03 May Don’t Miss Brooke Eden, Trombone Shorty, Five Knives
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Rebelution
Stage/Time: Ford Stage, 3:45 p.m.
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
Why You Should Listen: Dominating the genre’s charts with each release, Rebelution has been making their mark on modern reggae since 2004. This afternoon, the band will add SunFest to an already impressive resume of festival appearances including including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury.
Lead singer Eric Rachmany’s mellow voice perfectly matches the socially-conscious lyrics, spreading good vibes with Rasta flavor. I had a chance to see these guys perform in Colorado in December, and if they handle the heat like they handle the cold, we’re all in for a treat.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Stage/Time: Tire Kingdom Stage, 3:45 p.m.
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Why You Should Listen: Speaking of dancing shoes…conflicting schedules have kept me from seeing Trombone Shorty at previous music festivals, including Coachella two weeks ago, and I have been filled with regret ever since.
Trombone Shorty continues to carry the brass torch after a short list of musicians with enough talent to blow a horn in pop music. The reason Trombone Shorty stays relevant in a pop scene dominated by electronic sound is just that: his pure talent and enthusiasm on stage.
Brooke Eden
Stage/Time: FPL Stage, 4:10 p.m.
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Why You Should Listen: West Palm’s own American Idol star returns this afternoon to perform her brand of home-grown country. Brooke fell in love with southern twangy tunes at an early age; her dad played drums and sang in a country band. This lady simultaneously throws power and grace into every verse she sings. It’s a maturity that isn’t often seen in other young artists. Let her be your introduction to other country acts tonight.
Five Knives
Stage/Time: Ford Stage, 6:00 p.m.
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee?
Why You Should Listen: Five Knives sounds more like they came out of an Eastern European dungeon than from Nashville. There is no acoustic here. Their adrenaline-electro-rock will get be sure to turn some heads today with darkness and just enough angry bitch poison sauce. If you’re looking to party tonight, head to the Ford Stage as the sun begins to set to kick off your night. These guys have a record deal with Red Bull, and you don’t snag one of those without having some serious talent.
Supervision
Stage/Time: Ford Stage, 8:00 p.m.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Why You Should Listen: I turned on Supervision for the first time recently, when I found out he’d be playing SunFest. In 15 seconds I was a hooked. An hour and 16 songs later, and I’m a fan. The electronic producer has found the perfect balance between soul and sampling. Don’t miss Supervision if you want to get down tonight.