Berklee Artists to Perform at Major Festivals Across the United States this Summer and Fall

This summer and fall, the Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) is sending eight up-and-coming artists from the college to perform at popular music festivals across North America. The institute's BPMI Live course guides college and conservatory students through every step of going from the classroom to the stage, providing critical training for a career in live music, whether as a performer or an industry professional. 

Throughout the academic year, students in BPMI’s A&R group reviewed hundreds of artist submissions and narrowed the field through a combination of factors that included recordings, videos, live performances, and social media presence. The A&R group also considered the artist’s style of music for genre-specific festivals such as INKcarceration (metal) and Faster Horses (country).

2023 BPMI Artists

• Country and pop singer-songwriter Vivienne Artur, performing at Faster Horses in Brooklyn, Michigan (July 14–16)
• Electronic hip-hop duo AWFBEAT, performing at Governors Ball in New York City (June 9–11)
• R&B, pop, and rock artist Tyler Christian, performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago (August 3–6)
• Progressive/technical deathcore band CLIFFORD, performing at INKcarceration in Mansfield, Ohio (July 14–16)
• Rock group JVK, performing at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky (September 21–24)
• Singer-songwriter Kieran Rhodes, performing at Sound on Sound in Bridgeport, Connecticut (September 30–October 1)
• Indie pop artist vivi rincon, performing at Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville, Kentucky (September 14–17)
• Reggaeton rapper Ed Rox, performing at Music Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia (September 15–17)

Many of these artists performed at BPMI's 21st annual showcase at Brighton Music Hall earlier this spring.

“Being selected to play a festival this year was definitely not something I imagined happening, but I am so grateful that it did,” said Artur, who will perform at Faster Horses this summer. “Preparing for the show in Michigan has challenged me and allowed me to grow as a performer in so many ways—it has overall been the most rewarding experience I’ve had at Berklee so far.”  

While most Berklee classes take place over the course of one semester, BPMI Live runs on a three-semester, full-year cycle. In the fall semester, the class selects the artists and splits up into management teams. In the spring, students work on artist development, marketing, digital presence, budgets, merchandise, sponsorships, and advancing their assigned festival, in addition to organizing a spring musical showcase at a local venue. For the final semester, during the summer and early fall, teams rehearse with the artists to prepare them for the festival stage—a vastly different experience than a club show—and accompany them to each festival to handle on-site promotion, production, and tour management. 

“I’m so proud of all the hard work and effort by the students in class and our roster of artists as we prepare for a busy summer and fall festival season,” said Morgan Milardo, managing director for BPMI. “This course is so important for both artists and students as they learn to navigate the ever-evolving music industry, especially the complex landscape of concerts and touring. It’s going to be an incredible learning experience for all, filled with exciting performances that only come as a result of hard work and dedication. I’m also incredibly grateful for our generous partners at Live Nation, Danny Wimmer Presents, C3 Presents, and Founders Entertainment that make the BPMI experience a reality.