My Thoughts on the Bonnaroo Lineup

Another year come and gone, and here we are at the beginning of February discussing the Bonnaroo Music Festival, just as we did in years past…

Ever since I’ve been following this, even before I had started Live Music Blog, I got super excited about who they’d announce for this music festival. I remember reading that first year lineup and thinking, “wow, it’s like what Woodstock ’99 was meant to be…” and I’m sure there were others that had a similar sentiment.

This year was particularly exciting for me as it appears we had a small jump on posting the leaked lineup, which in turn led to the highest traffic day ever on Live Music Blog. I don’t want to give specifics, but we generally had three times our daily average show up just yesterday — even given that Monday had broken our previous traffic record as well. Quite exciting, indeed.

Overall, though — the past two years have brought changes to the festival that always seem to have everyone up in arms. Superfly, the festival promoters, have decided that they want their music festival to have a larger, broader national appeal. Nobody could argue this fact given the elephant headliners in the room for this year’s lineup – The Police, Tool, and Widespread Panic. To me, these are three bands that stand as pillars anchoring the festival to three distinct sets of concert-goers — the nostalgia crowd, the mainstream and/or younger crowd (depending on your definition), and the road-warrior jamband fan crowd.

But this is the problem most people have with the festival — they want it to be ONE crowd. They want it to be jambands only, as if that was the original intention of the festival from the beginning (which it most clearly was not). They worry that Tool fans are going to mix negatively with jamband fans. Goth vs. hippie. Etc. etc.

This has to be one of the most exciting music festival lineups I’ve ever seen and I commend Superfly for putting this together. Every year, they successfully question the status quo programmed into all of these distinct crowds that they hope to attract, and every year people discuss the merits and pitfalls associated with such a grand experiment.

And want to know what — every year it goes off without a hitch with critics and fans far and away praising the festival. I expect nothing but the same for this year…

February 14, 2007 | by Justin Ward | Features

About the author

Justin Ward is the Editor at Live Music Blog and has been with the site from the very beginning. He currently lives in San Francisco and regularly tweets other stuff over @justinpward.

He also plays in NVO and sometimes calls himself dudha.us ("dude house"). Follow his projects over at JustinWard.org.

http://www.ihoz.com zzyzx

Actually there is a crowd issue and it’s one of the reasons why I’m glad that I’m not going to this event. Bonnaroo is great if you’re a 20-25 year old male who wants to do a lot of drugs and go to the parking lot strip club. If you’re looking for any sort of community, you should head elsewhere. Bonnaroo is everyone for themselves.

..and in that sense, it is the perfect festival for our times. Why help out people when you can mock them from the VIP section?
http://www.ihoz.com zzyzx

Actually there is a crowd issue and it’s one of the reasons why I’m glad that I’m not going to this event. Bonnaroo is great if you’re a 20-25 year old male who wants to do a lot of drugs and go to the parking lot strip club. If you’re looking for any sort of community, you should head elsewhere. Bonnaroo is everyone for themselves.

..and in that sense, it is the perfect festival for our times. Why help out people when you can mock them from the VIP section?
http://whosdrivingthebus.blogspot.com/ danfun

What I find really weird about the linup is that there are a lot of bands that played Lollapalooza last year.
Ween
Wilco
Flaming Lips
Manu Chau
The Holdsteady
Wolfmother

All of which are good to great bands but none of them really put on great festival sets. I thought that I would definetly go to Roo this year beacause I felt like trying a different festival but my thinking now is just save your money and vaction days. That way I can travel to see bands I really like The Whitestripes/MMJ/Rayn in a few other city and once they announce their summer/fall tour plans. All of the show will be longer sets and in smaller venues.
robotic

Congrats on the milestone with the blog, Justin!!! The lineup sounds like a lot of fun. It sounds like sooo much fun it makes me ALMOST want to go down there for it. I think you hit the nail on the head, Justin; there is something for everyone. Also, if you go there with an open mind, you will probably end up as a fan of a band that you’ve never heard before. That is THE true love affair you can have with music. That is what is SO excellent about festivals; you get exposed to many wonderful things as long as you are willing and excited to let them into your mind!!! Of course, there are negative aspects surrounding festivals. For example: I enjoy access to a clean toilet at least once a day, but that’s just me. I am glad to have attended all the festivals that I have chosen to go to (and even the ones I didn’t plan on going to, but ended up at anyways). I never really minded sacrificing the grateful amenities of society in exchange for a superior communal atmosphere and sweet, sweet music. So, if you go to Bonnaroo 2007, go with an open mind and enjoy yourself and the company of all the people who are there!!! Who knows, if you are lucky, you may even see a wooked-out alpha goth giving a backrub to a rolling hippie or something!!!
robotic

