Sure, everyone likes Taylor Swift, Rihanna or Justin Bieber (bear with us here). They’re not short on talent, but they also enjoy all the promotion and big record label money that one could hope for, leading to them getting worldwide recognition and commanding an almost divine influence over people.

But what about musicians that haven’t yet caught their lucky break and are still struggling for recognition? Some might just be starting out, others might not have yet found a good manager or label that will propel them while others still may not have the option of going full-time with their popularity suffering as a result. Whichever the case, everyone should make a point of supporting at least a couple of upcoming music artists aside from the usual platinum sellers – the ‘smaller’ musicians need all the recognition they can get, and every listener counts.

Here are 3 of the country’s top upcoming music artists, each of them singing some great tunes on their way to that big break every musician dreams of.

Upcoming Music Artists

Kyle: A rapper like very few others, Kyle Harvey doesn’t spend too much time waving his ‘bands’ and showing off how tough he is. Instead, his music is meant to relax the listener and put them in a good mood for a while to come. Having grown up in California, Kyle’s love of the beach shows in every aspect of his singing, from making music that is most at home in a beach bar to surfing over his audience during live performances (really). Making him stand out from the crowd even further, Kyle is unique in that he connects with fans on a very personal level, offering to support them back just as readily as they support him.

Kelsea Ballerini: Speaking of Taylor Swift, did you know she once played exclusively country before she was ‘encouraged’ to make something more appealing to the masses on her way to that billion-view music video? Well, Kelsea Ballerini almost seems like Taylor’s younger sister that kept playing country in her big sis’ shadow: blonde, beautiful and with all the talent needed to make it in the biz and then some. Kelsea isn’t nearly as ‘upcoming’ as many other fresh musicians – she’s already gained a bit of recognition despite being only 22 years old. Regardless, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that she still isn’t on the general public’s radar and there are likely quite a few country music lovers unfamiliar with her, so make sure to check her out if smooth female vocals are your thing.

Highly Suspect: There’s nothing suspect about Highly Suspect’s electrifying music, and you’re sure to agree with us after listening to just a couple of their tracks. These guys are true rockers and aren’t afraid to show it every step of the way, from an uncompromising theme to each of their songs to live performances that are as improvised as one could imagine. For a band that loves putting their guitars through a hurting, though, Highly Suspect have a couple of mellow tracks (as mellow as hard rock can get, that is) that will appeal to the banging audience’s softer side. The band members have a healthy dose of ambition, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t fulfill it so long as they stay true to themselves.

Playing that record is all good and well, but sometimes, nothing other than a live performance will cut it. Listening to live music isn’t just an engaging social activity that offers a unique setting and the opportunity to meet new people – it’s also a way of supporting the musicians, many of whom are still coming up and could use every fresh face in attendance they can get.

To help you navigate Corpus Christi’s busy streets and figure out the spots most worth visiting, here are some of the best places for live music you can find anywhere in the city.

 Live Music in Corpus Christi

Boneshakers: If you’re not much for contemporary music culture, Boneshakers is sure to come off as an inviting venue. Featuring a fairly strict dress code and a very particular type of music that bounces back and forth between metal and classics, Boneshakers maintains a classy atmosphere in a time when this can seem like an impossible task. Sure enough, it doesn’t hurt that the place regularly features drinks specials that’ll have you sipping on quality beer and liquor for no more than $4 a glass.

Cole Park: Unlike most other spots that could be called music venues, Cole Park creates a location like no other by effortlessly combining several fun places: a kids’ playground, a recreation park, a beach and a musical stage. If you have your own family with one or more energetic kids always jumping around and getting physical, you’ll definitely value Cole Park – day and night, it’s a great spot to bring your kids to. Speaking of nights, some of the best concerts you can find happen on Thursday evenings and the attendance is oftentimes free, so be sure to make space in your schedule to visit this park sometime.

House of Rock: True to its name, the House of Rock is frequently home to some of the most amazing rock performances you’ll find anywhere in the city. Like many other rock venues, the House can get very loud and wild, so you better be ready to party if you’re going there to listen to a live performer. This ain’t no Cole Park, so you definitely won’t want your kids tagging along – among other things, the House is known for its terrific drink specials that will get you tipsy before you’ve even run out of change. From fresh pizzas to cheap yet quality drinks to great musicians, you’ll find something to your liking here no matter the day of the week.

Concrete Street Amphitheater: You wouldn’t expect a pure music venue to disappoint in terms of live music, and you’d be right: in the past, the Amphitheater acted as a tour stop for a staggering amount of bands and musicians of immense variety and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future. From heavy metal aces all the way to our beloved country singers and from relative unknowns to world-renowned artists, one thing about Concrete Street Amphitheater performers never changes: the concerts they throw in this venue are among the best in the entire state.