The Firefly Music Festival is a mixed-genre, down to earth music festival held yearly in the lush, wooded landscape of Dover, Delaware. Thanks to a consistently stellar lineup and drama-free reputation, Firefly has grown from a hidden gem into one of the festival season's essential events. This year's festival will take place from June 19-22, and has expanded from three to four days with several new stages to accommodate around 80,000 attendees. Last year's Firefly made headlines with big names like Tom Petty and the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- and this year will be no exception, with major acts like Foo Fighters and Outkast confirmed to hit the stage. But we all know that the most exciting hype comes from the emerging artists -- here are three on the bill that we think everyone will be buzzing about.
WHO: Smallpools
WHEN: Saturday June 21 @ 2:45pm - Backyard Stage
WHERE: The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
WHY: Indie-pop newcomers Smallpools are having quite a breakout year. The LA based, east coast natives made headlines late last year when they became one of Snapchat's first featured artists, and have since released a flurry of high-energy singles leading up to their much anticipated debut album, which drops in July. Smallpools have an infectious energy about them, and, despite being a pretty new (and young) band, they have an effortless togetherness to their live performances that makes them well worth checking out.
WHO: Chance the Rapper
WHEN: Friday, June 20 @ 6:45pm - Lawn Stage
WHERE: The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
WHY: 21 year old Chancelor Bennett, best known by his stage name Chance the Rapper, is one of the most talked about newcomers on the scene. His 2013 album, Acid Rap, was released to critical acclaim, and incorporates an impressive combination of elements - from raps to ballads to Beirut samples. Chance's lyrics are thought-provoking and introspective, and his rhymes are confident and tight. A laid-back stage presence makes his audience instantly comfortable - and his ability to work the crowd is effortless. Don't miss Chance's set at Firefly this year.
WHO: Wild Cub
WHEN: Sunday June 22 @ 2:45pm - Porch Stage
WHERE: The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
WHY: Since the release of their 2013 debut album, Youth, Nashville based buzz band Wild Cub have slowly but surely been making a name for themselves in the industry. Their first single "Wild Cub", has been quietly climbing the charts, and a deluxe version of Youth was even released earlier this year. Live shows are characterized by infectious dancing and high energy, and feature incredibly impressive percussion (more so than one would expect after listening to their debut album). Their show at Firefly is sure to be one of the indie-pop highlights from the festival, so be sure to catch it!