It was another hot year on The Farm as herds of sweaty hippies descended upon Manchester like a swarm of locusts. This year Bonnaroo celebrated its sweet 16, an important year for the festival as it renews its contract with the county on June 30th.
With their current contract, Live Nation pays Coffee County $30,000 down, and an additional $3 for every ticket sold to cover the cities extra expenses for police and emergency services. After Bonnaroo experienced record low attendance last year, strong attendance this year was necessary to maintaining the relationship with the county. According to a source with Live Nation, daily attendance was up nearly 43% this year, with over 65,000 in attendance as opposed to last year's 45,000. While these increased numbers are good for the festival, they are still down significantly from their records highs of over 100,000 in 2012 and over 90,000 in 2013-2014.
A lot has changed about this festival throughout the years. What started as a bluegrass and jam festival has evolved into something completely different. While a few folksier bands played throughout the daylight hours of the festival, many of the artists in this years lineup were either in the genre of rap or EDM. Friday night's headliners were mostly electric inspired pop, with names like Francis and the Lights, Tove Lo, and Glass Animals. The main exception to this of course was U2, who for some god awful reason had a two hour window blocked off where there were no other stages playing. This marked U2’s first ever US festival appearance and Friday night, U2 guitarist The Edge received the second annual Les Paul Spirit award. Other big names Friday included D.R.A.M., Major Lazer, and The Strumbellas.
Festival fashion at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPresto
While the lineups each day were incredible, it at times seemed like Bonnaroo was just trying to fuck with you. After a jaw dropping concert by Chance the Rapper at the What Stage Saturday night, where he constantly thanked his fans for getting him there and humbly gazed at the audience in awe, Cage the Elephant and Louis the Child played simultaneous sets at different stages within Centeroo, the gated off area that houses the eight canonical stages and a majority of the festival’s vendors. This was followed by another two hour block of a band that not everyone at Bonnaroo was too excited about, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Minutes after their set began on the What stage, droves of people flooded out of the stage area and returned to their tents to bide their time until the Chili Peppers had finally ended. While it wasn’t a bad show, it was a little tangential from the overall vibe of the night.
It was the sets directly after The Chili Peppers that really split many festival goers internally.
Flume, Snails, and a Super Jam featuring Chance the Rapper; all happening at the same time on three different stages within eyesight of each other in the heart of Centeroo. While Flume’s set was more ambient and psychedelic in timbre, Snails’ dub-heavy sample manipulation and mind-melting animations destroyed The Other Stage and had fans violently dancing to the delirium inducing music.
Attendance at these concerts were undercut by the funky Super Jam going on at the This Tent. Besides Chance, jammers included members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, recording artists Joseph, and eccentric singer Boyfriend. On top of all of these happening at once, the psychedelic artist Sphongle was scheduled to perform a set at the That Tent at the same time, but was cancelled due to problems with his visa. After many migrated from each of these stages to see as many of these artists as possible, festival goers gathered once again at The Other stage for the last concert of the night, Marshmello. Despite the hype of his set, Marshmello threw off some fans by doing a set where every song was a hard EDM remix of classic pop and rock songs. Strange remixes he did included Livin’ On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Last Resort" by Papa Roach, and the song he closed with for some odd reason, "Hello" by Adele.
Milky Chance performs on the What Stage Sunday afternoon Credit: Kaylee LoPresto
The last day of any festival is always a little strange. With a handful of the camps packed and missing from The Farm, dirt stained hippies braved the heat during the day to enjoy the last bit of 2017’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival. Daytime performances Sunday included Flint Eastwood, country singer Cam, and artists of the hit song ‘Stolen Dance’, Milky Chance. Flatbush Zombies began their set in the This Tent right as the sun began to set, and Borgore and Lorde started coinciding sets shortly after. While acts at the Other Stage Sunday happened according to schedule, Lorde and Travis Scott’s sets were delayed briefly due to technical difficulties. Following Borgore, Yellowclaw closed out the Other Stage with the last EDM set of the festival. After all the rest of the stages had closed and staff began dismantling equipment, The Weeknd took to the What Stage to close out the weekend. In the middle of his sexual, angst laden set, he looked over the crowd, smiled and said, “I like Bonnaroo.” With all the elaborate lights and good vibes, it’s hard not to like Bonnaroo.
