Key Takeaways
- New artists can be hard to sort through on streaming platforms, so in-person performances remain a reliable way to find acts that truly connect.
- Human curation highlights artists whose stage presence, storytelling, and live energy do not always show up in streaming statistics.
- Artists like Chappell Roan, Benson Boone, Tate McRae, Gracie Abrams, and Doechii are building strong reputations for engaging, memorable shows given their history in 2025.
- Buying tickets for emerging artists supports their careers directly and helps shape the next wave of live music.
- Plan your 2025 concert calendar with curated picks and resources from OnesToWatch, and discover your next favorite act before the crowds catch on.
Navigating the Modern Music Scene: Finding Must-See New Talent
Music fans now have access to more songs than ever, yet truly impactful new artists can still feel difficult to find. Streaming platforms tend to focus on metrics like skips and play counts, which do not always capture the emotion, storytelling, and presence that make a concert stand out.
Live impact depends on qualities that resist simple data points, such as vocal nuance, crowd chemistry, and how an artist translates studio work to a real room. This gap between algorithmic suggestions and real-world performance is where human curation helps listeners focus on emerging acts that build genuine connections and long-term fanbases.
The OnesToWatch Advantage: Our Process for Identifying Live Breakthroughs
OnesToWatch leans on curators with deep industry experience who study both online momentum and real-world performance. The team looks at stage presence, audience engagement, vocal strength in live settings, visual ideas, and the clarity of an artist’s creative vision, with a focus on performers who bring fresh angles to their genres instead of following trends.
More than 850 artists have appeared on the platform over the last decade, including early features on Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Post Malone.
This history shows how careful curation can highlight artists with lasting live potential rather than short-term viral appeal. Know the artists that you need to keep track of this year and onwards. Check OnesToWatch’s Top 26 Artists To Watch in 2025.
OnesToWatch Presents: The Must-See New Artists in 2025
Artist Spotlight 1: Chappell Roan – The Pop Innovator Ready to Captivate Live Audiences
Who They Are: Chappell Roan blends bright synthpop with personal, often vulnerable storytelling, reflecting her journey from Missouri to much wider recognition. Her songs explore identity, sexuality, and self-discovery in ways that feel specific yet broadly relatable.
Why You Can’t Miss Them Live: Her shows lean into theater, color, and character, while still leaving room for quiet, conversational moments between songs. Crowds often respond as if they are part of the performance, which turns each night into a shared experience instead of a one-way show.
Key Tracks: “Pink Pony Club,” “Red Wine Supernova,” and “HOT TO GO!” all translate into big singalong moments and strong emotional peaks on stage.
Upcoming Live Opportunities: Chappell Roan continued to move from clubs into larger venues and major festivals in 2025; current dates offer the chance to see her before arenas become the norm.
Artist Spotlight 2: Benson Boone – The Alternative Storyteller Who Owns the Stage
Who They Are: Benson Boone brings an alternative rock edge shaped by a background in musical theater. His writing often centers on growth, relationships, and identity, with a focus on clear narratives and big vocal moments.
Why You Can’t Miss Them Live: His sets build like short dramas, with careful pacing, quiet verses, and dynamic peaks that highlight both technical skill and emotional weight. Crowds tend to stay locked in from first song to last.
Key Tracks: “Beautiful Things,” “In The Stars,” and “Ghost Town” each showcase his control over tension and release, which makes them highlights at live shows.
Upcoming Live Opportunities: Boone’s 2025 tours and festival slots marked a key phase as he shifted from viral favorite to established touring act.
Artist Spotlight 3: Tate McRae – The Pop Dynamo Delivering Electrifying Performances
Who They Are: Tate McRae combines polished pop songwriting with a strong dance background, which shapes how she designs her shows. Her lyrics often examine the emotional complexity of young adulthood.
Why You Can’t Miss Them Live: Her choreography supports the songs instead of distracting from them, linking movement to specific lyrics and moods. The result feels like a single performance concept rather than separate singing and dancing.
Key Tracks: “Greedy,” “Exes,” and “Run for the Hills” each give her room to blend tight routines with more reflective moments.
Upcoming Live Opportunities: McRae’s growing ability to hold large rooms while maintaining a sense of intimacy points toward more arena and festival headline appearances for 2026.
Artist Spotlight 4: Gracie Abrams – The Indie Visionary Crafting Unforgettable Concert Experiences
Who They Are: Gracie Abrams focuses on detailed, emotionally precise songwriting that sits between indie pop and confessional folk. Her music often feels like reading a journal, with careful attention to lyric and melody.
Why You Can’t Miss Them Live: Her concerts feel close and conversational, even in larger venues. She speaks to the crowd with the same tone she uses in her songs, which encourages audiences to lean in, listen, and respond.
Key Tracks: “Mess It Up,” “I miss you, I’m sorry,” and “Close To You” anchor her sets and highlight her growth as both writer and performer.
Upcoming Live Opportunities: 2025 dates showcased her shift from small-room favorite to confident headliner, while still preserving the intimacy that drew listeners in early on.
