Delongphoto courtesy Universal Records

Of course big artists like Hozier, Brandon Flowers, and Alexisonfire top your “must-see” list for SONiC BOOM 2015, but there are a tonne of fresh faces in this year’s lineup that are definitely worth your time!  Here’s a few newbies you don’t want to miss!

Young Empires 

NME once said of this Toronto band, “[they have] the mathmania of Battles, the gloss’n’grandeur of The Killers, and the calamitous quiver of Arcade Fire… Young Empires have consummately summated this generations’ achievements in Rock. They’re master weavers of our disparate indie threads, forging a fine tapestry of future disco…”.  

Young Empires has the honour of opening the whole SONiC BOOM shebang on Saturday morning!  

Robert DeLong 

From Seattle, Robert DeLong kinda looks like that dude who sat behind you in Chem 30 kicking your chair – but throw a little facepaint on him, get him up on stage, and he’s one of the most dynamic, impressive performers you will ever see!  Known to incorporate all kinds of homemade instruments, including video game controllers, into his live set, this one-man-band will blow your mind!

St. Lucia 

South African-born St. Lucia is shiny alt-pop perfection.  Be ready to dance your feet, your butt, your nose, and anything else you don’t hold on to, off!

The Gay Nineties

Made up of a few familiar faces (Parker Bossley was in Hot Hot Heat, Malcolm Holt in Fake Shark Real Zombie), this certainly isn’t the first time these unpredictable guys have played in Edmonton, but it IS the time that you should make a point to see them, if you haven’t already, because when it comes to a Gay Nineties show, you never know what could happen

https://youtu.be/LOp4OZMQ6YU

See the full lineup, and set times, for SONiC BOOM 2015, HERE!