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Beach Bunny at Minnesota Yacht Club

By on October 10, 2025

Imagine the humid July air buzzing with anticipation at Harriet Island Regional Park, where the Mississippi River lapped gently against the shores during the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival in 2025. It was here, on July 20, that Chicago’s own Beach Bunny hopped onto the stage, their infectious energy turning the crowd into a sea of swaying arms and shared smiles. But to truly appreciate that electric set, let’s rewind to the band’s humble beginnings—a tale that feels like a scrappy indie rom-com, full of bedroom demos and viral breakthroughs.

File Photo: Lili Trifilio of Beach Bunny performs on Day 3 of the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, July 20, 2025 (Photo Credit and Copyright; Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

It all started in 2015 in a cozy Chicago apartment, where Lili Trifilio, a fresh-faced guitarist and vocalist, poured her heart into a solo project called Beach Bunny. Fresh off the end of a previous duo, Trifilio picked up her guitar and recorded her first track, “6 Weeks,” just for fun. What began as late-night songwriting sessions quickly snowballed. By 2016, she’d released the EP Pool Party, a bubbly mix of lo-fi pop that captured the awkward thrill of young adulthood. Fans latched on, and soon Trifilio assembled a full band to bring her tunes to life on stage.

The real magic ignited in 2017 when the group expanded, dropping the EP Crybaby and honing their signature sound: punchy indie rock laced with witty lyrics about love, anxiety, and growing up. Then came 2018’s Prom Queen EP, anchored by the title track—a raw anthem of self-doubt that exploded on TikTok in late 2019, racking up millions of streams and thrusting Beach Bunny into the spotlight. Their debut album, Honeymoon in 2020, was a critical darling, blending sunny hooks with emotional depth on tracks like “Cloud 9,” which became a quarantine-era staple in 2021.As the band toured relentlessly, they weathered lineup shifts—losing lead guitarist Matt Henkels in 2022 but streamlining into a tight three-piece.

File Photo: Beach Bunny performs on Day 3 of the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, July 20, 2025 (Photo Credit and Copyright; Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Emotional Creature followed that year, diving deeper into themes of vulnerability, while 2025’s Tunnel Vision marked their third full-length, showcasing matured songcraft with singles like “Clueless” and the title track. Through it all, Beach Bunny has stayed true to their roots: empowering, relatable rock that makes you feel seen, whether you’re screaming along in a festival crowd or humming alone in your car. At Minnesota Yacht Club, they delivered just that—a reminder that from solo dreams to sold-out stages, persistence pays off in the sweetest, most anthemic ways.

Band Members

  • Lili Trifilio – vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter and lyricist
  • Jon Alvarado – drums, percussion
  • Anthony Vaccaro – lead guitar

Setlist

  • Cloud 9
  • Ms. California
  • Mr. Predictable
  • Big Pink Bubble
  • Weeds
  • Oxygen
  • Chasm
  • Nice Guys
  • Tunnel Vision
  • Violence
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