Firefly 2015 Lineup Is Nothing Short of Amazing
Delaware’s Firefly Music Festival has become one of the top festivals in the nation, bringing some of the biggest acts in music to The Woodlands each year, and 2015 is certainly no exception. This year’s Firefly will draw in some seriously huge headliners (Paul McCartney! The Killers! Morrissey!) along with over 100 other artists, all performing over a four-day weekend in mid-June. Want to know more about this year’s lineup but don’t want to Google 100+ artists? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for an in-depth look at every artist that’s performing, and let us know which performers you’re most excited to see at the 2015 Firefly Festival!
2015 Lineup
Paul McCartney
Not much needs to be said about Paul McCartney. He’s one of the biggest names in music – not only right now, but in all of popular music history. The former Beatle has had an incredibly successful solo career over the last few decades, and he has consistently put out hit albums over the last 40 years. His latest full-length album, “New,” arrived in 2013. His latest effort is a track he collaborated on with fellow megastars Kanye West and Rihanna called “FourFiveSeconds.” The single came out in January of this year and will be a part of Rihanna’s upcoming studio album. McCartney has been performing all over the world in support of his latest album since 2013, so he’s probably wrapping up this particular tour this year. It looks like his headlining performance at Firefly is his only scheduled date in North America for 2015, so other than this, it may be a while before you’ll get the chance to see him live. Paul McCartney alone is reason enough to go to Firefly this year, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets, because with a headliner like this, it’s sure to sell out.
Kings of Leon
The Followills (brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared and their cousin Matthew) were born and bred in the South, so it’s no wonder their band Kings of Leon is considered one of the greatest Southern rock groups right now. Formed in 2000, the band moved to Nashville to get their start, where they were quickly noticed and signed by RCA a year later. Their first album was moderately successful in the U.K., but their sophomore effort, 2004’s “Aha Shake Heartbreak,” made them European rock superstars. Success in the U.S. followed with the release of their third album, “Because of the Times,” in 2007, but their real mainstream break came a year later with the release of “Only By the Night,” which spawned some of the band’s best-known hit singles like “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody.” Now with six successful albums out there, Kings of Leon have been headlining the world’s biggest music festivals for the last few years.
The Killers
Few bands achieved such immediate success as The Killers did back in the mid-2000s. Their 2004 debut “Hot Fuss” was an immediate hit with the influence of ’80s synthpop mixed with the showy glamor of the band’s home city of Las Vegas. The record sold millions of copies and earned the band five Grammy Awards, launching vocalist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer, and drummer Ronnie Vannucci into the international spotlight. The Killers’ three subsequent albums were just as successful, and the band remains one of the biggest rock acts out there today with one of the most passionate fan bases of any band. Their latest studio album, “Battle Born,” saw release in 2012, and the band followed it up the next year with a greatest hits album.
Morrissey
Best known as the frontman of the beloved ’80s indie band The Smiths, Morrissey is one of the most renowned vocalists out there today, and is often regarded as one of the most influential musicians and lyricists of the last century. The Smiths were so successful partly due to Morrissey’s relatable and often cynical lyrics, which conveyed themes like anxiety, isolation, and romantic frustration that resonated with a wide audience. After the breakup of The Smiths in 1987, Morrissey carried on with a solo career, which commenced with the release of his album “Viva Hate” in 1988. He has since released nine more studio albums and to this day remains one of the biggest names in the music industry. His solo sets are spectacular, and he’s known to throw some Smiths favorites in there, so he is definitely one performer you won’t want to miss at Firefly this year.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg made his debut on Dr. Dre’s 1992 smash hit album “The Chronic,” after which he quickly rose to fame as a solo artist, becoming one of the biggest rappers of the 1990s. Just a year after his introduction on Dr. Dre’s album, Snoop Dogg released his solo debut, “Doggystyle.” The album broke records at the time of its release, selling a million copies in its first week and going on to be certified 4x platinum. In 1996 he released his sophomore album, “Tha Doggfather,” which once again debuted at the #1 spot. Over the years, Snoop Dogg has released a number of successful albums and hit singles and has been a consistent chart presence for the last two decades. Recently, he recorded a reggae album under the alias Snoop Lion, but has since returned to the Snoop Dogg moniker and is ready to release his latest studio album, the Pharrell-produced “BUSH,” in May.
Foster the People
Before forming Foster the People, frontman Mark Foster used to write jingles to pay the rent, so it’s no wonder the band has so many catchy hits. Foster and fellow band members Cubbie Fink and Mark Pontius came together in 2009 in Los Angeles. Their debut album “Torches” sold nearly two million copies and earned them several Grammy nominations. The album had several hit songs including “Pumped Up Kicks,” which SPIN declared the anthem of 2011. The band released their equally catchy sophomore album, “Supermodel,” in 2014.
Zedd
German producer Zedd (born Anton Zaslavski) rose to prominence in 2010 with his remix of the popular Skrillex track “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” He is best known for his 2012 single “Clarity,” which rose to the top of the Billboard dance charts. The song earned him a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2014. In addition to his own successful singles, he has released a number of popular remixes for artists like Armand Van Helden, B.o.B., and Lady Gaga. Zedd’s latest release is a single featuring Selena Gomez titled “I Want You to Know.”
Modest Mouse
Formed in 1993, indie rock band Modest Mouse would grow to become one of the most successful acts of the 2000s. The band released a few albums before really hitting it big with their 2004 commercial breakthrough “Good News For People Who Love Bad News.” For their next album, 2007’s “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank,” they recruited former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to record with them. Marr eventually became a full member of the band, touring in support of the record, although he ultimately left to join The Cribs. Modest Mouse hasn’t seen a whole lot of activity since then, other than releasing an EP in 2009 and playing a few shows here and there. However, they came back in full force in 2014 with the release of their latest single, “Lampshades On Fire.” Their long-awaited new album, “Strangers to Ourselves,” is the band’s first full-length since ’07.
