Since its inception in 2002, festival goers from around the world have been making the pilgrimage to Manchester, Tennessee for the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. This year marks the 16th installment of the festival, happening once again at Great Stage Park, which attendees lovingly refer to as The Farm.
On top of their typical all-star lineup, Bonnaroo adds a number of popular EDM artists this year such as Marshmello, Borgore, and Snails to their new EDM stage, The Other. What was once mostly known as a jam-heavy music festival continues to evolve as it adds mainstream names in hip hop such as Travis Scott, The Weeknd, and Chance The Rapper.
One of the big names on the ticket this year is Irish rock band, U2, making Bonnaroo their first-ever US festival appearance. Other big name acts include Los Angeles based funk/rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tove Lo, Lorde, Major Lazer, Flume, and Cage the Elephant. Many of Bonnaroo’s big name acts will perform on their notoriously named stages: the Which Stage, the What Stage, the This Tent, the That Tent, and now, the Other. (ie: “This is That Tent, you’re looking for This Tent, which is that tent.”)
But music is far from being the bulk of the festival experience at Bonnaroo. The festival plays host to many art installations from a variety of artists over a variety of mediums. Surrounding much of Centeroo (the central area housing most of the stages) is “The Wall,” a long expanse of wood-covered fence that artists decorate each year with trippy and elaborate murals. Every year features new art installations and booths across the entirety of The Farm, with many patrons displaying art of their own at their campsites.
Bonnaroo also hosts a slew of meditation and yoga classes on its Solar Stage, a solar powered stage in the Planet Roo section that focuses on wellness and positivity. The Comedy & Cinema Tent at this year’s Bonnaroo features Kyle Kinane, Natasha Leggero, Hannibal Buress, “Napoleon Dynamite” Jon Heder, and an interactive cinema experience with Aubrey Plaza.
And, as always, there will be both a Silent Disco and a Christmas themed nightclub in a barn called Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Barn.
Festivities at Bonnaroo include daily parades, a 5K race, and a giant water slide. Non-profits at Bonnaroo also raise money for both local and national charities. For campers who wish to remain sober but still enjoy the music, Bonnaroo is bringing back Soberoo camping, a camping section designated for people who wish to refrain from illicit substance use while at the festival.
And, as always, if you want to go to Bonnaroo for free you can sign up with Clean Vibes and volunteer for either during festival or post show cleanup. You still have to put down a deposit that gets returned after you complete your service, but it's a great way to see your favorite bands on a budget if you don’t mind picking up a little trash to do it.
This article appears in Jun 8-15, 2017.