Beloved funk up and comers Vulfpeck hit the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival last night, playing a jammed out set that featured some of their classic tunes and choice covers throughout. Vulfpeck has been on the rise for many years, but 2016 is something of a breakthrough for the LA-based crew. With sets scheduled at Bonnaroo, Red Rocks, Outsidelands, Lockn’ and more, the sky’s the limits for this exciting young group.

Last night, Vulfpeck played to what was the biggest crowd of their career at Bonnaroo’s The Other Tent. The band undoubtedly picked up new fans by the scores as they raged tunes from their 2015 release, Thrill Of The Arts. Opening with “Christmas In LA,” the band jammed into their song “Fugue State” before getting the crowd primed and ready for “Back Pocket,” which featured a surprise vocal accompaniment from Børns. The show featured a few covers, including The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek,” Al Green’s “Love And Happiness” and Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish.”

The switch of the instruments was forever strong, as the enormous crowd funnelled their happiness through the fabrics of a multi-colored parachute. The energy of the foursome was a complete force, as they mesmerized thousands of people with their unstoppable funkitude. Not only was this the band’s first time at Bonnaroo, but it was their first major festival appearance ever. To say it was an exhilarating performance is an understatement. It was down right intoxicating, and we couldn’t be more excited to see them rock the super jam on Saturday night alongside Kamasi Washington, Miguel, Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, GRiZ, Eric Krasno & The Shady Horns, The Internet, Chicano Batman, Lizzo, and many more unannounced guests. 

Check out more photos from Day 1 of Bonnaroo here.

Thanks to YouTube user Ben Martinez, we have full video coverage of this exciting performance. Tune the funk in, below.

Setlist: Vulfpeck at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN – 6/9/16

5:30 Christmas in LA 
10:32 Fugue State 
13:01 Back Pocket Crowd Vocal Prep
14:55 Back Pocket
18:46 Birdwatcher
21:45 My First Car
25:31 Up on Cripple Creek(the Band)
30:53 Funky Duck
33:57 1612
37:20 Wait for the Moment
42:55 Beastly
49:13 Love and Happiness(Al Green)
54:06 It Gets Funkier
58:19 I Wish(Stevie Wonder)
1:00:08 It Gets Funkier

[Photo by Rex Thomson]