Bastille
For a band that has only really put out one album so far, the popular English rock outfit Bastille is doing pretty well to say the least, having sold millions of records internationally. Bastille began as the solo project of frontman Dan Smith (whose birthday is on Bastille Day, hence the band’s name), but it became a full band in 2010 with the addition of Chris Wood, William Farquarson, and Kyle Simmons. Their debut record, “Bad Blood,” came out in 2013 and quickly became an international success with a number of including the title track as well as the anthemic singles “Pompeii” and “Flaws.” Bastille has since earned a number of accolades, including a 2014 BRIT Award for Best Breakthrough Act and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2015.
Empire of the Sun
Australian electronic glam pop duo Empire of the Sun formed in Sydney in 2007. The group, often compared to Daft Punk, consists of Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, who had been collaborating together for years before officially forming Empire of the Sun. They released their debut album, “Walking on a Dream,” in 2008. The record went platinum in their home country of Australia, while the title track became an international hit. Their sophomore album, “Ice on the Dune,” arrived in 2013 and featured the commerically successful hit “Alive.” Empire of the Sun is currently working on a third album titled “Every Ocean Tells a Story.” Their live show is one not to miss, and features elaborate setups and extravagant costumes.
Hozier
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, aka Hozier, is an Irish singer-songwriter who has gained tremendous success recently with his gospel and blues-inspired single “Take Me to Church.” The wise-beyond-his-years twenty-something singer grew up as the son of a blues musician, so it’s no wonder he adds that influence to his music and does it so well. He released his self-titled debut album near the end of 2014, and his song “Take Me to Church” was nominated for a Grammy award for Song of the Year.
Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi burst onto the hip hop scene with his 2008 hit single “Day ‘n’ Nite.” Born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Brooklyn to pursue his rapping career. There, he hooked up with A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs’ label Fool’s Gold and released his debut EP, which contained his breakout single and launched him to fame. Cudi dropped his latest album in early 2014, and his next record is expected out sometime this year.
Steve Aoki
Steve Aoki is one of the highest-grossing DJs of the last few years who built up his following through impressive remix work and relentless touring. In addition to his work as a DJ and producer, Aoki also founded Dim Mak records, the label responsible for breaking artists like MSTRKRFT, Bloc Party, The Kills, and Mystery Jets. He has earned his status as a high-profile DJ through various successful remixes and releases. In 2014, Aoki announced that he would be releasing a two-part album called “Neon Future,” the first part of which came out in September. The second installment is due out in May.
Sublime with Rome
Ska-punk band Sublime was without a doubt one of the biggest acts of the ’90s, but the band unfortunately met an early demise with the untimely death of frontman Bradley Nowell. The group’s surviving members initially carried on by forming the Long Beach Dub All-Stars, but returned to the Sublime catalog in 2009 when they collaborated with singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez to form what is now called Sublime with Rome. The group originally just played Sublime songs before signing with Fueled By Ramen and releasing their debut album, “Yours Truly,” in 2011. The band’s live shows now feature a mix of new, original material and old Sublime favorites.
Spoon
Formed in 1993 in Austin, Texas by singer/guitarist Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno, Spoon really made a name for themselves with a series of successful and critically acclaimed albums in the early and mid-2000s. With catchy rock hits like “The Way We Get By” and “The Underdog” that were used in many movies and television shows, the band became a huge commercial success, and that exposure increased their fan base even more. In August, they released their eighth studio album titled “They Want My Soul,” which like all of their other works was received very favorably by critics, proving that even after a decade, they still have not lost their edge.
Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant formed in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 2006. The group moved to the U.K. early on and built up a significant following there with their 2008 self-titled debut album. Soon afterward, success back home in the U.S. followed and the band was officially an international sensation. In 2011, they released their follow-up album “Thank You Happy Birthday,” which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. In the last few years, the band has released another album (2013’s “Melophobia”) and toured with bands like Muse and The Black Keys, and they are now at work on their fourth record.
AWOLNATION
AWOLNATION is the solo electronic rock project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Bruno. AWOLNATION’s debut album “Megalithic Symphony” was a worldwide success, specifically with the hit single “Sail.” The commercial success of “Sail” helped propel the electronic rock genre into the popular sphere.
The Kooks
British rockers The Kooks came onto the scene in 2006 with the release of their debut album “Inside In/Inside Out.” Though somewhat overshadowed by the overwhelming success of fellow Brits Arctic Monkeys’ smash hit debut “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” which was released on the exact same day, The Kooks still managed to quietly achieve success with their first record. The album peaked at #2 on the U.K. charts and spawned several successful singles, including the top ten hits “Naive” and “She Moves in Her Own Way,” and was eventually certified quadruple platinum. The Kooks have since released three more albums, and although none of them have seemed to reach the same height of popularity as their debut, they have all still been quite successful.
Gary Clark Jr.
Austin-based musician Gary Clark, Jr. has been compared to guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix. His sound is an innovative mix of blues, soul, and hip hop, incorporating both modern and classic elements of blues style, and accompanied by smooth vocals. The Texas native recently collaborated with the Foo Fighters on their track “What Did I Do? / God As My Witness” from their latest album “Sonic Highways” and in September he released a live album of his own.
Kygo
Kygo is a Norwegian DJ and record producer. He initialy built up his popularity through the internet by accumulating over 80 million views on his Soundcloud and YouTube pages. His internet fame attracted the attention of big artists like Avicii and Coldplay’s Chris Martin. When Avicii had to back out of his main stage performance at the 2014 TomorrowWorld festival due to health reasons, Kygo was selected as his replacement, which garnered him even more fame and exposure.
