Why I’m Not Going to Bonnaroo
Story by:
Justin Ward
I know everyone’s getting excited for Bonnaroo and all, but there’s something that I need to share with my live music breathren that some blogs might not ever show you…
I don’t believe I’ve ever gone into the full, full story except for something way back on my personal blog, so I’ll just give you the abbreviated version…
Bonnaroo 2004 was (without a doubt) some of the hottest weather that I’ve actually experienced. When I say experienced, I mean, we experienced it. There was no way to escape into an air conditioned environment, and it caused my half-Irish / half-Swedish skin to start turning on itself.
Technically, it was sun poisoning that hit my legs and started to get my back (through a t-shirt I was wearing the whole time), and it started to make me feel as though the sun was going to be my certain death.
View the photo above with the same restraint that you would give a horrible car crash (I don’t want you to barf on your keyboard), and just know this…we left early due to my stupid-ass forgetting to put sunblock on my legs when venturing out into the 100 degree, Tennessee-in-June sun. Don’t make that same mistake.
Update (2/1/06): Bonnaroo 2006 Lineup Announced!
yea but look at the line up this year for bonnaroo, radiohead, oysterhead, tom petty, they got it stacked this year and its goin to be a festival that you cant miss.
Ive been a bonnaroo goer for the last 4 years. I keep going back due to it was the first big festival taht i had ever been to.
And the comment a bout mtv buying it out is a joke. The owners of bonnaroo denied the offer to mtv if i read correctly
I’ll put up with the heat for Bonnaroo any summer. Who wouldn’t kill to be at the biggest, coolest festival of the summer with 80,000 people to party with, not to mention your closest friends. Your missin out brother.
Alternative to Bonnaroo is All Good Music Festival in West Virginia. Pretty sick last year, except for the weather (like every other festival it seems like). Nothing official yet yet but Pollstar has Tea Leaf Green, Hackensaw Boys, