Five emerging artists to catch at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2018

Thanks to artists like Drake, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, hip-hop and R&B artists hailing from Canada are getting more of the international recognition that they deserve. Singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar knows this rise all too well since he released his debut album “Freudian” in 2017. Although he’s been releasing EPs over the past few years, it wasn’t until his breakout hit “Get You” premiered on Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio show for the masses to catch on, and his streaming numbers skyrocketed. After a sold-out headlining tour last year, Caesar earned two Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Album. His sweet ballads and romantic love songs inspired engagements at many of his shows, so don’t be surprised if you see someone getting down on one knee during his Bonnaroo set.

Tyler Childers

Since the Tennessee entertainment scene is known for parenting country music, it’s pretty common for Bonnaroo to showcase country artists. One of the newest voices strumming a guitar is Tyler Childers. He released his debut album “Purgatory” last summer, which also landed a solid production stamp from fellow country artist Sturgill Simpson — not to mention production work from David Ferguson, who’s worked with artists like Johnny Cash and U2. The album hit the top 20 on Billboard’s country album charts and landed on a number of best of 2017 lists, including NPR and Rolling Stone. Childers is sure to be a fan favorite singing his country blues.

Jessie Reyez

Another artist expanding the Canada music scene is Jessie Reyez. The R&B singer had quite a year in 2017 as she released her EP “Kiddo” and her hit song “Figures” reached Billboard’s top 40 on the Rhythmic Singles chart. Reyez then went on to collaborate with artists such as Calvin Harris, Romeo Santos and Russ and is set to open for Halsey on her upcoming tour. YouTube recently launched its latest Artist on the Rise program and named Reyez as its first newcomer to highlight. With YouTube on her side along with the sweet collaborations, her moody and soulful sound will soon be heard by the masses.

Moses Sumney

Singer-songwriter Moses Sumney first came onto the scene in 2014, and over the next couple years, his reputation grew after releasing singles like “Man on the Moon” and “Pleas.” He then started touring with artists like James Blake and Erykah Badu and collaborated with Solange on her hit album “A Seat at the Table.” After working with some of the biggest artists in the game, in September 2017 he released his debut album “Aromanticism,” a highly acclaimed project blending R&B and soul with folk melodies. Although Sumney has performed in front of a number of audiences, one of his biggest stages to date came in early 2018 — the Academy Awards. He joined singer Sufjan Stevens to perform the Oscar-nominated track “Mystery of Love.” With Sumney’s album fusing acoustics, classical and oldies, he is a winner among generations of fans.

Billie Eilish 

Singer Billie Eilish hit the ground running in 2016 with her smash single “Ocean Eyes.” She released her debut EP “Don't Smile at Me” the following year and was soon named Apple Music’s UPNEXT artist. Her electro and emo-pop sound is quite the rave among young listeners. Although she’s still just a teenager herself, her edgy and dramatic lyrics allow a lot of fans to relate to her experiences, even if they’re fictional. Eilish may be new to the game, but she’s already collaborated with artists like Khalid and Vince Staples and landed a hit song on the soundtrack of the TV series “13 Reasons Why.” Whether she’s singing about love or revenge, Eilish’s smooth sound can make anyone get in his or her feelings, no matter what age.