Look past headliners for undiscovered gems
Festival lineups offer attendees the chance to discover new music
Forget a summer vacation. For some performers and bands, summer music festival season is the busiest stretch of the year.
While many artists, from jam bands to EDM DJs, make a living touring year-round, others take a break from playing clubs and theaters for the summer, signing onto North America’s largest summer music festivals. The summer’s busiest big-name acts include Alt-J, with a whopping 28 festivals on their schedule in between dates on their world tour, and Solange, who is dedicating her entire summer to the festival circuit — she’s on 19 lineups through the end of September.
But it’s not all about the headliners. In the hours before big names such as Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar deliver their festivalclosing sets, smaller names play those same stages, exposing their music to many festival-goers who have never heard them before.
“Festivals have become a huge conduit through which fans are used to experiencing live music,” said Chris Kaskie, president of online music magazine Pitchfork, ahead of the publication’s two festivals in Chicago and Paris. “Because of that, artists have a much wider array of festivals to perform at and audiences to attract. It doesn’t matter how big the act is even, a festival can introduce an artist to a new fanbase in an extremely natural way, and when combined with building a career surrounding their art, it’s a pretty cool proposition.”
If you’re attending a major music festival in North America this summer, you’ll likely see one of the MVPs on this list, a roundup of the standout groups populating the smaller print of the many crowded lineups. They’re names you should know, even if you don’t make it to a show.
ANGEL OLSEN
Schedule: Pitchfork, Capitol Hill Block Party, FYF, XPoNential Music Fest, Panorama, Newport, Osheaga, Hopscotch, Lincoln Calling, Austin City Limits
The singer-songwriter is playing far-flung festivals through the end of September, landing toward the top of lineups like Pitchfork. She also is an outstanding live performer whose My Woman was one of 2016’s best albums.
VINCE STAPLES
Schedule: Electric Forest, Forecastle, Pitchfork, Sloss Music and Arts, Panorama, Bumbershoot, Life Is Beautiful
Like Olsen, Staples is nearing headlining status, and for good reason — he’s one of rap’s best live acts, largely thanks to his scathing onstage commentary. He visits a long list of U.S. and international festivals this summer promoting his album Big
Fish Theory, out June 23.
LIZZO
Schedule: ESSENCE Fest, Capitol Hill Block Party, Made in America, LouFest, The Meadows
Easily one of the best performers on the festival circuit right now, Lizzo earned headlines for her standout performances at SXSW, and deserves a breakout summer for her huge vocals and wild stage show.
ODESZA
Schedule: Electric Forest, Bonanza Campout, Forecastle, Sloss Music & Arts, Karoondinha Music & Arts, Bumbershoot
From the spectacle to the crowds, seeing EDM acts at music festivals can be exhausting. On a scale of one to The Chainsmokers, electronic duo Odesza is among its genre’s best, earning top billings at Electric Forest and Forecastle this summer.
THE REVIVALISTS
Schedule: Mountain Jam, Electric Forest, Arroyo Seco Weekend, Summerfest, Levitate Music Festival, Karoondinha, Life Is Beautiful, Austin City Limits
The dynamic New Orleans rockers are among the summer’s hardest-working bands, performing at a string of bluegrass festivals in addition to larger stages like Summerfest.
FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS
Schedule: Firefly, Eaux Claires, Electric Forest, Pitchfork, Sloss, Made in America
Songwriter/producer Francis Farewell Starlite is seemingly 95% limbs, making the pop icon fascinating to watch onstage. He’s also recruited names including Chance the Rapper and Bon Iver to dance alongside him in his music videos, so expect at least one of them to join Starlite on a stage before the summer is over.
MURA MASA
Schedule: FYF, Capitol Hill Block Party, Panorama, WayHome, Lollapalooza, Life Is Beautiful
Of all the DJs filling out summer music festival lineups this summer, Mura Masa’s wildly enjoyable dance music is worth venturing into the EDM tent — or showing up to an early set time — to see.
KAMAIYAH
Schedule: Pitchfork, The Meadows, Outside Lands, FYF
The only female rapper to earn a spot among XXL’s Freshman Class this month, the Bay Area MC has a busy season ahead. See her before she blows up.
MUNA
Schedule: Firefly, NXNE, Mamby On the Beach, Summerfest, Osheaga, Outside Lands, Austin City Limits
MUNA is three women who handle all their own production and openly address their sexual identities and progressive views in their music. With its busy summer schedule bookended by tours with Bleachers and Harry Styles, the synth-pop trio is worth celebrating.
ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS
Schedule: Summerfest, Panorama, Lollapalooza, The End Summer Camp, High and Low Festival, Austin City Limits
Fans of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin have plenty to love in frontman Andrew McMahon’s new project. If you can’t make it to one of his many festival dates this summer, he’s also opening a string of shows for Billy Joel.
CHERRY GLAZERR
Schedule: Pitchfork, FYF, Capitol Hill Block Party, Panorama, Osheaga, Hopscotch
The L.A. punk band’s name may be in the small print on festival posters, but their irresistible garage rock makes a strong case for better placement.
CAR SEAT HEADREST
Schedule: Summerfest, Rock the Garden, WayHome, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, Austin City Limits After his breakout 2016 album
Teens of Denial earned him a place among America’s best new rock bands, Will Toledo, the singer-songwriter behind Car Seat Headrest, went from playing daytime slots at last year’s summer music festivals to earning his band one of 11 headlining slots at the 2017 Summerfest.