Festivals are multiplying and popping up all over the country. With every new festival comes a slew of huge artists and huge lineups, and it’s beginning to feel like the same artists are playing every. single. festival.
What about the little guys though? Aren’t they what distinguish one festival from another? Sure, the headliner names splashed across festival flyers definitely pull in customers. But what do you do between these headliners? How do you know who to see and when to see them if you don’t ever really read the small font below the headliners?
Four Over Four is here to help you out. With our new series, Small Font Big Future, we give you a low-down on artists you should definitely make the time to see when you’re stage hopping at the next festival.
First up on the festival list? Coachella.
Friday
Shannon and The Clams
This indie garage punk group is known for their vintage sound. Think doo-wop meets garage band meets surf. It’s something you’d listen to on your beach house’s porch. They’ve got an energy that makes you want to dance, and it’s pretty hard to ignore.
The Lemon Twigs
The Times characterized The Lemon Twigs as “a modern-day band combining the melodic, harmony-rich soft rock of Wings and Supertramp, the underground cool of Big Star and the Ramones, and the theatricality of Broadway musicals.” They have Beach Boys, Californian vibes despite the fact that they’re Long Island natives.
Sam Gellaitry
British DJ Sam Gellaitry has a genre bending, club ready sound. He combines a delicate, elegant occasionally synth-y sound with a soulful, weighty tracks that you want to sway/dance to.
Klangstof
This Norway-based woozy indie pop band is my favorite of the small font on Friday and should not be missed under any circumstances. They’ve been described as lush but austere. I’d say they’re somewhere between etherial soundtrack and escapism, but one thing we can agree on: They’re a band that makes you want to close your eyes when you listen to them, so nothing distracts you from their sound.
Diamante Eléctrico
Diamante Eléctrico have opened for the Foo Fighters and the Rolling Stones, so they’re no stranger to big crowds. They specialize in new Colombian rock. Think a futuristic Sex Pistols with an occasional blues and brass spotlight.
Saturday
Chicano Batman
Incredible name aside, this is a pretty unique band. They’re Brazilian tropicalia with an early ’70s psychedelic soul twist. They specialize in dreamy, romantic, uplifting lyrics with a funky groove.
Surf Curse
My personal favorite for Saturday’s small fonts. They’ve got a lo-fi surf rock, indie, garage style. There’s bright guitar, progressive drums, and it feels like you’re a teenager again driving around at sunset avoiding your parents.
Honey Dijon
Honey Dijon’s a funk pro, but with serious Chicago rhythm roots. This is by no means minimal house, but the beats are raw and ready to bring the party to house music.
Eli & Fur
Eli & Fur are a mesmirizing Anjunabeats team. Their music is a moody affair “with a throbbing bassline that’s complimented by brooding pitched down vocal flourishes.”
Slow Hollows
Slow Hollows brings a new generation of ‘90s alt-rock revival to the Coachella lineup that yanks at your heartstrings. Their albums are youthful, poignant, occasionally dreary, and brassy.
Sunday
Preoccupations
As Pitchfork reviewed their debut album, “The artists formerly known as Viet Cong return with a harrowing, ferociously alive rock record that nods to Swans and Echo and the Bunnyme.”
Do LaB Stage
Do LaB stage at Coachella has been described as “a festival within a festival” and is a go-to spot for anyone looking for a little bit more electronic music at such an indie festival. It’s definitely worth a visit, and for that reason, we separated it into must-see small artists that will be there second weekend.
Will Clarke
Will Clarke has a deep and sophisticated palette when it comes to music. Instead of straying to drums and bass, he stayed strictly techno, and we’re excited for his future as a Dirtybird artist.
The Geek x Vrv
The Geek x Vrv took the old school sounds of hip hop and meshed them seamlessly with electronic influences. They have a nostalgic feel that adds a feel good lyrical element to electronic.
Daktyl
Daktyl melds live guitars, keyboards, and vocals. He blurs the lines between genres, including trap, garage, hip hop, funk, and house. His sound is refreshing, exciting, and distinct underneath the EDM umbrella.
Latmun
Consequenece of Sound has described him as a producer of “tech house and psychedelic synth wanderings perfect for momentarily disassociating from one’s mind and body.”
Did we miss a small, upcoming artist you’re excited to see? Let us know on Twitter.
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