Spring Weekend 2026: A Guide
We break down the lineup and share essential listening in preparation for the annual Brown University music festival.
Do Kendrick Lamar, Bruce Springsteen, or Doechii need any introduction? They’re household names now, but none of these artists had hit their artistic or commercial peaks when they took the Spring Weekend stage. If these three artists are part of a historical pattern, then we might be witnessing a star in the making this Saturday. But every artist starts somewhere–so we at BMR are here to introduce you to the rising stars that make up this year’s lineup.
Thee Sacred Souls
By Megha Tenneti ‘27
Thee Sacred Souls is a retro-soul trio formed in 2019 in San Diego, California, made up of Alex Garcia on drums, Sal Samano on bass, and Josh Lane as lead vocalist. Their sound draws heavily from gospel, doo-wop, Chicano soul, and classic R&B from the late 1970s to 1980s. The seamless blend of smooth, heartfelt lyricism and the use of analog recording in their music channels old-school West Coast and lowrider soul culture. The trio’s modern reinvention of nostalgic and timeless themes has led to their gaining momentum in today’s industry, amassing millions of listeners on Spotify, and making a name for themselves in modern soul music.
Magdalena Bay
By Arian Lagarija ‘28
Yes, it’s true: Magdalena Bay will be “Killing Time” at this year’s Spring Weekend. Known for the ethereal, lush vocals and synth-dominated, psychedelic production, Magdalena Bay has the perfect vibe to get the Main Green dancing. Following the musician-couple’s viral 2020 hit, “Killshot”, their trajectory only continued to skyrocket with the release of their 2021 album Mercurial World, which highlighted a brain-tingling dance and synth-pop sound that was fresh off the press for mainstream music at the time. The duo only continued to hone their sound with their most recent 2024 album Imaginal Disk, which saw their music take a more conceptual turn towards psychedelic and indie rock with their signature dance production laced throughout. With musings on love and loss in “Death & Romance,” forgiveness in “Cry for Me,” and the perils of digital media in “Watching T.V.,” the frontwoman, Mica, uses her otherworldly vocals to create a hazy world ready for anyone to traverse. Expect a grand set on stage with costumes and all, a keytar, and lots of blue face paint!
BunnaB
By Andrew Fuente ‘29
If you opened TikTok at all within the last year, you’ve definitely heard one of BunnaB’s viral hits. BunnaB (government name Ereunna McCoy) exploded in popularity with trending song after song on social media. BunnaB is a Hip Hop/Trap artist based in Atlanta. Her breakout is quite recent, as she released her debut and sophomore albums within the last year: Ice Cream Girl Summer and Sweet Lick. Have you ever heard the lyrics “Yeah, we 'bout to have fun/You know summer just begun”? How about “I'm talm 'bout innit”? Regardless if you’ve rapped your inner hot girl heart out, BunnaB’s chaotic baddie appeal is addictive and the perfect soundtrack to turn up. She certainly claims her own space among the lineup, but I strongly anticipate her high-energy set that will get the crowd seriously hyped.
Isabella Lovestory
By Johan Beltre ‘27
Known for her infectious neoperreo bangers, Honduras-born Isabella Lovestory is a force to be reckoned with. Blending the eccentric fashion of icons like Lady Gaga with the ferocious lyricism of Ivy Queen at her most hard-hitting, Lovestory is ready to command the stage as this year’s Spring Weekend opener. Each of her songs and visuals channels a love of maximalism, drawing inspiration from internet aesthetics, reggaeton, and performance art. Her debut album, Amor Hardcore, released in 2022, dives into her flashy persona, tracing obsessions with fashion and a reclamation of sexual agency. More recently, her sophomore effort, Vanity, serves as a sharp entry point into her mischievous world. It grapples with ego and sexual desires across a slick blend of Latin pop, reggaeton, and trap, laced with Britney Spears-inspired, addictive vocal stylings. Whether this is your first introduction or not, one thing is clear: Isabella Lovestory is ready for the world’s biggest stages. The only question now is how long it takes the rest of the world to catch up, just as it did with past Spring Weekend performers like Doechii and Kendrick Lamar.
By Megha Tenneti ‘27, Arian Lagarija ‘28, Andrew Fuente ‘29, and Johan Beltre ‘27
Edited by Thomas Lu ‘27