Bonnaroo Main Stage Roundup: Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Tove Lo, Odesza, Run The Jewels, Dawes, G-Eazy

Just like last year and the year before, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with every single band on Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2015 lineup. We started from the bottom and have been working our way up, paying special attention to the smaller and lesser known acts on this year’s bill with daily, dedicated Bonnaroo Band of the Day and Bonnaroo Club Stage Band of the Day posts. Now that ‘Roo is fast approaching, and we’re adminttedly playing catch up through the rest of the fest’s lineup in the form of group posts. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Band of the Day Main Stage Roundup!

MEDESKI, SCOFIELD, MARTIN, & WOOD

Friday | That Tent | 11pm

A favorite of the jam band circuit, though, musically, closer to an avant-garde jazz act in actuality, Medeski, Martin & Wood are veterans of the ‘Roo stage. Formed in the early ’90s, the group rose to prominence after an early association with Phish, and are known for their experimental live shows. The trio first teamed up with jazz/fusion guitarist John Scofield in 1998, for a collaborative album called A Go Go, and, for the past decade or so, have adopted the moniker Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood for additional and sporadic LPs (most recently, last year’s Juice) and live outings. While not exactly unique to ‘Roo, this melding of experimental jazz greats is, nonetheless, a special highlight of this summer’s schedule, and should surely satisfy the O.G. jam band loving fans!

LISTEN | “Sham Time”

WATCH | “Juicy Lucy” (Official Music Video)

TOVE LO

Thursday | That Tent | 10:30pm

Though her fame felt like it appeared overnight, Swedish pop singer Tove Lo, a native of Stockholm, actually spent many years cultivating the sound and style that would make last year’s Queen of the Clouds such a massive sleeper hit. Born Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson to an affluent family, Tove Lo began making a serious go at music around age 18, forming a math rock group called Tremblebee, from which she garnered some minor success. Honing her skills at songwriting (including hits for artists like Ellie Goulding) and production, the singer’s early love for rock and grunge gave way to an appreciation for the dark, indie-infused, and substantive flavor of pop she’s since adopted, and early associations with fellow Swedes Icona Pop, as well as producers Max Martin and Shellback, would help her triumphantly launch a solo career. Quickly generating buzz from her demos and independent releases, including an early version of hit single “Habits,” Tove Lo attracted major label interest, and released both an EP and LP through Island and Polydor last year. Quickly resonating on a global scale, the singer has experienced massive success with “Habits” and raunchy radio hit “Talking Body,” and, over the past year, has toured with Katy Perry, performed on various television shows, and has written for even more major artists. Don’t miss her inaugural Bonnaroo outing!

LISTEN | “Habits (Stay High)”

WATCH | “Talking Body” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

ODESZA

Friday | This Tent | 1am

Formed just three years ago in Seattle, electronic duo Odesza exploded onto the scene with their polished, progressive debut, Summer’s Gone, in 2012. Met by an instant array of online buzz, the group, made up of Harrison Mills (aka CatacombKid) and Clayton Knight (aka BeachesBeaches), found themselves scoring hit after hit on The Hype Machine, thanks to their unorthodox indie/electropop derived sound, combining unabashedly pop elements with glitched out vocals and heady sensibilities. Capitalizing on their momentum, Odesza dropped an EP, My Friends Never Day, in 2013, and a excellent sophomore full-length, In Return, last year, all the while cultivating an intense, polished live show, while touring the world with acts like Pretty Lights. There’s a reason they’ve risen through the ranks so fast, and their crossover appeal makes them an excellent addition to this year’s lineup.

LISTEN | “How Did I Get Here”

WATCH | “Say My Name” ft. Zyra (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify

RUN THE JEWELS

Friday | This Tent | 11:15pm

While we caught one half of Run the Jewels, Killer Mike, a few Bonnaroos back (and loved every minute of it), this summer marks the breakout hip hop duo’s first proper outing on the farm. Met with instant critical acclaim with their near perfect eponymous 2013 debut, the duo, rounded out by rapper/producer El-P, really blew up after last year’s game changing Run the Jewels 2 (we’re told RTJ3 will arrive in 2016). Combining fresh production, raw talent, socially and politically charged lyrics and imagery, and a fun, no frills approach to performance, Run the Jewels are one of the best and most important acts in today’s hip hop scene, nabbing audiences in unorthodox places (they opened for Jack White at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center), and just generally leaving fans and critics elated with their every move. It should go without saying, but Run the Jewels are an absolute can’t-miss this year.

LISTEN | “Run the Jewels”

WATCH | “Close Your Eyes (and Count to Fuck)” ft. Zack de la Rocha (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

DAWES

Friday | What Stage | 5:30pm

Merely six years into their existence, Dawes have already managed to release four full-lengths (their most recent, All Your Favorite Bands, just this week), all of which are stellar. Channeling a rootsy, folk-rock sound, and combining elements of indie rock for a rounded out, genre-bending appeal, the band got their early beginnings participating in informal jam sessions in Los Angeles, and have found themselves supporting some heavyweight acts on tour in recent years. Frequent visitors to the Nashville area, Dawes made their ‘Roo debut performing on the Club Stages in 2010, and last played the fest in 2012.

LISTEN | “From a Window Seat”

WATCH | “Things Happen” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

G-EAZY

Sunday | This Tent | 8pm

Like Macklemore a couple years back, young Oakland rapper G-Eazy has amassed enough attention in such a short span of time, to land himself pretty stellar billing for his Bonnaroo debut. Born Gerald Earl Gillum, G-Eazy first found himself drawn seriously to hip hop in high school, getting his start with homemade beats and MySpace releases, before dropping a series of mixtapes that would begin to churn up wider interest. With three official album on his belt, including last year’s major label debut, These Things Happen, the MC has found success from younger audiences in outlets like the Vans Warped Tour and through MTV, and has performed with the likes of Hoodie Allen, Drake, and Lil Wayne. A poppy rapper to be sure, G-Eazy’s flow is nonetheless fresh, and his sound, layered, orchestrated, and sweeping, is a perfect representation of a new, polished generational preference for hip hop production.

LISTEN | “Lady Killers” ft. Hoodie Allen