Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival will be held from March 2-5, 2017. This years lineup consists of Kings of Leon, Bassnectar, Wiz Khalifa, Usher & The Roots, and a host of others. The good time vibe, three stages of music, and the EDM-only stage dubbed “The Jungle” have provided festival-goers plenty of ammo for all-night partying, with all-day relaxing.
2016’s inaugural venture was a huge success with 2017 looking to push the festival into new territory. The producers of the show are well-traveled vets who have worked on large-scale events in the past… think Bonnaroo-level events.
We know who the headliners are, but we are looking to point out the ones who fall through the cracks. Here are 5 bands you need to see at this year’s Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.
1. Sturgill Simpson
Sturgill Simpson has made a name for himself here in the past couple of years and is bringing back a certain type of country sound. Kentucky born and bred, he has released three albums. 2013’s High Top Mountain, and 2014’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music earned him national acclaim. His third record A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, was his first major-label release and was nominated for multiple Grammy awards.
2. Bleachers
Bleachers are an indie pop project formed by Jack Antonoff of the band Fun. Antonoff worked on new music as Fun rose to stardom eventually releasing a single “I Wanna Get Better” in 2014. Their full-length record Strange Desire was released in July of 2014. A sister record to Strange Desire entitled: Terrible Things Volume 2, was released in September of 2014.
3. Space Jesus
Space Jesus, Jasha Tull, is a DJ from Brooklyn, New York. He is a producer and electronic pioneer with a reggae flavor, but he incorporates many different genres into his style.
4. Brasstracks
Brasstracks are a Brooklyn-based duo that have been featured on tracks by 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, and Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book. They produce a blend of electronic sounds mixed with R&B and jazz. They formed at Herbie Hancock’s alma mater the Manhattan School of Music and have been put on blast for the past year.
5. Futurebirds
The band hails from indie hot bed Athens, GA and have released multiple records and EP’s since their inception in 2008. 2010’s Hampton’s Lullaby was released on Autumn Tone Records with their follow-up Via Flamina released in 2011. 2015’s Hotel Parties is their latest full length record.
