Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Main Stage Roundup, Part 6

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 2014 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’ve made our way through the fest’s entire undercard, we’ll be spending our last couple of weeks making sure you’re up to date on the festival’s headliners, this time in the form of group posts. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Main Stage Roundup…

WIZ KHALIFA

Sunday | Which Stage | 8:15pm

At a mere 26 years old, Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa has, already, proven to be one of the most influential and successful rappers of his generation. Though he rose to the attention of most with his 2011 nod to his PA home, “Black and Yellow,” Khalifa’s career began in high school, nabbing a development deal at 16, and releasing his debut album at 18. Countless full-lengths, EPs, mix tapes, collaborations (including a split with Snoop Dogg), and guest spots later, and Wiz is a certifiable hip hop superstar, even assuming the mantle of label head with his Taylor Gang imprint. No one to hid his affinity for weed, Khalifa’s music tends to cover themes of partying, hustling, and being the greatest; overused hip hop themes to be sure, but applied well with smooth and dance-ready style. The rapper is expected to release a new album, Blacc Hollywood, sometime this year, and we’d bet he’ll be premiering some new jams at his late Sunday Bonnaroo spot. Finish up your festival weekend right with an epic hip hop performance. [PO]

LISTEN | “We Dem Boyz”

WATCH | “Black and Yellow” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

KASKADE

Saturday | Which Stage | 2:45am

Although Bonnaroo is basically a four day long party, everyone knows that Saturday night is the climax of festival. Being the last full evening of music ’til next year, many Bonnaroovians are eager to dance the night away and enjoy every last second of the fest. That’s why we won’t be too surprised when electronic artist Kaskade plays to a full crowd, despite his set not starting until nearly 3 a.m. If you haven’t yet become acquainted with Kaskade, he’s been a critical component to the newfound popularity of dance and house music here in America. With numerous awards and even a handful of Grammy nominations under his belt, Kaskade has become a household name for those interested in dance music. His set at Bonnaroo is sure to be engaging and high energy, designed to keep you awake and dancing, even super late. If anyone could do the job, it’s Kaskade. [JS]

LISTEN | “Young and Beautiful” (Lana Del Ray Remix)

WATCH | “Atmosphere” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

Saturday | That Tent | 12:30am

There are a number of talented musicians coming out of Australia these days, but arguably none have created more ripples in music than Nick Cave. The prolific Cave has dabbled in all sorts of genres with the post-punk band The Birthday Party in the 80s and highly acclaimed garage rock outfit Grinderman, but it is the evocative Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds that have kept his musical career afloat. Touring in support of his 15th full-length, Push The Sky Away, which released early last year on his own Bad Seed Ltd., Cave has also had a productive career outside of his own bands. A prolific writer, actor, director, film scorer, & screenwriter, Cave seems pretty well versed in entertainment in general. He’s currently also promoting a pseudo-documentary titled 20,000 Days On Earth, which brings you into the life of Nick Cave. Cave is at the absolute top of our to-see list this year, and you should listen below to see if he is worthy of a spot in your schedule. [MH]

LISTEN | “We No Who U R”

WATCH | “The Mercy Seat” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

THE FLAMING LIPS

Saturday | Which Stage | 12:30am

Though infighting, celebrity feuds, and questionable stances on cultural sensitivity have forced them into occasional negative light as of late, psychedelic rock legends The Flaming Lips are, undeniably, one of the best and best-suited performers to grace Bonnaroo’s bill this summer. While they originally started in the realm of alt-rock, morphed into ultra-experiential after a surprise hit, then reinvented themselves as a pop-leaning, oddball beacon of pscyhed-out performance art-rock, the Lips are, now, the most experimental they’ve been in years, using their over-the-top and beloved stage show as an anchor to release unconventional new albums, collaborations, and experiments in their downtime. Live, The Flaming Lips are unparalleled, radiating positivity and creating a truly unique spectacle of imagery, art, and musical spirit. Their Bonnaroo outings are always endlessly memorable, and their show shines extra bright late at night; it should be required viewing. Lips diehards can also catch frontman Wayne Coyne Saturday, 5 p.m. at the Solar Stage. [PO]

LISTEN | “You Lust”

WATCH | “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1” (Official Music Video)

CONNECT | Site | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify

FRANK OCEAN

Saturday | The Other Tent | 12:30am

Enigmatic singer-songwriter Frank Ocean first rose to acclaim as a member of the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All hip hop collective. Born and raised in New Orleans, Ocean relocated to LA at 18 to begin a career in songwriter, brushing shoulders with major artists before using Odd Future as a vehicle for his own creative output. A subsequent solo record deal, and the re-release of his debut mixtape, followed, and, in 2012, Ocean dropped his career-defining debut full-length, channel ORANGE. One of the most celebrated releases of that year, channel ORANGE effectively changed the shape of R&B, reenergizing the genre and winning Frank global recognition, a plethora of awards nominations, and high-profile collaborations with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, and John Mayer. One of the first (and certainly the most famous) openly gay performers in the hip hop community, Ocean represents not only a catalyst for profound musical change, but for social change as well. He’s one of the most insightful, emotionally profound, and endlessly gifted singers of our era, and his forthcoming sophomore effort, which is due out this year, feels destined to become the most important release of 2014. You’d be crazy to skip his Saturday night set. [PO]

LISTEN | “Thinkin Bout You”