Over the years Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival has undoubtedly earned its place as one of the premier music festivals in the country, and with good reason. Since its inception over thirteen years ago, it has become a staple in America’s live music culture and paved the way for all major festivals in the US today. While this initially homegrown festival began with roots primarily the jam band world, it has since evolved into something much bigger than anyone, including the festival organizers, could have ever imagined.
Bonnaroo’s vast expansion over the years was especially prevalent this year, with the addition of many new features for attendees to enjoy. These were truly over the top without detracting from the noncorporate vibe the fest has always maintained. The brand new Kalliope (“Kallidope”) stage screened sporting events like the NHL Finals and the World Cup early on, then transformed into one of the most raging after hours stages with some of the hottest house music tracks and impeccable production to keep you going until way past sunrise. Additionally, you could pop into Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Barn — the elaborate replica of a New Orleans late night dive bar staple — for one of the many Tiki Disco “Full Service” parties that featured fun themes such as 90’s and classic hip-hop.
Thursday was a night filled with many special performances and fun experiences to really get things going properly and set in that Bonnaroo vibe. Past Bonnaroo volunteers/attendees Cherub returned for the first time as artists to kick things off properly with an epic dance party, sending the crowd going apeshit during their hit “Doses and Mimosas.” After their set they rushed over to their friends at Break Science to join members of Big Sam’s Funky Nation and others for an epic closer. Meanwhile, Dr. Dog played a secret show in the GA campground’s Teva stage that included a sing-a-long version of “Country Line,” among others. At midnight, High and Mightly Brass Band circled around the mushroom waterfall for an illuminated brass party parade. Truly something you will only find at Roo! Simultaenously, Austin’s White Denim showcased their diverse skills as many of the crowd debated whether they were a progessive rock band, a jazzy indie band, or a jam band.
Around 2 AM, R. Kelly fans made their way to the cinema tent for a “Trapped in the Closet” sing-along (the first 22 chapters) that was undoubtedly a highlight of the weekend and not something you will find anywhere else. Viewers were given fun props like cap guns and spatulas to let them play along and provide for an interactive experience. The energy in the cinema was through the roof with a viewing audience laughing and grinning ear to ear!
Friday was another day for the books. Things took flight with a dose of Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass on the What Stage, while Jon Batiste and Vintage Trouble played elsewhere for Bonnaroovians with a bit more energy who needed something stronger, funkier, and with a bit more POW! Next, Big Sam’s Funky Nation kept the energy going, bringing those funky NOLA vibes for an all out dance party that had fans moving and groovin’. Things really got crazy when Umphrey’s McGee took the main stage for the first time. They threw down hard with some epic elaborate jams. After opening with “Similar Skin” from their new album, the band delved into to classics like “Prowler,” “JaJunk,” and “Hajimemishite” as Umph fans old and new were lapping up the tasty improvisation laid down before them. Download the full Umphrey’s Mcgee set here. Attendees then had to make a pre-Kanye choice between Phoenix, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Vampire Weekend.
Phoenix dropped their hits “Lisztomania,” “Too Young,” and “Girlfriend” before people made their way to Kanye West to see the what was about to transpire. There was definitely a lot of hate for Kanye before the show as attendees flaunted “Fuck Kanye” and “Gay Fish” (a classic South Park reference) t-shirts, graffiti, and signs all around. Whether you loved or hated it, Kanye put on a show in full Kanye fashion. There was no shortage of hits, rants, or self declarations of being a bigger rockstar than both John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix. But, would you really expect any more or less?
Now it was time for the big event, The Derek Trucks Funk and Soul Superjam. Worth the price of admission to the festival alone, Friday night’s epic collaboration was composed of some of the greatest musicians in funk, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll history. This ultimate jam of all jams was introduced by comedian Hannibal Burress and comprised of Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Chaka Khan, Taj Mahal, David Hidalgo, Karl Denson, Adam Deitch, The Shady Horns, Willie Weeks, Eric Krasno, Ben Folds, Nigel Hall, James Gadson, and more. It easily may have been the greatest Superjam in Bonnaroo history as this epically talented group of musicians came together seamlessly and weaved in and out of reinditions of classic songs by Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, Bill Withers, Derek and The Dominos, Traffic, Otis Redding, Earth Wind and Fire, and even Led Zeppelin. We highly recommend you download the entire audio here or watch the entire pro-shot video below.
For a complete change of pace, most Rooers then made their way to rage at either Die Antwoord or Skrillex. The latter boasted top-notch production, a spaceship DJ booth, and crazy bangers from all over the EDM spectrum — techno to deep house back to his classic trademark dubstep style — that had the whole festival getting the fuck down. Simultaneously South African rave-rap rockstars Die Antwoord put on a show that perfectly showcased their bizarre, unique style with all of the hits and insanely high energy. Wherever you chose to end your journey on Friday, it was undoubtedly with a big smile on your face and the anticipation of the two more days to follow.
Saturday carried on the good times and good vibes as High and Mighty Brass Band kicked off the early afternoon on the Which Stage with some NOLA powered funk before Tedeschi Trucks Band brought a soulful set to the What Stage. Cage The Elephant played a killer set and admitted to attending their first Bonnaroo 10 years ago as patrons. Meanwhile Grouplove’s contagiously high energy took the That Tent by storm, fueled by lead singer Christian Zucconi’s crowd surfing antics and a stunning cover of Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love”. Chromeo brought their brand of sexy smooth disco funk to the Which Stage as they crushed a few of their older tunes as well as a bunch of tracks from their new album White Women. Next, everyone got pumped for Lionel Richie to bring his “All Hits All Night” tour our way, which shows how eclectic this festival truly is. Highlights from his set included “Brick House,” “I’m Easy,” “Dancing On The Ceiling,” and of course “All Night Long.”
