Summer ‘17 has officially commenced, and we’re ready for road trips, beach days, music festivals, and perhaps most importantly, major summer tours. From rock to country to hip-hop, some of our favorite acts will be hitting the road to play major cities around the country. Scope our picks for the top 25 emerging artists on tour this summer (listed in alphabetical order) below.
A R I Z O N A
Recommended for fans of: Kygo, Mike Perry, Lauv
After the release of their anticipated full length album earlier this year, it’s only uphill for long time friends A R I Z O N A. With over 80 million listens on their song, “Oceans Away,” and several million on almost every other song, A R I Z O N A’s live show will certainly live up to the hype.
A.CHAL
Recommended for fans of: The Weeknd, Majid Jordan, Travis Scott
LA based artist A.CHAL expertly mixes elements of hip-hop, R&B, and soul to create a laid back, sultry style of hip-hop. Although he was born in Peru, A.CHAL began rapping at the age of 12 in Queens and moved to Los Angeles a few years later. His most recent album, ON GAZ, was released in June 2017, and the album’s tour will be hitting nearly every major city in the US starting August 23.
Barns Courtney
Recommended for fans of: Shakey Graves, Houndmouth, Kaleo
Barns Courtney was a member of notable indie bands, SleeperCell and Dive Bella Dive, before formally starting his solo career in 2015. Since the release of his first single, Glitter and Gold, and his subsequent EP, The Dull Drums, Courtney has opened for artists such as The Who, Ed Sheeran, Fitz and the Tantrums and also appeared on BBC Radio and Conan.
Big Thief
Recommended for fans of: Sylvan Esso, Mac DeMarco, Margaret Glaspy
This Brooklyn-based band uses elements of indie-rock and folk to create catchy songs that cover everything from love to difficult topics like dealing with the loss of a friend. The band released their first album in mid-2016 and an LP on June 9, 2017, followed by non-stop touring through the Fall.
Cigarettes After Sex
Recommended for fans of: DIIV, Beach Fossils, Daughter
One of the quintessential ambient-pop groups, this Brooklyn based band got their start releasing small EP’s, singles, and youtube clips. After more than a 10 years together, the band released their much anticipated first full length self-titled debut in 2017.
Elohim
Recommended for fans of: Aurora, kiiara, Louis The Child
It’s difficult to call Elohim an electronic artist, as her own voice and live instrumentation shine throughout her catalog. However, her use of powerful synths has placed her touring alongside artists such as Louis the Child and Jai Wolf. Along with a spot at Lollapalooza, Elohim announced an extensive tour with Australian based electronic artist, Alison Wonderland, on Monday. The tour will begin this September in Columbus, OH and then hit nearly every major city in the United States.
Hippo Campus
Recommended for fans of: Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, COIN
Hippo Campus was formed by four musicians at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in Minnesota, a few of whom were already playing in successful bands. After a massive EP release in 2015, the band toured for a few years and released their first full length album in February 2017. With nearly 40 tour dates scheduled on their Landmark tour, this sweetheart indie band is looking to grow even more in 2017.
Jacob Banks
Recommended for fans of: Leon Bridges, Gallant, Aloe Blacc
Jacob Banks came onto the scene four years ago as an unsigned singer-songwriter and was just recently signed by Universal Music’s Interscope Records. Earlier in 2017, he released the 5 song EP, The Boy Who Cried Freedom, which features soul-styled vocals mixed with captivating electronic instrumentation.
Judah and the Lion
Recommended for fans of: Twenty-One Pilots, The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons
This Nashville-based band got their start back in 2014 playing mostly folk music. They have since developed into an alt-rock outfit and played an international tour with OTW alumni Twenty-One Pilots. After releasing their second album earlier this year, which included the chart topping single “Take It All Back,” the band is embarking on an extensive tour of almost 70 dates.
Jaymes Young
Recommended for fans of: The Neighbourhood, James Bay, AQUILO
Jaymes Young began his solo career back in 2013, and his highly-anticipated debut full length album was released on June 23, 2017. With over 20 million streams on Spotify and previous collaborations with producers like David Guetta and ZHU, Young is deservedly attracting a lot of hype. He has announced several summer tour dates with fellow Ones To Watch artist Matt Maeson as support.
LANY
Recommended for fans of: The 1975, Oh Wonder, Great Good Fine Ok
LANY released their breakout EP, Make Out, back in 2015. Fan favorite “ILYSB” achieved massive internet success and led to a few successful tours supporting Halsey, X Ambassadors, and most recently, John Mayer, plus festival appearances at Firefly, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Outside Lands. They are set to release their debut full length album, LANY, on June 30, followed by THE LANY TOUR: PART 2 presented by Ones To Watch.
Kaleo
Recommended for fans of: Hozier, Of Monsters and Men, Vance Joy
Icelandic folk-rock group, Kaleo, had 5 number one hits in their home country after their self-titled debut. Now internationally recognized and signed to the prestigious Atlantic records, Kaleo released A/B to great success. “Way Down We Go” went to number one on the Alternative chart and has been featured on hit series Orange Is The New Black, Supergirl, and Logan.
