From Sublime to Justin Timberlake to Noah Kahan, BottleRock Music Festival in Napa Valley is ripe with headliners sure to draw packed crowds. However, I want to encourage those attending to start studying the music of some artists who aren’t headliners. 

In my experience, knowing just one song by an artist is enough to draw me to their stage, so I want to point you in the direction of some incredible songs by smaller artists.

On the Friday of the festival, May 23, alongside Green Day and Sublime, lesser-known Sofi Tukker will be playing electronic/dance music. One of my favorite songs by Tukker is her remix of Maggie Rogers’s “Alaska,” a haunting version sure to sound even better through the speakers of the Verizon Stage.

Saturday will bring big names Justin Timberlake and Benson Boone to the main JaM Cellars Stage, which will certainly be incredibly crowded. If you like Slightly Stoopid or Stick Figure, and wish to skip the sweaty crowds, I’d recommend checking out Rebelution, a reggae band performing on the Verizon Stage. Listen to their top song, “Feeling Alright,” or lesser known, “Pretty Lady.”

While Cage The Elephant was big enough of a band to sell out stadiums on their recent tour, they are scheduled to play at the same time as Noah Kahan to close out BottleRock on Sunday, who will likely draw most festival-goers to the JaM Cellars Stage. 

Most are familiar with “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Come A Little Closer,” but I also recommend you listen to my personal favorite: “Telescope.” I was lucky enough to go to their concert this summer and in addition to their amazing songs, the stage presence alone of main singer Matt Schultz should be enough to lure you to the Verizon Stage.

Whether you opt for any of these lesser-known artists, or choose to brave the packed crowds of headliners, you can’t go wrong with this year’s stacked lineup.