Following that, fans had a choice between fist pumping to Zedd, getting wavy to Cut Copy, head bobbing to James Blake or swooning to Lauryn Hill. (Life at Bonnaroo is really hard and requires you to make difficult decisions). When headliner for the evening Jack White finally hit the stage, there was not one attendee absent. While the rest of the festival was shut down for this legend, he absolutely crushed songs from his days with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and his two solo albums with such intensity that the crowd watched and cheered on with jaws firmly planted on the floor. Download the entire soundboard audio from the Jack White set here!
What came next was, without a doubt, the most progressive set of the weekend. The Skrillex and Friends Superjam was created with the intent of blurring genre lines across the board and breaking down misconceptions and skepticism. Indeed it accomplished just that, with genre-defying, legendary special guests Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Big Gigantic, Joel Cummins (Umphrey’s McGee), Robby Kreiger (The Doors), Janelle Monae, Thundercat, Chance the Rapper, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Zedd, High and Mighty Brass Band, surprise guests Lauryn Hill, Mystikal, Warpaint, Craig Robinson, and more. Skrillex surprised the skeptics as he exhibited a multitude of musical talents, leading the epic jam as a bandleader, doing his thing on the decks, and ripping the guitar on renditions of tracks like “Pump up the Jam,” Grateful Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain,” Toto’s “Africa,” Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy,” The Doors’ “Break on Through (To The Other Side),” Michael Jackson’s “Wanan Be Starting Something,” James Brown’s “I Feel Good,” David Bowie’s “Lets Dance,” “Shake Ya Ass,” Bob Marley’s “Jammin,” and a powerful closer of “Ready or Not.” The superjam is really what Bonnaroo is all about: breaking down boundaries and finding connections through the power of music.
Following this high-energy and moving collaboration, electronic music fans had their pick of the litter between Kaskade, Darkside, and The Glitch Mob. All three threw down incredible sets with amazing production that kept the party going until 4:30 AM on the main stages. However, it is Bonnaroo, where no evening ends before daylight. As such, Snake and Jake’s kept the party going with a 90’s rave while the Kalliope stage blasted ragers and lasers far into the morning.
Sunday morning at Bonnaroo can be a very bittersweet experience. The three days of absolute perfection makes you feel like you are on cloud 9, while the impending end of your journey, combined with the inevitable onset of fatigue, begins to take a toll on you. However, somehow the energy at Bonnaroo is still high, and those in search of early afternoon bluegrass found solace in Yonder Mountain String Band at the What Stage, while those searching for a midday dance party would have no need to look any further than Capital Cities at the Which Stage.
L4LM special mention goes to the most unexpected highlight of the weekend, when The Office’s Craig Robinson & The Nasty Delicious played a funk-fueled cover set in the comedy tent. He was surprisingly not just funny but extremely talented, and his band really brought the heat and could have easily held their own against any of the acts on the main stages. After briefly playing to a seated crowd with parody songs such as “Take Your Panties Off” (from This is The End), the comedian asked the crowd to fold up their chairs and turned the previously stuffy, seated venue into an all-out dance party. Highlights from his set included “Purple Rain,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Don’t Stop Believing,” “That Girl Is Poison,” and “Amazing Grace,” just to name a few.
As the sun descended on the final hours of the festival, most attendees made their way to Broken Bells, the musical collaboration between Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) and James Mercer (The Shins). Highlights included their hits “After The Disco” and “Holding On For Life.” Then, flocks of people quickly made their way to The Bluegrass Situation Superjam hosted by Ed Helms and featuring The Lonesome Trio, Lake Street Drive, Sara Jarosz, Dierks Bently, The Black Lillies, The Lone Bellow, Robert Ellis, and more. Bonnaroo’s unique concept of having A-list celebrities share a stage with some of the best musicians out there is groundbreaking and generally just awesome.
The finale to the weekend could not have been more perfect, as Sir Elton John took the main stage to a crowd of 80,000 fans for what was to be his first time at a North American festival. He exclaimed to the crowd excitedly, “I know it’s the best one!” and opened with “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” before delving into his hits “Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Tiny Dancer, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Rocket Man.” Ben Folds joined him for a show-stopping duet on “Grey Seal,” before he closed in style with “Crocodile Rock.” This was a seriously incredible experienece that attendees will not soon forget.
Bonnaroo is far more than one of the greatest festivals out there. It is a weekend of community, open-mindedness and positivity. It is a reminder of how powerful and transcendent music can be, both on a personal and group level. The breaking down of boundaries across genres is particularly prevalent at this fest and serves to minimize stereotyping and judgments: something that everyone can take back with them and utilize in their everyday lives. The collaborations are truly a once in a lifetime experience and elevate one’s musical experience to another level. Bonnaroo will leave any music lover feeling enlightened, gratified, and ready to go back for another round.
–Kunj Shah (@KunjShah87)
[photos from Bonnaroo.com by Jeff Kravitz, Joshua Semolik, Anna Webber, Michael Zorn, James Lemke Jr.]