Matt & Kim
Matt & Kim is an indie dance duo featuring vocalist/keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino, who came together in 2004 while they were both attending the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. They released their eponymous debut album in 2006 and built up their profile through heavy touring. Their following album, “Grand,” came out in 2009 and featured their hit single “Daylight,” which earned them tremendous commercial success. Matt & Kim have since released two more albums and are ready to release their fifth record, titled “New Glow,” in April.
The Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers is a production duo based in New York City consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall. They came to attention last year with their EDM hit single and ode to the modern day club scene, “#Selfie.” The Chainsmokers have not yet released a full-length album, but they have issued a number of singles, including their most recent release, “Let You Go,” which came out earlier this month.
Run the Jewels
What started as a one-off collaboration between noted rappers El-P and Killer Mike evolved into the hip hop superduo Run the Jewels. Shortly after a successful self-titled debut album, they released their sophomore album titled “Run the Jewels 2.” Both albums were met with huge success, and Killer Mike has stated that the duo is set to start working on “Run the Jewels 3” this year.
Walk the Moon
Upbeat indie rock band Walk the Moon formed in Cincinnati in 2008. The group features vocalist Nicholas Petricca, bassist Kevin Ray, guitarist Eli Maiman, and drummer Sean Waugaman. They independently released their debut album, “I Want! I Want!,” in 2010, and their single “Anna Sun” became a big hit and officially put the band on the radar. They released their self-titled major label debut two years later, which earned them huge commercial success. In September 2014, they released the catchy top 40 single “Shut Up and Dance” before coming out with their third full-length, “Talking Is Hard,” a month later.
Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids formed in 2004 in Southern California. Two years later, they released their major label debut, “Robbers & Cowards,” which included their bluesy, bass-heavy hit single “Hang Me Up to Dry.” Now almost a decade later, the band is still making great music and selling out tours, and just released their fifth studio album titled “Hold My Home” in October.
Dirty Heads
Dirty Heads is a band from Huntington Beach, California that mixes hip hop, ska, and rock styles. The group formed in 2003 as a collaboration between Dustin Bushnell and Jared Watson. In 2010, they released their most successful single to date, the #1 alternative hit “Lay Me Down,” which featured Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome. The band released their latest album, “Sound of Change,” in 2014.
Charli XCX
Charlotte Aitchison, aka Charli XCX, first gained attention in 2012 when she was featured on Icona Pop’s breakthrough single “I Love It,” which she also co-wrote. Two years later, she emerged as an outright pop superstar after being featured on Iggy Azalea’s #1 hit song “Fancy.” Her album “Sucker” arrived at the end of that year, and was designated the best pop album of 2014 by Rolling Stone. Charli XCX is currently touring with Katy Perry as the opening act for the European leg of her Prismatic World Tour.
ODESZA
ODEZSA is an electronic music duo from Seattle consisting of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight. Mills and Knight formed the group in 2012 while they were still in college and released their music via the internet, when their songs rose to the top of Hype Machine’s popular chart. Their success earned them a spot touring with Pretty Lights, and a year later they released their most recent album, “The Return.”
Citizen Cope
Citizen Cope is the stage name of musician and songwriter Clarence Greenwood. Initially the DJ for the D.C. hip hop group Basehead, Greenwood stepped out on his own in 1992 with the release of his solo debut, titled “Cope Citizen.” However, he didn’t release another album for a whole decade. After signing with Dreamworks in 2000, Citizen Cope released a self-titled album two years later. The record was praised for its genre-defying blend of hip hop, soul, blues, and folk. Greenwood’s latest album, “One Lovely Day,” came out in 2012.
Tove Lo
Sweden’s Tove Lo gained attention in 2013 when her breakthrough electropop single “Habits” reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song became even more popular and saw more international exposure when it was remixed by American production duo Hippie Sabotage. Her rapid success later earned her a spot opening for Katy Perry on her Prismatic World Tour. In September she released her debut album “Queen of the Clouds,” which is her first full-length record.
Tycho
Tycho is the stage name of ambient music artist and producer Scott Hansen. The San Francisco-based musician creates chill, dreamy, downtempo instrumentals with plenty of atmosphere. Though Tycho began as a solo project, the band has consisted of three members since the production and release of its third album. In early 2014, Tycho released a fourth studio album titled “Awake.”
Sturgill Simpson
Country singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson, former leader of the roots rock band Sunday Valley, released his solo debut “High Top Mountain” in 2013. The album became a word-of-mouth hit, opening doors for him as an artist. The Kentucky native expresses his deep southern roots through his music, but wanted to experiment more with pushin the boundaries of the genre for his second album. Simpson released his sophomore effort, “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music,” in 2014.
Manchester Orchestra
Atlanta-based indie rock band Manchester Orchestra formed in 2004 when its members were still attending high school. Frontman Andy Hull opted for home schooling for his senior year, so as to have more time to write and record music, and eventually he ended up forming Manchester Orchestra with friends. The band created a lot of buzz around Atlanta, and eventually beyond that as they earned spots to play at festivals like SXSW and Lollapalooza before even releasing a full-length album. Now the band has released four albums and achieved a great deal of mainstream success. They issued their latest album, “Cope,” in 2014, soon followed by the companion album “Hope,” which features stripped-down versions of the same songs.
Logic
Logic is Maryland-based rapper Sir Robert Bryson Hall II (that’s actually his given name – the “Sir” and everything). The young artist came onto the scene in 2010, releasing several mixtapes and increasing his fame through internet buzz and press exposure. In 2012, he toured Europe without even being signed to a label, but nonetheless found a home two years later with Def Jam, which released his 2014 album “Under Pressure.”
