Bonnaroo 2022 Artist Spotlight: ROLE MODEL

Like we’ve been doing for many years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorite acts from Bonnaroo‘s 2022 lineup. And, for the first time in three years, we finally feel confident that there definitely will be a Bonnaroo this year, after a postponement then cancelation in 2020 due to Covid, and an unfortunate rainout of last year’s would-be September event. Returned to its traditional timeframe of June 16-19, this marks Bonnaroo’s 21st summer and 19th installment, and features a largely new lineup for the festival’s much-anticipated return!

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, and most highly-recommended among this year’s crop of artists. And as our time at ‘Roo approaches, we’ll also be bringing you some special features and full list-style daily lineup guides, to help you plan your weekend ahead of the fest. While these previews won’t span every artist, 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 read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!

LEARN

Though he initially began his musical career in independent hip hop as a college student, first under the moniker Tucker and later Dillis, going so far as to open for unground rapper Lil Debbie on the road in 2016, Maine-born Tucker Pillsbury really found his artistic stride upon changing his project to ROLE MODEL and adopting a more easygoing, vocal-based, bedroom pop sound, beginning with 2017 EP Arizona in the Summer. After catching the attention of Mac Miller and relocating to Los Angeles, ROLE MODEL landed a deal with Interscope, and began amassing a passionate following and finding viral online buzz for his confessional, vulnerable style and cool, timely musical ethos across subsequent EPs Oh, How Perfect and Our Little Angel. Fusing his alt pop stylings with a hip hop appreciation and punk spirit, ROLE MODEL dropped his hotly-anticipated debut LP, Rx, last month, a raw and impassioned ode to the power of a woman, layered with elements of religion, sex and love, and is currently in the midst of his biggest tour yet, hot off the heels of a buzzed about appearance at Coachella. Though still a relative newcomer at the mainstream level, ROLE MODEL’s huge online success has been translating to epic live appearances, and giving him a late night slot at Bonnaroo is perfect for the vibe-y, emotional tunes he’s serving.

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