5 of Scene’s Sets to See at Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival 2018

The countdown to Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is on. The annually curated musical and camping nirvana will be held from March 1 through 4 and is once again timed to be the perfect spring break destination.

As the festival approaches, we’re be breaking down our five most anticipated sets of the festival paired with our favorite track to help you start making your festival preparations and maybe even provide you with some shiny new music to look forward to.

This year’s lineup features some returning veterans to Okeechobee, like Bassnectar, who will be playing two sets this year, as well as some new names like Khalid who will be gracing the stage for the first time.

This will be the festival’s third year since its conception. To check out our review of last year’s Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival 2017, click here.

1. Big Gigantic

This instrumental electronic, hip-hop, and jazz musical duo based out of Boulder, Colorado is known for upbeat, bubbly bass and sultry saxophone. Similar in sound to GriZ, who frequented Okeechobee last year, Big Gigantic shares thumping, funk-filled beats. Big G turns any live environment into a dance party by sharing their genre defying sounds and will be returning to Okeechobee’s lineup for the second time since 2016.

2. Local Natives

Indie rock band Local Natives share dreamlike vocals, pulsating percussion and three-part harmonies, creating a distinctively captivating sound. The band formerly opened for and boasts a similar style to that of Arcade Fire, another notable name in indie that will be attending Okeechobee this year. Youthful crooning give way to sometimes manic, textured guitar riffs. The result is a sunny fluttering sound that has earned a impressive spot in the indie music scene.

3. Big Wild

Big Wild will be frequenting the Florida festival scene for the second time in the last few months, having performed what was arguably the best set at Suwanee Hulaween last October. Similar in both name and style to Big Gigantic, Big Wild adds his spin on popular beats incorporated with his own. He’s currently signed to electronic duo ODESZA’s label, Foreign Family Collective and shares a similarly whimsical-sounding rendition of electronic.

4. Gramatik

Slovenian electronic music producer and DJ, Gramatik, brings a contemporary approach to vintage, jazzy instrumentals. Gramatik is signed to electronic producer and past Okeechobee attendee, Pretty Lights‘ label, who also shares a similar style. He brings signature synth-heavy, techno beats to the table and adds his style remixing popular electronic artists, like Flume. Gramatik seems to touch upon influences from every genre, even including orchestras sampled from Game of Thrones in his most recent album.

5. Sylvan Esso

Conceived in 2013, this American electronic pop duo contrasts hauntingly sweet vocals with stark synth and bellowing bass to create an infectious pairing. A fusion of electro-pop compliments ambient, folksy female vocals. Similar in style to Phantogram and Hundred Waters (yes, the Hundred Waters hailing from little ‘ole Gainesville), Sylvan Esso seems to marry elements of opposing genres to create an unexpectedly fresh and dynamic sound.

Honorable mentions that made choosing just five sets a seemingly impossible task: Foster The People, Arcade Fire, Travis Scott, Slightly Stoopid, Khalid and Bassnectar.

Tickets are currently priced at $269, so grab yours before prices increase here.

Which Gainesville-based band would you like to see at Okeechobee? Support local music and vote here.

Looking for more music to listen to in the meantime? Check out Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival’s official Spotify playlist here.

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