Broods
Broods is a duo from New Zealand consisting of siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott, who started the project in 2013 in Auckland. Shortly after their formation, the Nott siblings released their single “Bridges,” which was an instant hit in New Zealand, climbing its way to the top ten on the charts. They released their eponymous debut EP in January 2014, followed by their first full-length album, “Evergreen,” in August.
Big Data
Big Data recently came to attention with their hit single “Dangerous” (featuring Joywave), which was a number one single on the U.S. Alternative charts in 2014. The group is an electronic music project led by Brooklyn-based producer Alan Wilkis. Big Data has released three EPs: “1.0,” “1.5,” and “1.6,” and the band will be releasing their full-length debut, titled “2.0,” on March 23.
DJ Mustard
DJ and producer Dijon McFarlane performs as DJ Mustard, a hilarious play on his given name. The Los Angeles-based producer first came to attention as the official DJ for rapper YG, as well as for producing a number of hit singles for other artists like Tyga, 2 Chainz, and Young Jeezy. DJ Mustard has released two of his own mixtapes, and just released his debut solo album, “10 Summers,” in August 2014.
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
Andrew McMahon has made himself known as the lead singer of the bands Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. Nowadays, he’s performing solo as Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, and released an album under that name in 2014. His latest album spawned the successful single “Cecilia and the Satellite,” a song named for his newborn daughter. McMahon toured North America in late 2014, playing songs from his new project as well as busting out some fan favorites from his previous bands, which he’s sure to do again at his festival performances.
Sylvan Esso
Sylvan Esso is the electro folk-pop duo consisting of singer Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn. The group formed in 2013 and soon signed with Partisan Records. The next year, they released their eponymous debut album, which includes their hit singles “Coffee” and “Hey Mami” among others.
Clean Bandit
Clean Bandit is a British electronic music group founded in Cambridge in 2009, made up of core members Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson, Grace Chatto, and Milan Neil Amin-Smith. Their music fuses classical elements with traditional house style. In 2014, they hit it big with their chart-topping single “Rather Be,” which recently won the award for Best Dance Recording at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
Jungle
Jungle was founded by childhood friends Josh-Lloyd Watson and Tom McFarland, referred to as J and T. The London-based band released their first singles in 2013 and rose to popularity in England, earning a place on the BBC Sound of 2014 poll. The group earned a spot opening for Haim, and later embarked on a headlining international tour of their own.
Benjamin Booker
New Orleans’ Benjamin Booker is a blues rock musician. His sound draws on blues influence as well as garage rock and punk. He released his self-titled debut album in 2014 and has since gone on to tour with Jack White and play several major music festivals including Lollapalooza, where he earned more recognition when Rolling Stone praised him for his amazing live performance.
The White Panda
The White Panda is a duo consisting of childhood friends Tom Evans (aka Procrast) and Dan Griffith (aka DJ Griffi). The two producers had been involved in independent projects before coming together. Evans was producing his own mashups in Chicago while Griffith was doing the same in Los Angeles. Procrast and DJ Griffi released their first single as The White Panda in 2009, and have since had 30+ singles reach #1 on The Hype Machine. The duo became one of the most-played artists on Soundcloud in 2011, leading to opportunities to tour with artists like Mac Miller, Mike Posner, and Ghostland Observatory.
Echosmith
Formed in 2009 in Los Angeles, pop-rock band Echosmith is a family affair comprised of four siblings. The band features Sydney Sierota on vocals, Jamie Sierota on lead guitar, Noah Sierota on bass, and Graham Sierota on drums. Echosmith came to attention in 2013 with their breakthrough single “Cool Kids,” which became a top 40 hit the following year. The band played the Vans Warped Tour two summers in a row and in the last two years they have opened for artists like Owl City, Twenty One Pilots, and Neon Trees.
Chiddy Bang
Philadelphia-based hip hop artist Chiddy Bang came onto the scene in 2010 with the single “Opposite of Adults,” which samples the popular MGMT track “Kids.” Formerly a duo before the departure of Noah “Xaphoon Jones” Beresin, Chiddy Bang is now a one-man endeavor consisting solely of rapper Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege. Chiddy Bang’s sound draws heavily on the practice of sampling, with songs that fuse hip hop with samples from artists like Ellie Goulding, Passion Pit, Matt and Kim, and Radiohead among others.
Lettuce
Funk band Lettuce formed in Boston in 1992, when its members were all attending Berklee College of Music. They got their start playing in jazz clubs in the Boston area before building up a substantial following through word of mouth. Lettuce has released four albums since 2002, and they are particularly known for their energetic and highly entertaining live shows.
Ryn Weaver
Ryn Weaver is the stage name of American singer and songwriter Erin Wuthrich. She released her debut single “OctoHate” in June 2014, which boasted collaborators like Charli XCX and Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos. With these big-name connections, the song quickly rose to popularity and released her debut EP “Promises” in August.
Betty Who
Betty Who is the stage name of Australian-born singer/songwriter Jessica Newham. She moved to the United States as a teenager and eventually attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. Newham released her debut single as Betty Who, titled “Somebody Loves You,” in 2012, garnering immediate praise and comparisons to pop stars like Katy Perry. She released her debut EP, “The Movement,” in 2013, followed by a second EP titled “Slow Dancing” a year later. Betty Who’s debut full-length, “Take Me When You Go,” appeared in October 2014.
