Every year the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival organizers go to great lengths to compile an amazing lineup. This year’s lineup ranks as one of the best in the festival’s history and electronic music has never been better represented. There’s even an electronic Superjam, a Bonnaroo tradition that brings artists together to collaborate in a one-time, thrilling performance, featuring Skrillex. We have selected 11 artists, listed in no particular order, ranging from EDM to rock who we believe will stun the crowds come June. Check our picks below:
Break Science
Break Science has gradually gained prominence over the past few years. Comprised of Lettuce member Adam Deitch and Borahm Lee, they have released music on Pretty Lights’ record label and collaborated with the likes of 50 Cent and Wu-Tang Clan. Their style mixes hip-hop, funk, dubstep, jazz, and everything in between. Their live performance emphasizes the “live” component, complete with Lee soulfully playing on keyboard and Deitch bringing the funky beats on drums. They are also no strangers to improvisation and will certainly jam during their set, especially for Bonnaroo. Check out our in-depth exclusive interview with them here.
Elton John
No one ever expected the legendary Elton John to pop up at an American festival. The renown singer/songwriter has only made one festival appearance thus far at Bestival in England and did not seem the type to headline a festival like Bonnaroo. However, after recruiting Paul McCartney in 2013, festival organizers had to keep the trend of a classic, ubiquitous headliner going. Elton John fills that role perfectly, selling 300 million records worldwide and having more than fifty top 40 hits. With a set that could include songs like Tiny Dancer, Your Song, and perhaps even classics from The Lion King, Elton John will have everyone singing along as he closes this year’s festival.
Arctic Monkeys
This British rock group shook the alternative rock, post-punk revival scene in 2006 with the fastest selling debut album in British history, Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not. Since then, the Arctic Monkeys have released four other albums including their latest, AM. This album, with a rather high 8 out of 10 score from Pitchfork, is “the album we’ve always been waiting to make,” according to drummer Matt Helden. In addition to their outstanding recorded music, the four Brit’s are well known for their mind-blowing live performances. They’ve been awarded multiple accolades for Best Live Show from numerous big names like the NME and Q Awards.
Kanye West
When Kanye was announced to headline this year’s festival, many were skeptical. In 2008 he notably prolonged his set time by hours and demanded other bands end their sets so he would be the only act playing. By the time he got on at 6 in the morning, his lighting production was diminished and many attendees were livid.
In a rare stroke of mutual understanding, it seems Bonnaroo and Kanye West have come to an agreement after a severe falling out. Aside from that blunder in 2008, Kanye has been known to deliver amazing, theatrical shows at both festivals and his own concerts. With recent sets consisting of over 25 songs, it can be assumed his Bonnaroo set will be one of the best yet. It remains to be seen whether the full-fledged Yeezus tour set-up will be included but his performance will certainly be unforgettable.
Cherub
Cherub, another rising duo, will surely bring the best of their special blend of electro-pop with a hint of vintage, and a hint of 80s funk, to the farm. Filled with falsetto pitches, talkbox effects, and tube-driven guitar work, Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber aren’t afraid to bring sex, drugs, and performances spilling over the brim with energy to the growing electro-pop scene. Their sound has been described as “Prince on sex-driven LSD, jamming with Radiohead on ecstasy.” We can appreciate that. Will they jam out with Skrillex in this years first ever electronic Superjam? We can only hope.
“We focus on making good music that is personally relevant, rather that pay attention to the conventions of any particular genre,” said Kelley.
If you haven’t heard their insanely catchy single “Doses and Mimosas,” give it a listen here. It has seen massive radio play on electronic and alternative rock stations of late. Here’s a clip of the duo jamming out with Big Gigantic late night at Electric Forrest in 2012. Yes, they are covering Daft Punk’s ‘Around The World.’
Disclosure
The British future garage duo have taken the electronic music world by the storm over the past year, going from bottom-line artists to near-headliners. Bonnaroo has given them the prime post-headliner late night slot, one which will surely be packed to the brim under the Other tent. The set will comprise solely of Disclosure’s songs but will incorporate live instruments and mixing, a feature which sets the duo apart from many other EDM artists. With a tour that has been selling out nearly every city, Disclosure’s Bonnaroo stop will go down as one of the festival’s greatest performances.
Dr. Dog 
photo source: Paste
Dr. Dog began when two of the six members picked up guitars in the eighth grade and refused to play covers. Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken wrote only original works. About 14 years later, the rock band has played at Coachella, toured with My Morning Jacket and received praise from The New York Times music critics. Their sound draws influence from bands of the 1960s like The Beatles and lo-fi pop sounds from indie rockers of the 90s like Pavement. Check out this cool interview and exclusive stream of their latest album, B-room, from Rolling Stone. This 6 man band is interesting, to say the least, and their live shows are a fluid blend of funk, roots-rock and psychedelia.
Chromeo
We’ve gotten sex advice, heard “Jealous (I ain’t with it)”, and have been graced with an album announcement, White Women, from Montreal duo Chromeo in the past few months. A project of former hip-hop producers Dave One and P-Thugg (these aren’t their legal names), they now have a clear focus on super funky, retro breakdown electro jams.These two will be putting off some serious good-time vibes on the farm in June.
Classixx
One of the best up-and-coming artists subverting the traditional ideas of EDM, Classixx will start off Saturday afternoon right with a set filled with upbeat, summery dance tracks. The duo uses live instruments to recreate their many remixes and songs from acclaimed album Hanging Gardens. Although their afternoon slot may be too early for some, it would be a great way to get pumped and excited for the rest of the day. If their traditional set is too early for you, check out their three hour silent disco set on Friday evening.
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper has quickly become one of hip-hops greatest rising artists and for good reason: he combines the creative wordplay of rap with psychedelic and jazzy production not heard in many hip-hop songs. For his live shows, the band the Social Experiment tags along and only strengthens the songs heard on his mixtapes Acid Rap and Ten Day. His set will consist of funky singalongs and be enhanced by the magnetic energy of the Bonnaroo crowd’s energy. With a career slated to take off even more in the coming year, do not miss the chance (no pun intended) to see Chance perform a late night set.
Skrillex and the Skrillex Superjam
After delivering a monstrous late night performance in 2012, no one expected Skrillex to return to the farm so soon. After dropping a surprise album and announcing a huge Mothership tour, Skrillex seemed like a perfect fit to return to the farm once again. His second late night Which stage performance will include a bigger, brighter Mothership rig and hours of new material from his latest album Recess and numerous collaborations.
However, perhaps the absolute must-see slot on this list belongs to the Skrillex superjam. A one-in-a-lifetime gathering, the superjam will include Big Gigantic, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Robby Krieger (of the Doors), Zedd, Mickey Hart (the first appearance of a Grateful Dead alumni since 2008), Janelle Monae, Warpaint, Chance the Rapper, Thundercat, and even more. This collection of artists sharing the same stage will likely never happen again and will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best Bonnaroo superjams. While getting a good spot may require you to leave headliner Jack White’s set early, when will you get the chance to see something like this again? Do not miss it.
All photos are from artist’s/Bonnaroo official websites or Facebooks unless otherwise noted.
Photo Credit: Digital Spy
This article was written by Cody Smith and Katie Conner. They’ll be on the farm in June: tweet them!
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