Bonnaroo 2023 Artist Spotlight: Petey

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 2023 lineup. After roaring back to life last summer, after two years off due to Covid and weather, this year marks Bonnaroo’s 20th installment (and 22nd anniversary), boasting not only another great and varied lineup, but also more changes and improvements then we’ve seen in years, with more flexibility in ticketing and camping, a reimagined “Outeroo” campground area, new activations, and further new ways to Roo. Back once again in its usual June 15-18 timeframe, we’re counting down the days until another great weekend on the farm.

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 at the fest!

Grab your tickets right here if you haven’t already, and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!

LEARN

Born in Detroit and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Peter Martin, better known as Petey, started out as a drummer, playing in bands like Young Jesus (who’ve since gone onto achieve more recognition) and commuting to the city to see emo and indie bands with his friends, though, initially, didn’t view music or art as something he could pursue for a career. Obsessed with The O.C., Petey long dreamed of moving to California to simply be there, and after attending school at Loyola in New Orleans, he finally made his way to Los Angeles a decade ago. Initially lacking in ambition and unsure what to do next in life, he took a job in a mailroom, and spent a few years both adjusting his perspective and artistic aims, and honing his craft as a musician, eventually booking studio time and inking a record deal based on the strength of his early tracks. After reconnecting with some friends from back home, Will Crane and William Croghan, who also go by The Wills and are now Petey’s managers and creative collaborators (Crane helps direct his videos), the multifaceted talent only just began releasing songs and beginning to play shows when Covid struck, forcing him to rethink how to reach an audience without an in-person platform. Thankfully, he found TikTok, through which Petey has amassed a following even bigger than his musical audience, writing and starring in absurdist, dry, and surreal comedy shorts in which he takes on multiple roles and recurring jokes and characters, earning over 1.5 million followers and tens of millions of views. Though he keeps his TikTok comedy and musical career somewhat separate, both platforms definitely feel complimentary, even if Petey’s music itself is much more earnest; a resonant, vulnerable fusion of indie rock, emo, and electro pop, influenced by acts like Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, and Say Anything, with Martin- much like the many hats he wears in his TikTok roles- playing all of the instruments himself. A pair of records, Other Stuff and full-length debut Lean into Life, both dropped in 2021, and Petey has begun to tour more widely since, playing fests like Lollapalooza and Outside Lands last summer. And while he’s a bona fide TikTok star, as a musician, the LA indie rocker is still a bit of an up and comer- though one we seriously suggest keeping an eye on; his music is the real deal. Ahead of his debut on the farm, Petey’s also playing an official “pre-party” at The Basement East; a great chance to see him in an even more intimate setting!

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