Glass Animals
Glass Animals is an English indie rock band from Oxford consisting of childhood friends Dave Bayley, Drew Macfarlane, Edmund Irwin-Singer, and Joe Seaward. They released their debut album “Zaba” in 2014, which includes their hit song “Gooey,” which reached #19 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Zola Jesus
Zola Jesus is the stage name of Wisconsin native Nika Roza Danilova. She released her debut album, “The Spoils,” in 2009, after which she became one of the most blogged-about and buzzworthy indie acts at the time. She has since released several successful albums and EPs. Her most recent effort, the full-length album “Taiga,” was released in 2014.
RJD2
Producer Ramble Jon Krohn is better known by his stage name, RJD2. He began his career as a producer for other artists, but began working on solo material in 2001. A year later, he released his acclaimed solo debut, “Deadringer,” on El-P’s Definitive Jux label. The record contained the single “Ghostwriter,” which is by far his most popular track to date. RJD2’s latest release is his 2013 album “More Is Than Isn’t.”
How To Dress Well
How To Dress Well is the solo project of Tom Krell, who makes ambient R&B music. He released his debut album, “Love Remains,” in 2010. The record garnered critical praise from tastemaking blogs like Pitchfork, Spin, and Stereogum among others. His sophomore effort, “Total Loss,” came in 2012 and was met with equal acclaim from critics. In June of 2014, Krell released the third How To Dress Well album, titled “What Is This Heart?”
Alison Wonderland
Alison Wonderland (real name Alex Scholler) is an Australian DJ and producer. The emerging artist has built up quite a following in the Australian electronic scene, selling out shows across the country. This year, she is releasing her debut album “Run,” which includes her new single “U Don’t Know,” featuring Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne.
Bahamas
Bahamas is the solo project of Canadian musician Afie Jurvanen. Throughout his career he has worked with such artists as Feist, Howie Beck, Jack Johnson, and others. In 2014, he released his third studio album titled “Bahamas is Afie.”
Vacationer
Vacationer is a Philly-based band that makes dreamy, escapist electro-pop music. The group originally started as the project of vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli, who began jamming with Matthew Young and recruited him as well as guitarist Greg Altman, drummer Ryan Zimmaro, and keyboardist Michael Mullin to form a full-fledged band. Vacationer released their debut album, “Gone,” in 2012, followed by their sophomore effort, “Relief,” in 2014.
Bad Suns
Bad Suns is an alternative rock band that formed in California in 2012. The band is comprised of vocalist Christo Bowman, guitarist Ray Libby, bassist Gavin Bennett, and drummer Miles Morris. In 2014, the band released their debut album “Language & Perspective,” which is full of catchy tunes like their breakthrough single “Cardiac Arrest.”
Fences
Fences is the stage name of Seattle-based musician Chris Mansfield. He eventually caught the attention of Sara Quin (of popular Canadian indie duo Tegan & Sara), who ended up producing his self-titled debut album. Fences’ sophomore effort, “Lesser Oceans,” is expected in March of this year and includes the hit single “Arrows,” featuring Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
Rustie
Glasgow’s Russell Whyte performs under the stage name Rustie. He has established himself as an acclaimed producer and musician whose style draws on hip hop and electro influences. Rustie has released two full-length albums to date: “Glass Swords” (2011) and “Green Language” (2014).
The Preatures
The Preatures is an Australian rock band that formed in Sydney in 2010. The five-piece band features vocalist Isabella Manfredi, guitarists Gideon Bensen and Jack Moffitt, bassist Thomas Champion, and drummer Luke Davison. They released their first EP, titled “Shaking Hands,” in 2012, and a year later released a second EP called “Is This How You Feel?,” the title track of which won the prestigious Vanda & Young songwriting competition, charted on Triple J’s top ten, and earned the band a nomination for an ARIA award.
Jon Bellion
Jon Bellion is a singer/songwriter whose music mixes elements of hip hop, R&B, and indie rock. He has been producing music since his teens and has written for the likes of Eminem and Rihanna (he wrote the chorus to their collaborative song “The Monster”). Bellion has released several popular mixtapes, the most recent of which came out in 2014.
Raury
Raury is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from Atlanta. Mature beyond his years, Raury began writing songs as early as age three, taught himself to play guitar when he was 11, and started work on a self-produced album when he was 15. The young, up-and-coming artist released his debut, “Indigo Child,” in the summer of 2014, earning accolades from tastemaking sites like Stereogum and Pitchfork. He was recently featured on SBTRKT’s latest album on the track “Higher.”
Bear Hands
Brooklyn-based quartet Bear Hands formed in 2006. The band centers around vocalist/guitarist Dylan Rau, guitarist Ted Feldman, bassist Val Loper, and drummer TJ Orscher. They initially gained recognition by opening for popular bands like Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, and MGMT. Bear Hands released their first full-length album, “Burning Bush Supper Club,” in 2010, followed by their far more commercially successful record “Distraction” in 2014. Their second album included their hit single “Giants,” which became a top ten hit on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
Cathedrals
Cathedrals is an experimental electronic duo from San Francisco. The group consists of singer Brodie Jenkins and guitarist Johnny Hwin. Cathedrals released their self-titled debut EP in 2014, followed by a second EP called “Blush” in early 2015.
Verite
New York-based musician Kelsey Byrne makes music under the moniker Verite. She recently saw a nearly instantaneous rise to the number one spot on the Hype Machine with her breakthrough internet hit “Strange Enough.” Having been performing since her early middle school days, Byrne was long overdue for her big break. She has released several more successful singles this year, and her music has garnered comparisons to popular singers like Lana Del Ray and Ellie Goulding.
Elliphant
Elliphant is the stage name of Stockholm, Sweden’s Ellinor Olovsdotter. She released her debut single, “Tekkno Scene,” in 2012, earning her comparisons to artists like M.I.A. Her debut self-titled EP came in 2013, followed by the full-length album “A Good Idea” later that year. Most recently, Elliphant accompanied Charli XCX on her North American tour in the fall of 2014.