Watch Their Ones To Watch Text Q&A
Khalid
Recommended for fans of: Frank Ocean, John Legend, Daniel Caesar
Recent high-school graduate and R&B artist Khalid released his first album in March of this year. Since then, he has earned several chart-topping hits and the standout single, “Location,” has garnered more than 200 million listens on Spotify. A recent show at Santa Monica pier gathered over 60,000 people; in fact, it was so many people that it raised safety concerns from the local police. Check out our article on the show HERE.
Lucy Dacus
Recommended for fans of: Houndmouth, Dawes, Kevin Morby
Lucy Dacus, a Virginia based singer-songwriter, came onto the scene early last year with the release of her album No Burden. Now signed to the prestigious Matador Records, Dacus is embarking on an extensive US tour through November.
Margaret Glaspy
Recommended for fans of: Big Thief, Jenny Lewis, Julien Baker
Indie-folk artist Margaret Glaspy released her debut EP in 2012. For four years, fans waited for her hightly anticipated full length album. After released, the album gained quite a following, especially in New York, where she is based. Glaspy continues to impress fans with her mix of bluesy guitar licks and thought-provoking lyrics.
Mondo Cozmo
Recommended for fans of: Cold War Kids, Oasis, Beck
Josh Ostrander, better known by his stage name Mondo Cozmo, is an LA based singer songwriter. Although he’s actively played in bands since 2000, it was only in 2016 that he began his solo career. His new sound, alt-rock with massive choruses, clearly struck a chord. His first single, “Shine,” hit #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative charts, and he’s been on an upwards roll ever since.
Noname
Recommended for fans of: Chance the Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Earl Sweatshirt
Fatimah Warner, better known as Noname, is a Chicago native who released her first mixtape in July 2016. Already known within the hip-hop community for her feature on Chance’s mixtape Acid Rap and her poetic style of rapping, Noname’s fan base just continues to grow. More recently, she appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk and will be performing at several notable festivals through the summer.
Pinegrove
Recommended for fans of: Whitney, The Front Bottoms, Mitski
These east coast rockers mix indie rock with folk/Americana on their 2016 album Cardinal. Although the band has been together for seven years, Cardinal is the first album released through Run for Cover Records, a prestigious indie label with artists like Modern Baseball and Alex G. In June, the band announced a 25 date tour across the country.
PVRIS
Recommended for fans of: Halsey, Paramore, Panic! At The Disco
PVRIS (pronounced ‘Paris’) began as a metalcore band in Massachusetts but with time, their sound steadily morphed to incorporate more elements of electronic and pop. Their heavier metal fans have maintained a strong loyalty, however, as Lyndsey Gunnulfsen’s vocals still approach a scream in the choruses. With several single released over the past month, PVRIS’s fanbase is looking to grow even more this summer.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Recommended for fans of: alt-J, Kaleo, Coast Modern
Rainbow Kitten Surprise, known as RKS by their fans, is an indie-folk band out of Boone, North Carolina. The group has steadily gained a following ever since the success of their first single “Devil Like Me.” With stops at almost every major music festival and new music on the way, RKS is looking unstoppable this year.
The Regrettes
Recommended for fans of: Kate Nash, Sleigh Bells, The Hinds
LA based pop-punk act, The Regrettes, mix clean vocals with walls of clenching guitars. Slightly off harmonies and chunky guitar chords compliment the teenagers’ rebellious lyrics, setting them apart as young influencers in the garage rock scene.
VÉRITÉ
Recommended for fans of: Phoebe Ryan, The 1975, Halsey
Brooklyn based electronic singer-songwriter, Kelsey Byrne, began recording under the name VÉRITÉ back in 2014. After working as a waitress for several years in order for her to support her schooling at SUNY Purchase (BA in Studio Composition), Byrne quit her job shortly after college to pursue music full time. After releasing several EPs and singles, Byrne released her first full length album in June of 2017.
Whitney
Recommended for fans of: Father John Misty, The Shins, Mac DeMarco
Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich formed Whitney in late 2014 after the dismantling of their previous bands. They own a soulful indie-folk style sprinkled with a little bit of country, which has gained lots of traction since their Light Upon The Lake album debut. is starting to gain a lot of traction. After playing at Bonnaroo and SXSW, the band has 40 tour dates scheduled this year.
Whiskey Myers
Recommended for fans of: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke, Chris Stapleton
Whiskey Myers is just about the most traditional Southern rock group still actively making music. Influenced by bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams, the band adds a modern country twist to the southern-rock genre. Following their successful Ones To Watch tour in 2016, the group has more than 50 dates scheduled through the end of this year.
XYLØ
Recommended for fans of: Transviolet, Halsey, VÉRITÉ
XYLØ is an electronic duo that got their start through the internet in early 2015. Their politically-charged single, “America,” was heavily promoted by Hype Machine, and subsequent releases were supported by Zane Lowe, Complex Magazine, LA Weekly, The Guardian, and more. Most recently, they were featured on label mates The Chainsmokers’ new track, “Setting Fires.”
