohs as they tore through that track. I haven’t seen a band shred like this since my last Diarrhea Planet show – but Liv and Ben do it with one guitar. I was most impressed with their ability to flawlessly harmonize through complex rhythm changes throughout the set and put together the right amount of peaks and valleys present on their full length record.The makeup and gowns were on point too: A+ in the wardrobe department.
What I really enjoy about PWR BTTM is they sing about the same things all bands do: love and heartbreak, loneliness, having fun and wasting time. The only difference is they tell it from a perspective that few people want to have a conversation about. The true power of their music is that they’re getting to the bottom of how society views gender and homosexuality. It’s just a bonus that it happens to be really great rock & roll.
SUN CLUB
You gotta eat the pops…
S U N // C L U B . photo by Nikki Greene
Sun Club stepped on stage looking mismatched and a little confused. In setup, they appeared to struggle with where everything was supposed to go, and it took at least a song before all the cables were assigned to their respective 1/4” jacks. Even during their set which includes two drummers, loads of vintage gear, an ironing board, and a collection of antique dolls, they look more like a yard sale than a band. If any of the thrifty Ra Ra Riot fans who sold out the two hundred plus capacity venue were looking for a bargain, they came away with a steal in Sun Club.
The Baltimore five piece played through their debut full length, The Dongo Durango with a maelstrom of energy. When the house lights lowered, it was as if these guys became conduits possessed by some supernatural presence and the audience was treated to a live exorcism. Bassist Adam attempts to shake the demons loose from his head while drummers Devin and Kory beat them into submission. Shane almost speaks in tongues over psych-surf guitar licks while Mikey bounces around the stage, crying out heavily delayed chants from his soul. The whole show is an experiment in chaos. It makes sense that they recorded most of their album live, because I can’t imagine these dudes sitting still for longer than ten or fifteen minutes.
In the end it all comes together for Sun Club. Amidst the room rattling drum beats and driving bass lines, their punchy guitar tones pierce through the walls of reverb to provide sophisticated melodic support for the sometimes spastic vocal rhythms. For a band with little apparent structure, they are able to corral all the moving parts just long enough to produce a cohesive musical experience that can only be described as fun.
Thanks guys – I had a damn ball.
RA RA RIOT
All the feels.
R A // R A // R I O T . photo by Nikki Greene
The night closed out with the seasoned headliners providing professional level entertainment to the sold out venue. Fixtures of the indie music scene for over ten years, Ra Ra Riot have become a polished collection of musicians. Their unique brand of classical infused dance-rock almost sounded too big for the room – like we were part of an intimate listening party. Rarely do I leave a show in awe of the musical talent of a band, but they seriously impressed me. Something about violins and cellos inserted into a rock band changes everything – it sounds complete, composed, and purposeful. This band pays attention to the details.
The set list was heavy on recently released Need Your Light, which translated nicely to the stage, but included hits like Dance With Me and Beta Love to the delight of all. It was Ghost Under Rocks however that got everyone moving and put arms in the air.
Over the years, Ra Ra Riot has put together a catalog of songs for any emotion. They hit on all of them tonight.
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R A // R A // R I O T . photo by Nikki Greene