Phox
Wisconsin-based indie pop band Phox formed in 2011 in the wacky circus town of Baraboo. The band, which is comprised of a group of longtime friends who met in high school, describes their sound as something of a mix between Feist and Monty Python. Following a successful 2013, the band signed with Brooklyn-based indie label Partisan Records and released their eponymous debut album in 2014.
Halsey
Halsey is the stage name of New York’s Ashley Frangipane. In true hipster fashion, the New Jersey native took the name of a stop on the L train to use as her musical alias. She self-released her first single, “Ghost,” and based on the strength and popularity of that song she signed a deal with Capitol Records-owned electronic/dance label Astralwerks in 2014. She released her debut EP later that year.
Young Rising Sons
Young Rising Sons is an alternative rock band that formed in New Jersey in 2010. The group is made up of vocalist/guitarist Andy Tongren, guitarist Dylan Scott, bassist Julian Dimagiba, and drummer Steve Patrick. In 2014 they released their debut single “High,” which became an internet hit and eventually a huge commercial success. Currently, Young Rising Sons are at work on their debut full-length album, which is said to come out sometime this year.
The Wind and The Wave
The Wind and The Wave is a duo based in Austin, Texas. The group is comprised of good friends Dwight Baker and Patricia Lynn, both of whom were involved in the Austin music scene before coming together in 2009. As The Wind and The Wave, they signed to RCA in 2013 and the duo released their debut album, titled “From the Wreckage,” in 2014.
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright made his debut to the world in 2012 with his first album, “SmokeOut Conversations,” which was released on the stoner holiday 4/20 that year. The album was successful, and later that year he also released a mixtape and his first EP, titled “The First Agreement EP.” The next year, Dizzy released another mixtape called “The Golden Age,” which featured guest appearances from artists like Joey Bada$$, Wyclef Jean, and Logic. He will release his latest full-length album, “The Growing Process,” later this year.
Zella Day
Arizona native Zella Day was raised in a small mountain town outside of Phoenix where her parents ran a local coffee shop. It was there that she nurtured her love for music by spending time near local musicians and artists, who inspired her to begin playing guitar when she was just nine years old. She began writing songs and eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career, where she first garnered attention with an acoustic cover of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” Her sound has been described as that of a happier Lana Del Rey.
Max Frost
Max Frost is a producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, Texas. He got into music at a young age and was playing in bands before he even reached his teenage years. He was originally into blues and hip hop styles, but once he discovered electronic music, he decided to go in that direction. In 2012, Frost dropped out of school to focus on his music, and released his debut single “White Lies,” which drew praise from music bloggers and became an internet hit. The success of his single led him to sign with Atlantic Records, who released his debut EP, “Low High Low,” in 2013.
Milo Greene
Milo Greene is an indie folk-pop ensemble from Los Angeles. Formed in 2009, the five-piece consists of Marlana Sheetz, Robbie Arnett, Graham Fink, and Andrew Heringer, who all share vocal duties, along with percussionist Curtis Marrero. The band’s music is self-described “cinematic pop,” a style which came about as a result of a desire to create songs that could be used in movies and TV. Milo Greene released their eponymous debut in 2012, and followed it with their sophomore album, “Control,” earlier this year.
Joe Pug
Joseph Pugliese, aka Joe Pug, is a singer/songwriter from Maryland whose folksy music has drawn comparisons to artists like Bob Dylan and John Prine. He grew up playing in various bands, but never really had serious aspirations to become a musician. However, eventually he dropped out of school and moved to Chicago, where he recorded his debut EP, “Nation of Heat,” released in 2008. The next year, he toured with Steve Earle and signed with Nashville indie label Lightning Rod Records, who released his debut album in 2010.
Borns
Borns is the solo project of musician Garrett Borns. Originally hailing from Michigan, he eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he signed with Interscope and released his debut EP “Candy.” The EP came out in 2014 and contains four songs that blend dreamy pop with electronic synths, folk, and glam rock.
Linus Young
Linus Young is the musical duo of Iris Belson and Joseph Walker. In 2013, they released their debut single, “City of Sin,” which received rave reviews. They came back a year later with their debut album, “Category 5.”
Generationals
New Orleans indie pop duo Generationals formed in 2008 by former members of the band The Eames Era. Generationals is Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer, who released their debut album, “Con Law,” in 2009. Their songs are upbeat, catchy and nostalgic for pop music of decades past, and have earned the duo both critical and commercial success. Joyner and Widmer released their fourth LP, the synth-drenched, 10-track album “Alix,” in 2014.
Snakehips
Snakehips is an electronic R&B duo from the U.K. The group is comprised of Oliver Lee and James Carter, who initially gained attention with remixes of artists like The Weeknd, Wild Belle, and Banks before releasing their own original material. Snakehips recently released a new EP, titled “Forever (Pt. II).”
Le1f
Born Khalif Diouf, Le1f is a producer and rapper from New York City. Early in his career, he befriended members of the hip hop collective Das Racist, and initially came to attention by producing tracks for them, including the group’s breakout single “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.” He eventually earned attention as a solo artist as well with a series of mixtapes, the first of which he released in 2012. Le1f has also released two EPs, “Liquid” (2012) and “Hey” (2014).
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an indie garage rock band that formed in Chicago in 2009. The group consists of vocalist/guitarist Cadien Lake James, guitarist Clay Frankel, bassist Jack Dolan, and drummer Connor Brodner, who started the band when they were all still in high school. Twin Peaks released their debut album, “Sunken,” in 2013, followed by their sophomore record “Wild Onion” the next year.
