Jonathan Mayers, the co-founder of the long-running Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and numerous other events, has died. His passing was confirmed in a post on the foundational Tennessee music festival’s social media on Tuesday. No cause of death was provided. Various outlets have reported that he was 51 years old, though some have noted that his age was unconfirmed.
“Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our Co-Founders, Jonathan Mayers,” the post reads. “For more than a decade Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than twenty years. As a very small token of our appreciation for what he contributed to Bonnaroo, we will plant a tree in his honor on The Farm. Our thoughts are with Jonathan’s family and friends during this very difficult time. This weekend we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating positivity.”
“Thank you, Jonathan. This one’s for you,” the post concluded. Bonnaroo 2025 is due to begin tomorrow, Thursday, June 12th, in Manchester, TN.
Mayers co-founded promotion company Superfly in 1996 alongside partners Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone, and Kerry Black after graduating from Tulane University. The company got its start producing concerts at Tipitina’s and elsewhere around New Orleans during Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest before eventually expanding to larger events.
As Billboard explains in its obituary for Mayers, “In 2002, the four men launched and sold out the first Bonnaroo after discovering the perfect festival site an hour outside of Nashville in Manchester, Tenn. Partnering with promoter Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment, agent Chip Hooper of Paradigm and manager Coran Capshaw of Red Light — and securing headliners like Trey Anastasio from Phish and Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and Bob Weir — the men created a 70,000-person festival that would become the blueprint for hundreds of other music festivals across the country.”
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He was also integral in the launch of various other Superfly events including the short-lived Vegoose in Las Vegas and the long-running Outside Lands, which continues to take place each August in San Francisco, CA’s Golden Gate Park. In 2017, he led Superfly’s efforts to partner with Viacom and Comedy Central to launch the large-scale comedy and music festival Clusterfest in San Francisco. That aptitude pairing brands and live experiences continued to pay off for Mayers, who went on to create various experiential pop-ups in major U.S. cities based on popular movies and TV shows like Seinfeld, Friends, The Daily Show, The Office, and more.
As Outside Lands organizers wrote in a post on the festival’s social media, “Jonathan was the creative force behind so much of what makes Outside Lands feel magical. He had a gift for dreaming up the surprise-and-delight moments that turned ordinary spaces into unforgettable experiences. From the Ranger Dave statue and Choco Lands to the whimsical bridge facade on top of the Lands End stage, all Jon. His imagination knew no bounds, and his commitment to joy and wonder shaped the spirit of this festival in ways too numerous to count. More than anything, we will miss his unwavering dedication to bringing people together, his passion for pushing boundaries, his infectious laugh, and his ability to tap into the inner child in all of us. Thank you for your vision, your heart, and the magic you brought into this world. We will miss you dearly.”
Superfly and Mayers cut ties in 2021. In a statement to Billboard, Mayers’ former Superfly partners said, “We are heartbroken with the passing of Jonathan. He was a cherished part of Superfly’s story, woven into it’s history and legacy. In addition to the role he’s played in bringing joy to millions, we will miss his razor sharp wit, infectious smile and contagious laugh. No one could light up a room like Jon.”
Live For Live Music thanks Jonathan Mayers for his immense contributions to the live music world and community we love. Rest in peace.
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