Berklee Artists to Perform at Major Global Music Festivals

This spring and summer, the Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) is sending eight up-and-coming artists from Berklee to perform at 11 music festivals across the United States, Canada, and Europe. This marks the first year that BPMI artists will perform at festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, and France. These performances are the culmination of BPMI Live, a one-year course that guides students through every step 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, BPMI Live students reviewed hundreds of artist submissions and narrowed the field based on recordings, videos, live performances, and social media presence. The A&R group also took into account each artist’s musical style for genre-specific festivals, such as Warped Tour, which focuses on rock and alternative music, and Minnesota Country Club, which spotlights folk, Americana, and country artists.

2026 BPMI Artists

• Jazz Cuti, a French pianist, singer-songwriter, and producer, will perform at the Great Escape in Brighton, England, May 13–16, and Oberkampf Music Festival in Paris, France, May 20–21.
• Cuban-born and Puerto Rico-raised reggaeton rapper, vocalist, and producer JimmyBoy will appear at the Governors Ball in New York City, June 5–7, with production visuals and lighting designed by students enrolled in the BerkleeNYC program for Live Music Production and Design.
• Alternative artist Leila Lamb will be a featured artist at Southside in Tuttlingen, Germany, and Pinkpop in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, June 19–21.
• Rock musician Pat Kennedy will play Minnesota Yacht Club in St. Paul, Minnesota, July 10–11.
• Washington-born country artist Nico Welsh will appear at Minnesota Country Club in St. Paul, Minnesota, July 17–19.
• Emo-punk band Good Sleepy will bring the noise to Warped Tour in Long Beach, California, July 25–26, as well as Montreal, Canada, August 21–22.
• Miami-born multi-genre pop artist Beno will appear at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois, July 30–August 2.
• Bubble-grunge band Sophie’s Body will take the stage at Shaky Knees in Atlanta, Georgia, September 18–20.

All featured artists performed at BPMI's 24nd annual showcase at Brighton Music Hall last week.

“I’m super excited to be part of this year’s Gov Ball as a performer,” said JimmyBoy. “BPMI has been preparing me for this experience, and I’m super grateful they chose and trusted me with this opportunity. It will be an experience I won’t take for granted—I’m planning to give my all on that stage and will never forget it.”

About BPMI Live

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 for the festivals 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 from a club show—and accompany them to each festival to handle on-site promotion, production, and tour management.

“It’s amazing to see all of the students’ and artists' hard work pay off as we prepare for a busy spring and summer season with 11 unique festivals across North America and Europe,” said Morgan Milardo, artistic and managing director for BPMI. “This course is so important for artists as well as business and event production students as they learn to navigate the concert and touring industry and better understand the significance touring makes on an artist’s career. This season will be a unique and collaborative learning experience for all of the students, filled with exciting performances that only come as a result of hard work and dedication. I’m also incredibly grateful for our industry partners, donors, and board members who help make the BPMI experience a reality.”