Field Guide: 10 Artists To See at XPoNential Music Festival 2014

To help make your XPoNential Music Festival artist selections a little more bearable, we lay out some of our favorites that you should keep an ear out for. First up, five artists you already know and love:

Rodrigo y Gabriela

When: Friday, July 25th, 9:55 p.m., River Stage

What You Already Know: This internationally acclaimed duo have an amazing ability to produce emotional music without a single lyric

What You Don't: The title of Rodrigo y Gabriela’s newest album, 9 Dead Alive, is just what it sounds like: 9 tracks, each celebrating a specific individual, or, in one case, animals and nature who have passed away but whose impact on humanity remains.

Ingrid Michaelson

When: Saturday, July 26th, 4:35 p.m., River Stage

What You Already Know: Her quirky, indie-pop love songs that have appeared on everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Old Navy commercials.

What You Don't: Her most recent music video, for the single “Girls Chase Boys,” is a spot-on spoof of Robert Palmer’s 1988 hit “Simply Irresistible.” The gender roles are reversed, with male background dancers in full makeup and skimpy costumes.

Dawes

When: Saturday, July 26th, 7:30 p.m., Susquehanna Bank Center

What You Already Know: The members of Dawes probably wish they were around in the 1960s so they could live alongside Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell—the artists that inspired their “Laurel Canyon” sound.

What You Don't: Their first album, North Hills, was actually recorded in Laurel Canyon, live to analog tape.

Ryan Adams

When: Saturday, July 26th, 9:45 p.m., Susquehanna Bank Center

What You Already Know: Adams sure knows how to balance quality and quantity. This September will mark the release of his 14th solo album.

What You Don't: At age 39, Adams has produced an album for Willie Nelson, written a poetry book, toured with Phil Lesh, and been an inspiration to Elton John. Not bad, not bad.

Beck

When: Sunday, July 27th, 10 p.m., Susquehanna Bank Center

What You Already Know: His song "Where It's At," which was played way too much in 1996.

What You Don't: One of his most recent "albums" wasn't released as an album at all. It was released only as sheet music.

Big namers aside, there’s a fantastic lineup of up-and-comers that should be on your radar, including a few local folks, like Marian Hill and The Districts. Our top five:

Marian Hill

When: Friday, July 25th, 6:10p.m., Marina Stage

What's the Rumpus: In February, Out of Town Films uploaded a live performance video of the electronic duo, comprised of Samantha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd, singing their song “One Time.” The video is filmed at Haverford Middle School, where Gongol and Lloyd first met.

For Fans Of: Purity Ring, Lorde, Ellie Goulding

Lucius

When: Friday, July 25th, 6:45 p.m., River Stage

What's the Rumpus: Rolling Stone called this quintet the best band you may not have heard yet, and The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman called their show the “best musical performance of any kind [he’s] ever seen.” Enough said.

For Fans Of: Gossip, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Ting Tings

Lake Street Dive

When: Sunday, July 27th, 4:30p.m., River Stage

What's the Rumpus: They say they’ll always be a dive bar band, but they’re destined for so much more. Lake Street Dive gained publicity after uploading a YouTube video of themselves covering Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” on a Massachusetts street corner. Watch it and just try not to fall in love.

For Fans Of: Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin

Trigger Hippy

When: Sunday, July 27th, 6:05 p.m., River Stage

What's the Rumpus: Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman founded this soulful, Southern, good ol' rock-and-roll group that now comprises multi-platinum artist Joan Osborne, singer-songwriter Jackie Green, guitarist Tom Bukovac, and bassist Nick Govrik.

For Fans Of: Alabama Shakes, Jefferson Airplane, The Black Crowes

The Districts

When: Sunday, July 27th, 7:15 p.m., Susquehanna Bank Center

What's the Rumpus: The Districts have been playing together for almost five years, but their oldest member is 20 years old. That’s right, the Lancaster County natives went from graduating high school last June to performing at SXSW in March.

For Fans Of: The Black Keys, The Strokes, Cage The Elephant

The XPoNential Music Festival takes place Friday, July 25th through Sunday, July 27th. Tickets can be purchased here.