“The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June.” This, from the Bonnaroo site, is very true but Bonnaroo isn’t always a music festival, it is sometimes an intense survival experience. Cases of dysentery, swamp-foot and dehydration are not uncommon from the sometimes muddy conditions and powerful heat. But that’s not to say we don’t recommend Bonnaroo, we do! It’s one of the most widely attended and well-structured festivals in America with a roster of great bands gracing their stages every year and Bonnaroo is known for fostering a happy and community driven atmosphere that most liken to a less hippy Woodstock. We just think you should be highly prepared for the battle against the elements that at times can be Bonnaroo. Here’s our tips.
1. Tent – Bring a GOOD tent. Something sturdy with legs you can bang into the ground. You don’t want the wind and the rain ruining your good time. Camping spots are the designated space in front of your car.
2. Water- Water at Bonnaroo is free so bring a bottle to refill. Also, the sun in Tennessee can get very hot so drink plenty of it.
3. Food – Outside food is permissible at Bonnaroo so bring a cooler and some grub. If you want to buy food at the festival, prices are not exorbitant but you’ll at least want some snacks.
4. Beer – Bonnaroo is one of the few festivals were beer is allowed but only in cans. Don’t screw this-up!
5. Traffic – Expect to wait a LONG time. If you get there early on Thursday, you’ll wait up to 4 hours. Get there late, it’s more like 8.
6. Facilities – The toilets here can get pretty gross. Be prepared. Bring handy wipes and extra loo rolls.
7. Rain – Bonnaroo isn’t Glastonbury but be prepared for rain. Wrap things in plastics bags, wrap yourself in a rain slicker, think about bringing wellies.
The times for this year’s line-up hasn’t been announced yet so keep checking the Bonnaroo site. For now, drool over the immense line-up (Stevie Wonder!) and buy yourself a ticket while they last.
Dave Matthews Band
Kings of Leon
Stevie Wonder
Jay-Z
Conan O’Brien
Tenacious D
Weezer
The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs
The Dead Weather
Damian Marley and Nas
Phoenix
Norah Jones
Michael Franti and Spearhead
John Fogerty
Regina Spektor
Jimmy Cliff
Ween
LCD Soundsystem
The Avett Brothers
Thievery Corporation
Galactic
Rise Against
Tori Amos
The National
Zac Brown Band
Les Claypool
John Prine
Umphrey’s McGee
The Black Keys
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers
Jeff Beck
The Disco Biscuits
Dropkick Murphys
She & Him
Kaskade
Against Me!
Deadmau5
Daryl Hall & Chromeo
Jamey Johnson
Margaret Cho
Clutch
Bassnectar
Kid Cudi
Aziz Ansari
Kris Kristofferson
Medeski Martin & Wood
Brandi Carlile
The xx
Jeffrey Ross Roasts Bonnaroo
The Crystal Method (DJ Set)
John Butler Trio
Ozomatli
GWAR
Dan Deacon Ensemble
Los Amigos Invisibles
JB Smoove
Tinariwen
Wale
Baaba Maal
The Melvins
The Gaslight Anthem
Miike Snow
Sharam
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Gossip
Greg Giraldo
Dr. Dog
They Might Be Giants
Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
Isis
Mark Knight
Blitzen Trapper
Blues Traveler
Aterciopelados
Miranda Lambert
Calexico
Gary Chardonnay
OK Go
Bo Burnham
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Martin Sexton
Timo Maas
Lotus
Doug Benson
Baroness
Dave Rawlings Machine
Mayer Hawthorne and the County
Nick Kroll
Japandroids
Jay Electronica
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Ingrid Michaelson
The Dodos
Manchester Orchestra
The Temper Trap
Lee Burridge
Paul Scheer & Rob Huebel
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Circa Survive
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible
Danny Howells
John Roberts
NEEDTOBREATHE
Tokyo Police Club
The Entrance Band
Rob Cantrell
Local Natives
Mumford & Sons
Rebelution
Afrojack
Baron Vaughn
Diane Birch
Monte Montgomery
Fanfarlo
Julia Nunes
Langhorne Slim
The Postelles
Hercules and Love Affair (DJ set)
Julian McCullough
Mexican Institute of Sound
Lucero
Here We Go Magic
Chelsea Peretti
Mighty Clouds of Joy
LA Riots
Hot Rize
Neon Indian
Bomba Estéreo
B.O.B
Dieselboy
Alyssa Bonagura
Angus & Julia Stone
Boy Crisis
Danny Barnes
Dawes
Elizabeth Cook
Elmwood
Everest
Frank Turner
Frontier Ruckus
Harper Simon
Imelda May
Jessie Baylin
Jill Andrews
Joe Robinson
Jonathan Sexton & The Big Love Choir
Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
Joshua James
Kevin Devine
Lissie
Mike Posner
Morning Teleportation
Nneka
Orgone
Paper Tongues
Red Cortez
Royal Bangs
Samantha Crain
Sarah Jarosz
Supagroup
Tamarama
Tiny Animals
The Bakerton Group
The Bridge
The Constellations
The Devil Makes Three
The Middle East
The Moondoggies
The RBC
The Young Veins
Truth & Salvage Co.
Warpaint