One of Paige Mellen’s finished paintings on the walls of Centeroo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Oasis by Bacardi at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Oasis by Bacardi had a great view over The Other stage, along with mixed drinks in coconuts, hammocks, and a volleyball court. Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Big Ass Waterslide Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThis Tent at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoA young woman does ballet by the Which Stage as the sun sets into the treeline Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThere’s never a dress code at Roo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoWe tried to capture a quick shot of Santa secretly smoking a bowl at Bonnaroo 2017. Does Mrs. Claus know about this? Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoA circular tunnel covered in ribbons led the entrance to the VIP section next to the What Stage Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe giant rainbow parachute at the What Stage before Chance the Rapper’s performance Saturday night Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoPrior to the Chance the Rapper concert, fans ran to slide under the rainbow parachute bouncing through the air, rolling around and laughing underneath it Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoDespite getting whacked in the face, everybody loved it Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThis nameless girl ran up to people and took their picture, handing them the printed film and running off to gift some more festy photos Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoChance the Rapper seemed like an ant on the enormous What Stage Saturday night Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoChance the Rapper’s set ended with a beautiful sunrise on the screen behind him, the sun ascending as he came closer to the end of his packed set Saturday Night Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe sunrise on the screen began its descent as Chance finished off his set and confetti and streamers exploded into the crowd Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoWater refill locations were planted all around the festival grounds to ensure everybody stayed hydrated Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival goers fill their hydration packs and water bottles at the water station near the What Stage Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoClean Vibes, a program which lets you exchange volunteer work for a free festival ticket, was in full force the entire festival and kept the park clean throughout Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe #snowchill tent, an air conditioned room where it lightly snows bubbles, everything smells of peppermint, and you can hide from the heat next to inflatable Christmas characters Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoA yoga workshop Saturday Morning at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Who Stage entrance at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFlint Eastwood, artist of the song ‘Glitches’, performed at the Who Stage Sunday morning Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFlint Eastwood throws waters on sweating fans to cool them down in the summer heat Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoWristband registration centers were set up all around for easy access (registering allowed you to enter the comedy tent and enter contests) Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival goer’s decorated the outside walls of Centeroo with various graffiti and art Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival-goer’s decorated the outside walls of Centeroo with graffiti and art Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoA close up of the infamous arch, which was covered in thousands of small blue and purple sequins Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoHeat led many people to go topless. Like, a lot of people. There were a lot of boobs out. Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo Music and Arts festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoLos Angeles made their presence known at Roo 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBooths set up leading to the entrance to the festival included a photo booth, the Bonnaroo census, and the Post Office Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoWhere R Yoo From? allowed people to place a dot on where they’re from and create a colorful map of where this years Bonnarovians travelled from Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoTeva hosted the Outpost outside the main doors to Centeroo, providing a cool spot to take a break from the heat Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Teva Outpost at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFans flashed peace signs and chugged beers as they walked to the entrance of Centeroo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoArtists spray painted graffiti on the walls surrounding Centeroo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoCheck your bag, scan your wristband, and give a quick high five. That’s the way we enter Bonnaroo. Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoAll smiles on the last day of Bonnaroo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoPerfect place to sit in the shade and cool off at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoCountry singer Cam performs on the Which Stage Sunday morning with literal bouncing curls Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival fashion at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoArtists of the hit song ‘Stolen Dance’ Milky Chance posing for pictures a couple hours before their show in the press tent Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoClemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch of Milky Chance took a break from the heat and sat down to talk to us during the festival Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe fountain at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 kept people cool in the sweltering heat Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival-goers were quick to rejoice as they cooled down Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFestival-goers at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoOne couple carried large sunflowers that they danced with during concerts Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoArtist Paige Mellen painted multiple murals on the walls of Centeroo Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFans rejoiced in the contours of the shade Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoSeriously, people filed every spot of shade they could find Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Bonnaroo Super Store where you can get all that good stuff (festival merch) Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoMilky Chance performs on the What Stage Sunday afternoon Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoMilky Chance performs on the What Stage Sunday afternoon Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo gets political Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoAttendees were encouraged to write their Bonnaroo memories on the memory wall Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoLots of girls at Roo carried around handheld bubble blowing machines and brought smiles to the faces of many other festival goers Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoBonnaroo Memory Wall Reads:
“I fell in love with my now late husband Daniel Shaver on 6.14.08. #PearlJam. Last year, he was murdered by a police officer who was fired and charged with 2nd degree murder. Last year, our 8/yo daughter and I came back for Pearl Jam to spread his ashes.” Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThis thing shoots fire out of it’s butt and cooks full pigs. Enough said. Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoElaborate costumes and accessories were popular among festival-goers at Bonnaroo 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoLook closely in the background. Do you see an end to the sea of people? This is what it looked like trying to get out of the front of the crowd at nearly every show at this years Bonnaroo, attending by 65,000 people Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoD.R.A.M. performs at The Other stage Saturday evening Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoDisposable cameras ran rampant among the festival as more and more people opted to leave their phone in the tent and experience, but still wanted to make sure to capture the best moments Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoA packed crowd already extends out of the This Tent at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 almost a half hour before The Flatbush Zombies’ set begins Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoFlatbush Zombies perform at the This Tent Sunday evening Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoTove Lo put on a stellar performance Saturday night; she danced hard and the crowd danced with her Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoIt was dark, there were headphones, and if you were walking by everybody looked pretty silly. The Silent Disco at Bonnaroo 2017 was a sight to behold and a party that never stopped Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoThe Silent Disco at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2017 Credit: Kaylee LoPrestoGallant performs on the This Tent stage Friday night Credit: Kaylee LoPresto“That’s That Tent, not This Tent.” Credit: Kaylee LoPresto
