10 Must-See Rising Stars at Bonnaroo 2023: Rina Sawayama, Destroy Lonely & More

Date: Friday, June 16

Time: 5:45-6:45 p.m.

Stage: Which Stage

With two highly acclaimed albums under her belt — 2020’s Sawayama and 2022’s Hold The Girl — Rina Sawayma is something of a critical darling. The British-Japanese singer-songwriter regularly traverses genres as she explores nuanced themes of sexuality, her immigrant childhood and the tragic allure of late-stage capitalism. Be sure to know “XS,” “Cherry,” and “This Hell,” but also familiarize yourself with “Beg For You,” last year’s Charli XCX duet, and “Eye for an Eye,” her stunning original song for John Wick: Chapter 4 — in which she also made her feature film debut.

Check her out here.

Date: Friday, June 16

Time: 1:45-2:30 p.m.

Stage: This Tent

This Zambian singer-rapper-songwriter has been a favorite of critics for several years now. Her performance at Bonnaroo this year offers music listeners the perfect opportunity to get more familiar with the force of nature that is Sampa the Great. Give last year’s stunning As Above, So Below album a few good listens, as well as her equally terrific 2019 album The Return. A few months ago (May 12), the Aussie transplant released a deluxe edition of As Above, So Below, with live versions of seven of her songs — so look into those too!

Check her out here.

Date: Thursday, June 15

Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Stage: That Tent

With songwriting credits on tracks by everyone from Ingrid Andress to Snoh Aalegra, JP Saxe is a name you might not realize that you’re already familiar with. If you’re heading to JP’s set, be sure to know his Grammy-nominated Julia Michaels duet “If The World Was Ending,” as well as “A Little Bit Yours” and “The Few Things.” Just this past April, JP Saxe recruited John Mayer and Malay for his heartbreaking post-breakup single “I Don’t Miss You.”

Check him out here.

Date: Thursday, June 15

Time: 8:15-9:15 p.m.

Stage: That Tent

Singer, actress and model Suki Waterhouse has been around for a little over a decade now, but she’s only recently gone full-throttle when it comes to her music. Last May, the alternative-pop singer-songwriter released her debut LP, I Can’t Let Go. Take some time to get to know “Slip,” “Melrose Meltdown,” and the Daisy Jones & the Six star’s most recent single, “To Love.”

Check her out here.

Date: Friday, June 16

Time: 2:00-3:00 a.m.

Stage: This Tent

This fast-rising Atlanta rapper, who signed to Playboi Carti’s Opium label in 2021, will be treating Bonnaroo attendees to his trademark dark and brooding trap bangers. This past May, debut studio album If Looks Could Kill reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200. Essential Destroy Lonely songs include last year’s “NOSTYLIST” and If Looks Could Kill tracks “Chris Paul” and “How U Feel?”

Check him out here.

Date: Thursday, June 15

Time: 1:30-2:30 a.m.

Stage: That Tent

Big Freedia has singles that date back to 1999, but her music’s longevity and cultural vitality have helped her reach astonishing new career heights in recent years. In 2016, her commanding voice emceed Beyoncé’s “Formation” music video, and six years later, Freedia and Queen Bey reunited for the latter’s Hot 100-topping “Break My Soul,” which samples Freedia’s 2014 bounce track “Explode.” To prepare for Freedia’s set, get initimate with “Rent” and “N.O. Bounce.” Her new album, Central City, is due June 23.

Check her out here.

Date: Sunday, June 18

Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Stage: This Tent

Hailing from Summertown, Tennessee, rising R&B singer Amber Mark isn’t too far from the Manchester, Tennesee festival grounds. At the top of last year (Jan. 28), she unleashed her debut album, Three Dimensions Deep, which housed must-listen tracks such as “Most Men,” “Foreign Things” and “What It Is.” In preparation for her set, also take a listen to “Goddess Reign,” an ethereal collaboration with Sherwyn.

Check her out here.

Date: Friday, June 16

Time: 4:45-5:45 p.m.

Stage: What Stage

Taylor Swift handpicked this electropop trio to be one of the headliners for her record-breaking Eras Tour, so, if that’s not a sign to check out MUNA, then what is? The Los Angeles-based group boasts three studio albums, the most recent of which, last year’s eponymous 11-track record, became their first title to enter the Billboard 200 (No. 188). Be sure to listen to “Bodies,” “I Know A Place,” the Phoebe Bridgers-assisted “Silk Chiffon,” and their latest single “One That Got Away.”

Check them out here.

Date: Saturday, June 17

Time: 6:15-7:15 p.m.

Stage: This Tent

Remi Wolf, a soulful cross-genre savant, is sure to deliver one of the most electrifying performances of Bonnaroo 2023. Prepare for her set by listening to her two trippy studio albums: 2021’s We Love Dogs! and 2022’s Juno. Also, get familiar with her triad of 2023 singles: “Prescription,” “Hospital,” and “Pyjamas” (with Benny Sings).

Check her out here.

Date: Saturday, June 17

Time: 4:45-5:45 p.m.

Stage: That Tent

Destroy Lonely’s fellow Opium signee Ken Carson is sure to take Bonaroo by storm with his energetic, rave-informed trap tracks. Last year, X, his sophomore studio album, climbed to a peak of No. 115 on the Billboard 200. That record, which featured the singles “The End” and “Go,” was Carson’s first to enter the chart. Also be sure to familiarize yourself with “I Need You,” “MDMA,” and “Run + Ran.”

Check him out here.