Congrats on the milestone with the blog, Justin!!! The lineup sounds like a lot of fun. It sounds like sooo much fun it makes me ALMOST want to go down there for it. I think you hit the nail on the head, Justin; there is something for everyone. Also, if you go there with an open mind, you will probably end up as a fan of a band that you’ve never heard before. That is THE true love affair you can have with music. That is what is SO excellent about festivals; you get exposed to many wonderful things as long as you are willing and excited to let them into your mind!!! Of course, there are negative aspects surrounding festivals. For example: I enjoy access to a clean toilet at least once a day, but that’s just me. I am glad to have attended all the festivals that I have chosen to go to (and even the ones I didn’t plan on going to, but ended up at anyways). I never really minded sacrificing the grateful amenities of society in exchange for a superior communal atmosphere and sweet, sweet music. So, if you go to Bonnaroo 2007, go with an open mind and enjoy yourself and the company of all the people who are there!!! Who knows, if you are lucky, you may even see a wooked-out alpha goth giving a backrub to a rolling hippie or something!!!
Timmay

I gotta say, I agree with Justin 100%. Bonnaroo has been steadily diversifying from the jamband-dominance of the first year, and every year, people criticize it. Every year, it turns out great. Last year, people were up in arms over Radiohead being on the bill, some labeling them as an MTV band (which could not be farther from the truth). What happened? Tons of people listed that as their favorite set of the fest.

I also laugh at people who claim that bands like Tool are mainstream. Can anyone say that Tool is more mainstream than say Phish, or the Dead? I certainly can’t. Just because a band doesn’t noodle for 15 minutes on every song, doesn’t mean they don’t make quality music. It never fails to amaze me how people who claim to be part of the “jamband” scene, a scene that is purportedly open to music influences from all genres, can be so close-minded when it comes to new bands.

Bands like the Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, etc. have all become “heady” favorites. Yet they are clearly outside the spectrum of traditional jambands, and made their big splash in the scene at Bonnaroo.

Also, to DanFun — regarding the bands you lsited as not putting on great festival sets, I can only imagine that was a one-time thing, at Lollapalooza. You’d never be saying that if you had witnessed the Flaming Lips late-nite set at ‘Roo 2003, or late-nite Ween at ‘Roo 2004, or Wilco at ‘Roo 2004.

Bonnaroo tends to bring out the best in almost every band that plays.
Timmay

I gotta say, I agree with Justin 100%. Bonnaroo has been steadily diversifying from the jamband-dominance of the first year, and every year, people criticize it. Every year, it turns out great. Last year, people were up in arms over Radiohead being on the bill, some labeling them as an MTV band (which could not be farther from the truth). What happened? Tons of people listed that as their favorite set of the fest.

I also laugh at people who claim that bands like Tool are mainstream. Can anyone say that Tool is more mainstream than say Phish, or the Dead? I certainly can’t. Just because a band doesn’t noodle for 15 minutes on every song, doesn’t mean they don’t make quality music. It never fails to amaze me how people who claim to be part of the “jamband” scene, a scene that is purportedly open to music influences from all genres, can be so close-minded when it comes to new bands.

Bands like the Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, etc. have all become “heady” favorites. Yet they are clearly outside the spectrum of traditional jambands, and made their big splash in the scene at Bonnaroo.

Also, to DanFun — regarding the bands you lsited as not putting on great festival sets, I can only imagine that was a one-time thing, at Lollapalooza. You’d never be saying that if you had witnessed the Flaming Lips late-nite set at ‘Roo 2003, or late-nite Ween at ‘Roo 2004, or Wilco at ‘Roo 2004.

Bonnaroo tends to bring out the best in almost every band that plays.
http://whosdrivingthebus.blogspot.com/ danfun

I would agree that bands put on better festival set at Bonnaroo but to me most of the time they are still jsut festival seta few band, MMJ for example really try to do up their set at Roo. But I am sure that the Flaming Lips will put on the same show they have been putting on for a while and I am not trying to be negative I have seen them close to 30 times over the past 13 years. Perhaps they will bring their new space ship set up but it will still be similar. Also Wilco have also been playing a very similar set for the past 3 years. Which although great I don’t see them changing it up too much for Roo. For the biggest draw on this linup is the Whitestripes. They just destroy but I think I just want more of the Stripes than Bonnaroo will be able to provide.
http://whosdrivingthebus.blogspot.com/ danfun

