Bonnaroo 2023 Artist Spotlight: Friko

Bonnaroo Artist | Friko
Bonnaroo History | Newbie
Stage & Time | Saturday | Who Stage | 2:45-3:30pm || Sunday | Toyota Music Den (Plaza 2) | 11:00-11:45am

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

One of our absolute favorite things about Bonnaroo is poring over every single artist on the lineup, and discovering a handful of great up and comers who were legitimately not on our radar. One such example this year is young Chicago indie/alt/pop rock outfit Friko, who’ve been making waves in their city’s independent music scene since first coming together just a few short years ago. Made up of frontman Niko Kapetan, bassist Luke Stamos, and drummer Bailey Minzenberger, the trio began formally releasing music in 2020, just as the pandemic was hitting (they’ve since released a great album of demos from before that, however), initially only able to connect with fans through livestreams and virtual shows. They’ve since become fixtures of Chicago’s small clubs and DIY spaces however, forging a community with likeminded young indie acts, and recently inking a deal with trendy label Fire Talk’s imprint, Open Tab. Fusing influences of classic rock with modern indie, alternative, and power pop, all with an artsy, off-kilter approach, the band morph from track to track with propulsive, frenetic energy to laid back, baroque and harmonic jams, to lush, hook-laden rock tunes, at one moment channeling the ’00s indie rock of acts like Cursive and the next, the more heady, throwback pop of The Shins. Their latest EP, last year’s Whenever Forever, is the band’s best and most cohesive work to date, and recent single “Crimson to Chrome” hints at exciting things to come. You have two chances to see them at Bonnaroo- Saturday afternoon on the Who Stage, and first thing Sunday morning at the Toyota Music Den in the campground. But, if you’re not an early riser or you dig what you hear and need an extra dose, the band are also opening for fellow ‘Roo performers Black Midi June 26 at The Basement East!

WATCH | “Crimson to Chrome” (Official Video)