Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Michael Kiwanuka

As we’ve been doing for the past several years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorites acts from from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2017 lineup. As we dig through the entire schedule, we’ll highlight a spread of performers spanning across genres and stages, big and small, new and old, to bring you some of the most interesting, lesser-known, or most highly-reccomened among this year’s crop of artists. Though we’ll be jumping around, we’re loosely working our way through by day, and we’ll also be bringing you some special features and longer guides along the way, to help you plan your weekend before the fest. While these previews won’t span every performer, and might omit some more obvious must-see acts, we hope they’ll serve as a way to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s gargantuan lineup, and to make the most of your busy weekend on the farm!

Grab your tickets right here if you haven’t already, and keep reading to learn more about our Bonnaroo Band of the Day…

LEARN

Born in England to Ugandan parents, soul singer Michael Kiwanuka began his career as a session guitarist before moving on to become a solo artist, catching the attention of Communion Records, who released his debut EPs in 2011. Though he originally performed in rock bands, Michael’s shift to soul and folk music came from influences like Otis Redding and Bob Dylan, and his incomparable voice, which carries so much raw emotional weight, has helped him become a fast fixture in the revivalist soul scene.

Compared to greats like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, Kiwanuka has forged his artistic identity over two great full-lengths, most recently last year’s Love & Hate, and with a retro sensibility and earnest focus on themes like love and belonging, he’s achieved a sort of timeless, enchanting, and resonant sound. Michael may not yet be a household name for American audiences (you’ve definitely heard him if you caught HBO’s Big Little Lies), but if he’s worth getting up to speed on, and an essential part of your Bonnaroo weekend.

LISTEN | “Home Again”