Story by Brianna Riley / Contributing Writer
With Bonnaroo tickets on sale and the Manchester festival’s June 7-10 dates around the corner, it might be a little daunting trying to decide which of the 100+ artists will give you the most bang for your buck. In this column, we’ll focus on a different artist every week to give you a sense of who they are and who will be worth checking out once summer rolls around.
Okey Dokey hit the Nashville music scene in 2016, after the group’s two frontmen, Aaron Martin and Johny Fisher, joined forces after their previous endeavors with other bands dissolved. Martin, a visual artist, and The Weeks’ guitarist, Fisher both wanted to create more music that showcased a “go with the flow, it will be alright” sound. After spending a weekend in Fisher’s cabin outside of Nashville writing and collaborating, Okey Dokey was born. The product of Okey Dokey’s formation is a mesh of soulful Motown roots and psychedelic, bedroom pop. Martin and Fischer front the group and collaborate with other Nashville artists so that each song has a different spin that keeps listeners intrigued and wanting to hear more.
The group’s first album, “Love You, Mean It,” was released in March 2017 and has since received over a million streams for their debut single “Wavy Gravy.” With entrancing psychedelic sounds and soulful lyrics, Okey Dokey captivates listeners through universal themes that listeners can connect to on an intimate level. Songs like “Hurts to Be You” and “Simpler Times” demonstrate the group’s creative storytelling ability to transport listeners back to an easier time. Tracks like “Bootydew” present a distortion of sound balanced with smooth vocals and bright melodies.
Okey Dokey’s Bonnaroo performance will showcase a groovy yet powerful sound that is sure to keep concert-goers rocking throughout the entire set. On stage, Okey Dokey’s unusual psychedelic-soulful atmosphere, with its prominent wall of sound will display the group’s uniqueness while also keeping the good times going.
Watch Okey Dokey’s whimsical music video for “Wavy Gravy” below.
Tickets and information can be found on the Bonnaroo website.
To contact Music Editor Hayden Goodridge, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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