The Griswolds
The Griswolds is a four-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. The group was formed in 2012 by singer Christopher Whitehall, guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez, bassist Tim John, and drummer Lachlan West. They posted their song “Mississippi” online later that year, and it became a blog favorite and received heavy radio play on Australia’s popular Triple J station. The Griswolds released their debut EP, “Heart of a Lion,” in 2013, followed by their full-length album, “Be Impressive,” a year later.
Night Terrors of 1927
Night Terrors of 1927 is a group formed by former Rilo Kiley guitarist Blake Sennett and former The Honorary Title frontman Jarrod Gorbel. Together they make electronic-oriented pop rock tunes. They released their debut full-length album, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” earlier this year.
Lizzo
Lizzo is the stage name of Minneapolis-based alternative hip hop artist Melissa Jefferson. She has been compared to artists like Missy Elliot for her strong, sassy style that comes at you hard. Lizzo performed with several groups before stepping out solo and releasing her album “Lizzobangers” in 2013. She’s been generating a lot of industry buzz lately, and recently collaborated with Prince on his track “Boytrouble,” so needless to say, Lizzo is definitely an artist to watch right now.
Colony House
The indie rock trio Colony House is comprised of brothers Caleb and Will Chapman on vocals and drums respectively, and guitarist Scott Mills. They self-released three EPs before issuing their debut album, “When I Was Younger,” in 2014. The album’s lead single, “Silhouettes,” received a great deal of radio airplay on alternative rock stations, and grew increasingly popular with heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation.
Skylar Spence
Skylar Spence is the new stage name of electronic music producer Ryan DeRobertis, formerly known as Saint Pepsi. DeRobertis was forced to ditch the Saint Pepsi name as a result of legal troubles, and so he began going by Skylar Spence as of 2015. He earned attention when he received acclaim from music blogs like Stereogum, Pitchfork, and The Fader. His most recent release is the infectiously catchy single “Fiona Coyne.”
Hey Rosetta!
Canadian indie rock group Hey Rosetta! formed in 2005 in St. Johns, Newfoundland. Led by singer/songwriter Tim Baker, the band is known for incorporating orchestral elements like piano, violin, and cello into the traditional rock ensemble. Hey Rosetta! has released a number of well-received albums over the years, and most recently issued their latest effort, “Second Sight,” via Sonic Records.
Marian Hill
Marian Hill is an electronic pop duo from Philadelphia comprised of producer Jeremy Lloyd and vocalist Samantha Gongol. Their debut single, “Whisky,” was popular with music blogs and made it to the top ten on the Hype Machine charts. They released their latest EP, “Sway,” on February 17 of this year.
Knox Hamilton
Knox Hamilton is an indie pop band from Little Rock, Arkansas. The band was formed in 2010 by longtime friends Bradley Pierce, Drew Buffington, Boots Copeland, and Cobo Copeland. The band began a meteoric rise to fame with the release of their catchy single “Work It Out,” which climbed its way to the top of the Alt 18 chart on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation.
Craze
Craze is a Nicaraguan-American DJ from Miami. His DJ skills are impressive to say the least, as evidenced by the fact that he’s the only DJ to win the prestigious DMC World Championship title three consecutive times.
Mother Mother
Mother Mother is a Canadian indie rock band based in Vancouver. The group is a five-piece that centers around the talents of siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond. Mother Mother has released five albums to date, the most recent of which, called “Very Good Bad Thing,” came out in 2014.
Grizfolk
Grizfolk is a five piece alternative rock ensemble consisting of Adam Roth, Sebastian Fritze, Fredrik Eriksson, Brendan James, and Bill Delia. The band was brought into the spotlight after being featured by KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Electric” and appearing on Spotify’s list of Artists to Watch for 2014. They were also handpicked by the chart-topping band Bastille to support them on their fall 2014 arena tour. Grizfolk signed with Virgin Records last year, after which they released their debut EP titled “From the Spark.”
Sweater Beats
Producer Antonio Cuna makes music under the alias Sweater Beats. His debut single, “Mlln Dllr,” premiered on the distinguished Annie Mac show, earning him early international attention. His music has been featured by the likes of Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and BBC Radio 1.
Panama Wedding
Panama Wedding is a synthpop group from New York City. Initially begun as the solo project of frontman Peter Kirk, the band soon expanded into a full four-piece ensemble. In 2013, their song “All of the People,” became an online hit, and between the song’s popularity and their appearance at New York City’s CMJ festival, they landed a record deal with Glassnote. Panama Wedding released their four-song debut EP, “Parallel Play,” in 2014.
Wild Party
Wild Party is a rock band from San Antonio, Texas formed in 2009 by longtime friends Lincoln Kreifels and Lucas Hughes. They began posting singles online, and in 2010 their music caught the attention of popular British band The Wombats, who invited Wild Party to tour with them in the U.K. Their debut album, “Phantom Pop,” came out in 2014.
Matoma
Matoma is the stage name of Norwegian DJ Tom Lagergren. He emerged from obscurity relatively quickly, and now has millions of plays on his Soundcloud page. His most popular track is a remix of The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Want That Old Thing Back,” which he shortened to “Old Thing Back.” The remix became a huge internet hit and propelled Matoma to fame.
SNBRN
SNBRN is the stage name of Kevin Chapman, a tropical house DJ and producer from Los Angeles. His latest single, “Raindrops,” features Estonian pop singer Kerli and is his first release for Ultra Records. The track has become a huge internet hit, with over 7 million plays on Spotify and over 1 million on Soundcloud.
Goshfather & Jinco
Goshfather & Jinco is a production duo from Northern California. The up-and-coming duo features the talents of Victor “Goshfather” Tapia and Jeremy “Jinco” Berger.
