Bonnaroo 2023 Artist Spotlight: black midi

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

Though the members of London rock group black midi met while attending prestigious performing arts school the BRIT School, they couldn’t be more different from other famous alumni like Adele, Amy Winehouse, or Kate Nash. Adopting an angular, experimental, avant-garde, and artsy fusion of post-punk, math rock, and prog, the band, originally a foursome, but now a trio after an extended hiatus from fonduing member Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, adopted their name from a famously unplayable genre of music made popular in Japan, which has little to no resemblance to their own sound. Initially something of an enigma, black midi’s early attention came strictly through the strength of their wild and genre-bending live show, attracting the attention of London producer Dan Carey, who released their debut single “bmbmbm” through his Speedy Wunderground in 2018, subsequently handling production for their debut album, Schlagenheim, released the following year through prestigious indie label Rough Trade. Made up of vocalist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Geordie Greep and vocalist, bassist, multi-instrumentalist Cameron Picton, along with drummer Morgan Simpson (Kwasniewski-Kelvin also handled guitar and occasional vocals, before taking a mental health hiatus in 2021), black midi’s sound is rounded out both live and in the studio by additional players on keyboards, synths, brass, and woodwinds. In addition to conceptual, experimental, and thematically adventurous sophomore effort, 2021’s Cavalcade, and last year’s frenetic third album Hellfire, the band have released a spoken word and jam compilation, a record of covers, and a handful of live albums, in addition to hosting a variety show, opening for themselves under various alter-egos, and touring the world, all while growing in critical acclaim, despite not being particularly active on social media or in interviews. Though not a “jam band” at all in the conventional sense, their genre-bending and progressive musical sensibilities make them a particularly great fit for Bonnaroo’s classic vibe, and just a couple weeks after the fest, they’re due to return to Music City to headline The Basement East- only their second Nashville show ever after an early date at The High Watt in 2019.

WATCH | “Welcome to Hell”