Governors Ball 2016 will take over New York City this weekend with some of the biggest names in popular music. Kanye West, The Strokes, Robyn, and The Killers are a handful of the many names that will definitely cause some dilemmas on who to watch and who to miss. But what about the artists who are the smaller names on the poster? These acts are the ones who really have nothing to prove — they’re already amazing — but still have yet to land in your playlists just yet. Well, today is the day to fix that very problem. Here are the best breakout bands to catch at Governors Ball 2016.
Whitney
Whitney bolted out the gate in early 2016 with their poignant single “No Woman” and haven’t really slowed up since. The group is not quite indie, not quite country, but occupy a groovy space in between, with their debut record, Light Upon the Lake, dropping later this June to fill in the gaps. With a former member of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Smith Westerns leading the charge of the group, perhaps that description makes a little more sense. Either way, they are the perfect act to catch in a sun drenched afternoon set.
Betty Who
Australian synthpopper Betty Who has been putting in her dues for a few years now, yet is still on the cusp of something major in the States. Her handle on emotional, electropop, is truly unrivaled — her debut album, Take Me When You Go, proves that in spades. Catching an early set from Betty should rank as a high priority for any pop fan, it doesn’t seem like it’s an occurrence that will be long for her.
Torres
Thank the rock gods that there are still bands like Torres. Mackenzie Scott and company give off that electric jolt you get when a guitar is plugged into a huge amp and the feedback has never sounded sweeter. Sprinter, the group’s second LP. dropped last year and it’s a love letter to the loud alt-rock of the mid-’90s. Anyone who likes the grunge or indie rockers of yesteryear would be remiss if they didn’t catch this set.
Bully
Continuing down a parallel road, Bully exist as a fantastic rock homage to the indie rock bands of the past, while still building something modern. Just think of the Pixies, but with the issues and problems of life in 2016. And Alicia Bognanno’s raw and raucous brand of alt-rock is chief among the many acts that have also enjoyed the lo-fi boom including Cloud Nothings, Speedy Ortiz, FIDLAR, and Hop Along.
The Knocks
You may not be able to recognize pop duo The Knocks, but they are a group you’ve definitely heard before. Their track “Classic” has been used in several ads, but even if you can’t recall them, they’ve just got a familiar feel to them. Crossing several genres across the entire dance landscape, The Knocks will likely, if nothing, get the most un-rhythmically inclined person to at least move their body during their set.
Nothing
If you’re looking to lose yourself in riffs and panic, Nothing is the band you want to stand in front of and stare into the void. The part shoegaze, part emo, part indie rock band just released their latest album, Tired of Tomorrow, in May 2016, and it’s another round of challenging tunes from the Philly group. It’s a guarantee that nothing else at Gov Ball is going to have the gravity of these guys.