I would agree that bands put on better festival set at Bonnaroo but to me most of the time they are still jsut festival seta few band, MMJ for example really try to do up their set at Roo. But I am sure that the Flaming Lips will put on the same show they have been putting on for a while and I am not trying to be negative I have seen them close to 30 times over the past 13 years. Perhaps they will bring their new space ship set up but it will still be similar. Also Wilco have also been playing a very similar set for the past 3 years. Which although great I don’t see them changing it up too much for Roo. For the biggest draw on this linup is the Whitestripes. They just destroy but I think I just want more of the Stripes than Bonnaroo will be able to provide.
Jim

I Agree with Justin and Timmay as well on this festival line-up. I also think that they built this line-up just for me. My top played artist in the past year have been Panic, K-Dub, Wilco, Flaming Lips, White Stripes, Xavier Rudd, Damien Rice, Ween, Galactic, Brazilian Girls, Mute Math, The Roots, Hot Chip, SCI, Spearhead, Ben Harper and Tool. The bands that are left out of the line-up that I have been listening to alot of lately are YMSB, MMJ, Ozomatli, moe., J5, The Dead etc., ALO, Matt Costa, New Monsoon, Talib Kweli, Ray LaMontagne, Trampled by Turtles, Secret Machines, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Stevie Wonder. I could see about 1/4 of these bands being added in the next couple months. I am already busting a nut over this line-up, it can only get better.

p.s. OPEN YOUR MIND PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! By June 17th you could possibly be the biggest Tool fan, and you don’t even know it yet…
Jim

I Agree with Justin and Timmay as well on this festival line-up. I also think that they built this line-up just for me. My top played artist in the past year have been Panic, K-Dub, Wilco, Flaming Lips, White Stripes, Xavier Rudd, Damien Rice, Ween, Galactic, Brazilian Girls, Mute Math, The Roots, Hot Chip, SCI, Spearhead, Ben Harper and Tool. The bands that are left out of the line-up that I have been listening to alot of lately are YMSB, MMJ, Ozomatli, moe., J5, The Dead etc., ALO, Matt Costa, New Monsoon, Talib Kweli, Ray LaMontagne, Trampled by Turtles, Secret Machines, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Stevie Wonder. I could see about 1/4 of these bands being added in the next couple months. I am already busting a nut over this line-up, it can only get better.

p.s. OPEN YOUR MIND PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! By June 17th you could possibly be the biggest Tool fan, and you don’t even know it yet…
Steve K

I think this lineup kicks ass! And guess what, if you dont like it you dont have to go! Thats the best part, i have gone the last two years and last year was amazing. I got to see bands i never thought i would see like Beck and Radiohead and Tom Petty. I still find it hard to believe some people didnt like the Radiohead show which was one of the best shows i have and will ever see. Three cheers for Bonnaroo for not submitting to what some people want and doing what they want to do, which is a festival that appeals to a large diverse crowd. Sorry if you do not like all the bands or all the people that will be there and if that is the case than dont go.
Steve K

I think this lineup kicks ass! And guess what, if you dont like it you dont have to go! Thats the best part, i have gone the last two years and last year was amazing. I got to see bands i never thought i would see like Beck and Radiohead and Tom Petty. I still find it hard to believe some people didnt like the Radiohead show which was one of the best shows i have and will ever see. Three cheers for Bonnaroo for not submitting to what some people want and doing what they want to do, which is a festival that appeals to a large diverse crowd. Sorry if you do not like all the bands or all the people that will be there and if that is the case than dont go.
Scott

Anyone who thinks that tool fans are “goths” doesnt deserve to listen to music.
Scott

Anyone who thinks that tool fans are “goths” doesnt deserve to listen to music.
jim

the festival is designed for people who love music, and who don’t descriminate specific genres. I dont think 70,000 people who respect and love the art of music is a bad crowd, no matter how you chose to label them.
jim

the festival is designed for people who love music, and who don’t descriminate specific genres. I dont think 70,000 people who respect and love the art of music is a bad crowd, no matter how you chose to label them.
stems

Is anyone else taken aback that SCI got booked for this?

Maybe it’s not so surprising — Superfly has lots of money — but I was under the impression that there weren’t going to be that many Incidents this summer.

SCI did become pretty popular after playing the first Roo, so maybe they’re just going full-circle. But I was hoping these final String Cheese Incident shows would be a little more intimate.

Oh well, party on.
stems

Is anyone else taken aback that SCI got booked for this?

Maybe it’s not so surprising — Superfly has lots of money — but I was under the impression that there weren’t going to be that many Incidents this summer.

SCI did become pretty popular after playing the first Roo, so maybe they’re just going full-circle. But I was hoping these final String Cheese Incident shows would be a little more intimate.

Oh well, party on.
local_support

Looking forward to the mosh pits.