Five Bands We Can't Wait to See at Mountain Jam

We can't wait for the 2015 installment of Mountain Jam.

Of course we're thrilled to see the Black Keys, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Alabama Shakes, Gov't Mule and Grace Potter -- those are all givens. But who are some of the other bands we're excited to check out when Mountain Jam fills Hunter Mountain, N.Y., June 4-7?

With some of the best alternative rockers, Americana songwriters and jam bands around, the entire Mountain Jam 2015 lineup is not-to-be-missed; while this particular list focuses on just a handful of acts we'll definitely be front-and-center for, rest assured we're going to do everything we can to not miss a single beat from the weekend's festivities.

If you haven't yet, make sure to pick up your tickets for Mountain Jam here, and check out the complete lineup of acts at this location. In the meantime, though, here are Five Bands We Can't Wait to See at Mountain Jam:

Benjamin Booker
We first caught wind of Benjamin Booker when he hit the road as support for Jack White last year; while that's no easy job, Booker did an exceptional job of setting the stage for White -- and the fans always seemed to agree night after night. Since then, we've enjoyed watching him grow and grow, from spinning his Live at Third Man Records release to checking out his performance in the back of a truck for A Take Away Show. We get the feeling Booker will be one of the standout acts of this year's Mountain Jam.
Nikki Lane
Whether she's taking over SXSW or opening for Shakey Graves, Nikki Lane is, quite simply, a badass. Her onstage demeanor of not giving a f--- coupled with her pristine countryfied rock and roll makes for more than just an enjoyable experience; she's a trailblazer in the purest sense and she's bound to leave Mountain Jam with a few thousand new fans.
Shakey Graves
The aforementioned Shakey Graves has a dynamism unlike many artists we've seen in recent memory. It doesn't matter if he's rocking his one-man-band thing or performing with others, he carries himself magnificently -- and fortunately for those who see his live show, he usually mixes things up, giving fans a taste of his vast talents.
Trigger Hippy
Rock and roll is at the center of everything Trigger Hippy do, which makes perfect sense as the band is comprised of the Black Crowes' Steve Gorman, guitarist Tom Bukovac, singer Joan Osborne and multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter Jackie Greene. You want unadulterated rock? This is it.
Marco Benevento
In 2014, Marco Benevento entered the studio to create his latest full-length effort, Swift. The disc is packed with Benevento's unrelenting -- and delightful -- energy, which will be on full display in front of thousands of people at Mountain Jam. If he brings have the fun to the stage that is found on his new album, we're all in for a treat.