22 Mar New Noise: The Sounds to See at SunFest (Part I)
Hello, South Florida friends!
While we all know and love the headlining artists visiting West Palm Beach this May, there is a lot of fantastic, rising acts that deserve your ears. Ahead of the festival gates opening, listen to these rising stars.
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Pairs Well With: Winding down after the after party, impressing your friends
Listen: This Illinois-based act describes themselves as “a band of scoundrels and hooligans holding down Rock’n’Soul for the Windy City.” While succinct, these self-described scoundrels glaze over a lot of very important facts.
Maceo Haymes (vocals/guitar), Nick Hennessey (vocals/keys), Boyang Matsapola (bass/vocals), Eddie Burns (drums), and Erick Mateo (Guitar/talk box) are creating some of the best genre-bending noise I’ve heard in very a long time.
This sassy soul act blends their instruments (including trumpet and sax) with hip-hop, jazz, blues, and rock. It’s truly hard to know how to categorize these creative geniuses. Listening to The O’My’s four albums will lead you on an exploration from the psychedelic 70s to well into the future. Their evolving sound is exhilarating.
I also must mention that I feel like The O’My’s have a lot of flavors similar to Childish Gambino and Alabama Shakes. If you fiercely love these artists, and I know you do, don’t you dare miss The O’My’s on stage at SunFest.
Recommendations: “Rise Up Singing (A Beautiful Thing),” “The Wonder Years (Ft. Chance the Rapper)”
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Pairs Well With: Sunkissed pool parties, cool cocktails
Listen: Brooklyn-born Adam Lipson will be transitioning SunFest fans from day to night on Friday, May 4. This now South Florida staple (he moved here in 1999) first found his footing in music by rifling through his father’s large vinyl collection and young piano performances. Today, he is considered a go-to music source for chic parties and beachside events. Never underestimate a DJ’s ability to read a crowd and serve up great sound. It is a truly difficult talent.
I found a charming interview between Lipson and The Palm Beacher and want to share two things:
First, Lipson is a passionate vegan. This talented artist became a vegetarian at 10 years old, and a vegan at 23. He believes in keeping a healthy balance of food, yoga, and spirituality.
Second, Lipson annually visits Israel to recharge, often during the month of September for the High Holy Days. He credits his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, to inspiring him.
“I wouldn’t even be here today if she hadn’t [escaped from Poland],” Lipson told The Palm Beacher. “I made a promise to myself to return each year and be reminded of my roots.”
Don’t miss this DJ’s dancefest on Friday.
Recommendations: “Dilemma”
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Pairs Well With: Peanut Island, long Sunday drives down A1A
Listen: While you may not recognize this band name at a glance, these talented South Florida musicians are no strangers to SunFest.
Angel Leiser (bass/vocals) and Ben Rothschild (vocals/guitar) played in the psychedelic Jumbo Shrimp Inc. with two other local musicians. While most of their peers were studying for their high school finals, Leiser and Rothschild were performing at SXSW and SunFest. Between the two of these artists, they’ve played a long, impressive list of shows including Lollapalooza, Orlando’s House of Blues, Gathering of the Vibes, and Mopop.
Recently, Leiser and Rothschild were joined by drummer Roman Conde to create Thoughts, a new alt-psych-pop act. Inspired by The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, and Stevie Wonder, this budding band will find a home with fans of Moon Taxi and The Beatles. (It sounds cheesy, but I can’t stop thinking how much Thoughts reminds me of The Beatles.)
These supremely talented musicians will take the stage on Saturday, May 5. Don’t miss them!
Recommendations: “Questions“