Nick Catchdubs
Nick Catchdubs, co-founder of the popular indie label Fool’s Gold, is responsible for introducing the world to artists like Danny Brown and Duck Sauce, and has been praised by the likes of Pitchfork and Rolling Stone as an indie tastemaker. In addition to running a successful label, he has established himself as a solo artist, and made a name for himself as one of the top party DJs in the U.S.
The Hunts
The Hunts is an indie-folk band from Virginia made up of the seven Hunt siblings. The Hunt siblings (twin sisters Jenni and Jessi and their five brothers Josh, Jonathan, Jordan, Justin, and Jamison – their family clearly has a thing for the letter J) are relatively young; all are under the age of 25, and they’ve been performing together since they were kids.
Shaun Frank
Shaun Frank is a DJ and producer from Toronto. He began his career, like many producers, as a remix artist, and then stepped out on his own to create original music. His single “This Could Be Love,” a collaborative effort with Borgeous, has brought him new exposure and an expanding fan base.
Prinze George
Brooklyn’s Prinze George is comprised of Naomi Almquist, Kenny Grimm, and Isabelle De Leon. They released a number of singles in 2014, followed by their eponymous EP, which just came out earlier this month.
Whyel
Whyel is an EDM DJ from Corona, California. He initially caught the attention of Dim Mak records, who released his single “Ray Ban.” His success has led to the support of big names in the EDM world like Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Afrojack, and others.
BRONCHO
BRONCHO was formed in 2010 in Oklahoma and currently consists of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Lindsey, guitarist Ben King, and drummer Nathan Price. The band recently gained a lot of attention with their frantic and catchy hit single “Class Historian,” which was released on their 2014 album “Just Enough Hip to Be Woman.”
Jayceeoh
Jayceeoh is the alias of DJ/producer Jacob Charles Osher. He came to attention when he won the third season of VH1’s “Master of the Mix” competition reality show in 2013.
Intergalactix
Longtime friends Kristian Attard and Serg Dimitrijevic make up the Australian duo Intergalactix. They have worked with the likes of Good Charlotte, Jason Mraz, Ariana Grande, and Heart among other artists. They premiered their debut single “Tuesday” in the summer of 2014, and later that year came out with their EP titled “I.W.S.O.M.” (which stands for If We Stepped On Mars).
Solidisco
Solidisco is an up-and-coming disco house duo from New York. Their music has been supported by artists like A-Trak and Laidback Luke, and they’ve been receiving radio airplay lately on big stations like BBC Radio 1, so it won’t be surprising if they become a big name soon.
FiLiBuStA
FiLiBuStA is the stage name of emerging DJ/producer Troy Probst. He gained attention recently with performances at EDM festivals like Electric Forest and Summer Camp, and he is currently touring around the United States.
Vindata
Vindata began in 2010 as the project of Jared Poythress and Branden Ratcliff. The LA-based producers make electronic music inspired by funk, hip hop, and R&B.
Jack Novak
DJ/producer Jack Novak was inspired to pursue a music career after moving to Los Angeles. She released her “Albatross” EP in 2014, and is currently working on a debut album to be released this spring.
Manila Killa
Manila Killa represents both Manila, Philippines and Washington, D.C. He is definitely an up-and-coming artist, and his popular remixes have garnered millions of views on Soundcloud and YouTube.
Cardiknox
Though only formed as recently as 2013, Cardiknox has already received praise from Billboard, MTV, Spin, AV Club, and others. The New York-based duo consists of Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton. Cardiknox recently embarked on a nationwide tour in support of popular recording artist Betty Who.
Cheerleader
Philadelphia-based indie pop band Cheerleader formed in 2012 and signed with Bright Antenna Records a year later. The group consists of vocalist/guitarist Joe Haller, vocalist/guitarist Chris Duran, bassist Paul Impellizeri, keyboardist Josh Pannepacker, and drummer Carl Bahner. They released their debut EP, “On Your Side,” in 2014.
Client Liaison
Australia’s Client Liaison is the synth pop duo of Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan. The Melbourne band released their highly danceable, self-titled EP in 2014.
Kill Them With Colour
Kill Them With Colour is a collaboration between Wesley Marsh and Jason Carr. The Toronto-based duo has been gaining a lot of hype recently with a number of popular remixes for artists like Bon Iver and A$AP Rocky that are earning them a lot of internet buzz.
Styles&Complete
Los Angeles’ Styles&Complete combines electronic music with dirty South hip hop. Self-described as “Dirty South Party Gods,” the duo is comprised of producers A-Styles and DJ Complete, who originally hail from Charlotte, South Carolina.
Falls
Sydney, Australia’s Falls is a folk duo comprised of Melinda Kirwin and Simon Rudston-Brown. They have toured with the likes of Passenger and Of Monsters and Men. In 2014, Falls released their debut EP, “Into the Fire.”
Kingsize
Kingsize is a rock band from Los Angeles. The group consists of Jason Thomas Gordon, Cary Beare, and Matt DelVecchio.
Fiance
The Firefly Festival is a hometown gig for Delaware-based quintet Fiance. The band is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Andrew Fusca, guitarist Jeff Marvel, bassist Tyler Yoder, drummer Brian Bruce, and keyboardist/guitarist Sam Nobles. Fiance released their debut EP, simply titled “EP1,” in 2014.
Cypher Clique
Dover’s Cypher Clique will be playing in their hometown for the Firefly Festival. Cypher Clique is a hip hop trio consisting of rappers Mic Anthony, Relay, and D-Major, who came together in 2007. The group got their big break when they had the opportunity to open for Mac Miller back in 2010.
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