Bonnaroo 2023 Artist Spotlight: Angel Saint Queen

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

It’s been less than a year since local duo Angel Saint Queen first wowed us with their debut single, “Diablo Lake,” mere months after formally forming the band, making them undoubtedly one of the newest acts to grace the Bonnaroo lineup this year. Before they were Angel Saint Queen, however, the duo- Maddie Bouton and Becca Castle (who, full disclosure, helps curate our official Spotify playlist)- were best friends for many years, since meeting at 14, both natives of Nashville. Bouton is an active bass player in the local music scene, who you’d recognize playing gigs with lots of Nashville artists, and, until recently, Castle worked in the corporate music industry, opting to leave her job to explore full-time creative pursuits. Impressively, the pair, who’ve worked with producers Baerd and Adam Lochemes, sold out their very first local show the day after dropping their debut single last summer, then immediately embarked on their first tour, in support of buzzy local indie group Arlie. They’ve since released two more tracks, “Messy” and “Fill My Eyes,” with a fourth, “You Were There,” set to drop June 21, ahead of their forthcoming debut EP. Though they’re new to the scene, ASQ already sound like a group with years of polish, adopting an anthemic, powerful, and atmospheric sound; channeling 2000s indie rock and hints of contemporary indie pop, with earnest and dreamy delivery and a melancholy edge. If you enjoy being a person who “heard them before anyone else,” there’s perhaps no better artist on this year’s Bonnaroo lineup to explore- a duo at the start of their music journey with endless potential, who’ve proven to be an excellent live presence over the past year, and whose debut EP is one of our most-anticipated local releases of 2023!

WATCH | “Diablo Lake” (Official Video)