With the summer festival season coming, tickets have been bought and line ups released. Whether you are a festival junkie or a one-time attendee, festivals are the best chance to discover new up and coming artists. If you’re an up-and-coming band, now that the summer festival season is upon us, hundreds of bands will spend the next few months playing music festivals around the world. With this in mind, we present to you a guide of artists to watch this upcoming festival season!
1. Walk the Moon
Walk the Moon is an alternative band that has recently been burning up the charts with their latest single “Shut Up and Dance” from their latest album “Talking is Hard”! They have infectious guitar rifts and beats with loud, sing-a-long type lyrics that you will actually be happy to have on repeat and in your head for days. Their energy is electric and you will fall in love with their quirky lead singer Nicholas Petricco! Walk the Moon is a band you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
Check them out at: Way Home Music Festival
2. Young the Giant
Young the Giant is an alternative rock band that has had some shine in the spotlight still fly under the mainstream music radar. With a diversified discography, Young the Giant brings something new to the music scene with the perfect marriage between hard-driving anthems with sing-along choruses and smooth dark jazzy undertones with a hint of electro-pop. They will be someone to checkout with four singles released from their current album that don’t disappoint. 100% must see.
Check them out at: Osheaga
3. Rudimental
Rudimental are a quartet of producer musicians that embrace a dance-till-you-drop feel which is emphasized through guest vocalists on their tracks such as Ed Sheeran, Ella Eyre, John Newman, Foxes, Emeli Sande, and more. Their debut album delivers hard-hitting singles that have received praise and acclaim all across the UK and Europe. They have toured worldwide and are festival veterans, bringing an electric energy unlike anything you will have seen before! Rudimental are the dance group to see on the festival circuit this year.
Check them out at: Bestival
4. Alt – J
Alt – J is an English indie rock band that is no stranger to the festival scene. The band has a unique and fresh sound, which can’t often be found in mainstream music. Their lead singer has a raspy, melodic, mesmerizing voice when paired with vibing instrumentals creates the perfect blend. Compared to their debut album, the band has matured into a sound that is very individual and will make them an artist to watch for festival season!
Check them out at: Way Home & Osheaga
5. Marina and the Diamonds
Marina and the Diamonds is a Welsh singer-songwriter who is a self-described indie artist with pop goals. Though she is not new to the festival or music scene, she is an artist to watch with her new album that was just released after a three year break titled “Froot”. Diamonds’ lyrical content typically analyses components of human behaviour; her records are cheeky and have a whimsical quality. Marina is eccentric and it reflects in her music; she pairs electro pop with her ethereal voice and it produces music that makes every song your favourite.
Check her out at: Osheaga
6. James Bay
James Bay is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, and his debut album “Choas and the Calm” has topped the charts all over the world and has received critical acclaim in the UK. His most recent single, “Let it Go”, features hypnotic guitar melody and a stunning vocal performance. James has a distinct and unique voice that sets him apart in the music industry today.
Check him out at: Osheaga
7. Arkells
The Arkells are a Canadian alternative rock band from just outside Hamilton who are known for their classic songwriting, electric live shows, and workman-like tour ethic. The Arkells have made a name for themselves in Canadian mainstream music and have won four Juno Awards! They are music scene’s diamond in the rough. How people haven’t discovered and fell in love with this band is beyond us. They’re infectious singles “Leather Jacket” and “Hey Kids!” will be your favourite new songs to have on repeat!
Check them out at: Osheaga
8. July Talk
July Talk is a Canadian alternative band from Toronto with two lead singers that have unique contrasting vocals. July Talk is something new and fresh on the music scene. The band’s dynamic duo lead singers, Leah Fay and Peter Dreimanis, are quite the pair; Peter’s raw gritty voice and Leah’s smooth ethereal sounds give the band an edge. They are seasoned veterans of the festival scene and have supported other artists on tour such as the Arkells, Tegan and Sara, Weezer, and more. July Talk has a self-titled album that with every new song you have a self-declared new favourite. July Talk is a band you can’t miss at festival season!
Check them out at: Way Home Music Festival
9. Ella Eyre
Ella Eyre is an English singer-songwriter who is new to the scene. With her trademark raspy sound and powerhouse vocals, she definitely an artist to watch! Ella is best known for her collaborations with Rudimental, Tinie Tempah, and Wiz Khalifa for Naughty Boy’s studio album “Hotel Cabana”. Ella released a self-titled pop EP that featured pop dance inspired tracks that will have you questioning how you just found out about her now!