Artist Spotlight 5: Doechii – The Hip-Hop Maverick Breaking Barriers on Stage
Who They Are: Doechii stands out in hip-hop for her mix of sharp rapping, melodic hooks, and willingness to move across genres. Her work often addresses self-definition, power, and artistic freedom.
Why You Can’t Miss Them Live: Sets move quickly between high-energy rap sections and melodic breaks, which keeps crowds engaged and off-balance in a deliberate way. Her confidence and crowd control give her shows a distinct sense of momentum.
Key Tracks: “What It Is (Block Boy),” “Crazy,” and “Persuasive” each underline different sides of her range while still landing as clear crowd favorites.
Upcoming Live Opportunities: Doechii’s rising profile points toward larger stages and stronger production in 2026, offering audiences a chance to watch an artist refine a live format in real time.
Beyond the Spotlight: Supporting Emerging Artists Through Live Music
Ticket purchases for new artists do more than fill a night out. They help fund touring, future releases, and the team members who keep a developing career moving, which makes early support especially important.
Word-of-mouth after a great show also matters. Friends who bring others to gigs, share clips, or talk about opening acts contribute to small but powerful waves of attention. Local venues, smaller festivals, and early time slots often hide the next wave of talent for listeners who are willing to arrive early and stay curious.
Frequently Asked Questions: Discovering Must-See New Artists Live
How does OnesToWatch select its must-see new artists for live performance?
Curators at OnesToWatch focus on how artists translate to the stage, not just how they sound on record. They look for commanding but natural stage presence, genuine audience interaction, thoughtful show structure, and a clear creative identity that holds together across songs and visuals. A track record of highlighting artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan reflects that focus on long-term live potential.
What makes a live performance “must-see” for a new artist?
A must-see performance usually combines clear musical execution with a feeling that something unique happens in the room that night. Strong shows tend to feature honest communication with the audience, confident movement on stage, visuals that support rather than overshadow the music, and moments of risk or vulnerability that make each set feel specific, rather than routine.
How can I find tour dates for these emerging artists?
OnesToWatch regularly highlights tours, festivals, and special performances as part of its artist coverage. Fans can also follow artist websites, social channels, email lists, venue calendars, and local music publications to stay ahead of new date announcements in their area.
Why is catching new artists live important for music fans?
Seeing new artists early creates a closer connection to their growth and gives fans a sense of participation in the story. Live shows reveal energy, spontaneity, and crowd interaction that recordings cannot fully capture, while also providing financial and emotional support that helps artists continue developing their work.
Conclusion: Your All-Access Pass to 2026’s Unmissable Live Music
The artists featured here illustrate how many different ways a live show can resonate, from Chappell Roan’s theatrical pop to Doechii’s flexible, high-energy hip-hop performances. Each act brings a specific point of view, a distinct sound, and a growing reputation for engaging audiences in the room.
Fans who stay curious, show up early, and support emerging talent help shape the next chapter of live music. Thoughtful curation from OnesToWatch makes that process easier by focusing attention on artists who have the skills and vision to grow with their audiences.
Discover your next favorite artist and the stories behind their rise with OnesToWatch, and build a 2026 concert calendar that reflects your taste, curiosity, and commitment to supporting new voices.
About OnesToWatch
How OnesToWatch Picked 2025’s Rising Artists
OnesToWatch uses a hands-on, human-led process to choose artists based on originality, songwriting, live potential, and cultural influence. Our industry team focuses on lasting talent over fleeting trends, conducting deep listens and performance reviews to spotlight exceptional new voices.
Which Genres Featured in the 2025 List?
The 2025 lineup spans a wide range of styles, reflecting today’s boundary-breaking music scene. It includes experimental electronic from 2hollis and EQ, alternative soul by Lola Young and MOIO, indie-pop from Chezile and Malcolm Todd, pop innovation by ADÉLA and Sienna Spiro, hip-hop freshness from Lexa Gates and tg.blk, and country tales by Willow Avalon, plus genre-defiers like Mk.gee.
What Defined a 2025 “One to Watch” Artist?
A standout artist for 2025 has a distinct voice, whether in vocals, production, lyrics, or style fusion. They excel in songwriting, create impactful live shows, and show potential for cultural influence through relevant themes or scene leadership. Above all, they stay authentic while growing their craft and career.
Why Human Curation Beats Algorithms for Music Discovery
Algorithms suggest based on past listens, but human curation spots talent beyond data. Experts see potential and creativity early, often before mainstream notice. They bring context, surprise, and insight that algorithms miss, challenging listeners with fresh finds over familiar patterns.
Check out OnesToWatch for exclusive content on music’s rising stars.
How to Discover Live Shows featuring OnesToWatch Artists in Your City
It’s frustrating to spend time discovering new artists and then having to do even more work to track when they are playing a show in your city. OnesToWatch LIVE’s weekly newsletter helps solve this problem. Every week, club members receive a list of OnesToWatch Artists’ shows in your city. Watch a video, click the ticket link, and go to the show. Click here to join.