Bonnaroo 2025 Artist Spotlight: Elke

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 2025 lineup. A festival that feels like it’s ever evolving (especially with some big tweaks and improvements in the past few summers post-pandemic), this year marks Bonnaroo’s 22nd installment (and 24th anniversary), boasting not only another great and varied lineup, but also some exciting additions like the brand new, high-tech Infinity Stage, billed as “the world’s largest 360-degree, immersive sound experience” and unlike anything that’s ever been showcased in North America. Back once again in its usual June 12-15 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!

We’re told tickets are very low and on track to sell out, so grab those right here if you haven’t already (and don’t forget the camping or parking pass), and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!

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Kayla Graninger, better known by her artist moniker of Elke (pronounced like “El-key”), has been making phenomenal, eclectic, and deeply unique music for a number of years now, and has been a No Country favorite since settling in Nashville, and becoming an integral part of the local indie scene. Drawn to music from a young age, Graninger began writing songs as a teen, while moving around the country frequently for her father’s job, eventually moving to New York at just 17, and plugging into the city’s vibrant 2010s musical community. Adopting the alias of Elke- named for her mother and grandmother- Kayla released the project’s first EP, Bad Metaphors, in 2018, at the time adhering to a specific artistic vision, which involved singing in a deeper register and a pulling influences of classic art-punk and propulsive indie rock. She’d get more folky and atmospheric with 2020 followup EP Current Condition, but it was 2021’s debut full-length, No Pain for Us Here, where the multifaceted artist really seemed to fall into her sound. Recorded after a move to LA, with producer and multi-instrumentalist Zac Farro, of Paramore and HalfNoise fame (Farro is also Kayla’s boyfriend, and signed Elke to his Nashville-based indie label Congrats Records), No Pain was yet another musical metamorphosis for Elke, pivoting to a more natural singing style and adopting a shimmering, layered sound with elements of indie pop, disco, and groove-laden hooks. The following year’s My Human Experience EP felt like a natural followup, further flexing the singer’s eclectic range and catchy, avant-garde musical sensibilities and earnest and poetic lyrical prowess. Never content to stay artistically stagnant, however, Elke- who relocated to Nashville after her recording her debut LP- made her most stunning and effective musical transformation yet with last year’s sophomore full-length, Divine Urge. Though certainly in dialogue with all of the great music that came before, Divine Urge feels like a distinct new act for one of Nashville’s most interesting and talented artists, co-produced by Jake McMullen, featuring Farro on drums, and adopting a new avant-pop and experimental sound (with influences as diverse as hip hop, hyperpop, dance, doo wop, and prog) more bold, hypnotic, and distinctive from anything Elke has had thus far, awash with more atmosphere, electronic elements, deep and personal lyricism, and lush instrumentation. Proclaimed by Paramore’s Hayley Williams as one of her favorite artists (also hailing Divine Urge as Elke’s best work), Elke- despite plenty of praise from critics and a passionate and growing fanbase- might still be one of Nashville’s most underrated artists, and her latest LP is by far one of the best records of last year. Graninger also puts on a captivating, energetic, and creative live show, which we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing in a few small clubs around town. Her Bonnaroo debut (and first festival performance ever) will be on the Who Stage- a fittingly intimate space to really showcase the nuance of her talent. Note: the Who Stage has moved to Outeroo this year, but still boasts a vibrant and impressive lineup, and one worth making time for all weekend. And Elke is, undoubtedly, the one Who Stage set most of all we implore you not to miss!