Check her out at: Bestival
10. Ryn Weaver
Ryn Weaver is music’s silent storm. Dropping her single “OctaHate” online, it became an instant viral hit and she recently was named one of MTV’s Artists to Watch! The song “OctaHate” was created with an all-star team of Charli XCX, Passion Pits’ Michael Angelakos, and producers Cashmere Cat and Benny Blanco. Ryn describes her sound as ‘fairy pop’ as it has an ethereal dreamy quality! Ryn’s EP titled “Promises” shows her potential to be the next big thing. If you’re into it, you can check out her SoundCloud.
Check her out at: Osheaga
11. Hozier
Hozier is an Irish musician, singer-songwriter, and newcomer that took the music scene by storm with his hit “Take Me to Church”. His album is filled with haunting melodies and bluesy guitar rifts paired with moody lyrics with a hint of gothic drama. Beyond his talent as a singer and a knack for hair-raising melodies, he has a gift for openhearted storytelling. He is a breath of fresh air for the music industry!
Check him out at: Way Home Music Festival
12. Chet Faker
Chet Faker is an Australian electronica musician; though popular in OZ, he is still an underground up and comer in terms of mainstream North American music. Chet established himself as one of the most alluring voices in electro-soul music. Set to spare beats and hypnotic samples with a hint of vintage synth, his haunting melodies develop through a slow-burn driving beat that has you on the edge of your seat and leaves you wanting more. His set will be something you have never heard and is worth checking out!
Check him out at: Osheaga
13. Vance Joy
Vance Joy is a breath of fresh air to mainstream music. The Australian born indie-pop singer-songwriter has been smashing it with his single “Riptide”. “Riptide” was the single to launch him to worldwide success. His songs often have a soft melody with prominent acoustic based vibes. You can listen to Vance’s music no matter what you are doing or what mood you are in! Though he is new to the festival scene, he is an artist you can’t miss out on.
Check him out at: Way Home Music Festival
14. FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs is British singer-songwriter, producer, and dancer. FKA Twigs has a trademark sound with a catchy pop vibe and whispery vocals layered with electronic sounds. Twigs says she likes to layer and experiment with different sounds and doesn’t want to restrict herself in her artistry. She has released EP1, EP2, LP1, and is currently working on EP3. FKA Twigs is an out of the box artist with music that is in a genre of its own!
Check her out at: Osheaga & Bestival
15. Hey Rosseta!
Hey Rosseta! is a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John’s, Newfoundland. The band is known for its energized live shows, and creating a unique large, layered sound by incorporating piano, violin, and cello into the traditional four-piece rock setup. They are new to the festival scene, but will be sure to bring a new and fresh energy!
Check them out at: Way Home Music Festival
16. Stromae
Stromae is a Belgian singer-songwriter who is smashing it with his hit single “Papaoutai“. In the past, Stromae has been popular across Europe, but is steadily finding his stride and making a name for himself overseas in North America. Though his lyrics are in French, his music has a driving electronic beat with rhythm that makes you want to move! Stromae’s music is a unique mix of hip-hop and electronic that is a new fresh sound that is unlike anything else in music right now.
Check him out at: Osheaga
17. Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an alternative band that has been making music since 1996 when their debut album was released. After an eight-year break between albums, Modest Mouse returned to the scene with an album that was worth the wait. Modest Mouse has struck the balance between personal expression and creativity while still making modern music that appeals to a mass audience. Though with this new album, they have brought a new sound compared to their original records, it still is new and fresh. The band hasn’t lost their appeal in the time between albums; you have to see these veterans!
Check them out at: Way Home Music Festival
18. Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels are a hip-hop rap duo who have each had individual success, yet brought their talents together to release their original self-titled album “Run the Jewels” in 2013 as a free download. The duo often releases their music free to download on their website! Run the Jewels are an underground gem of the music scene.
Check them out at: Way Home Music Festival & Osheaga
There you have it Golden Hawks; these are the artists we think you should see this festival season! Did we miss anyone that you are looking forward to? Tweet us @HerCampusWLUCA!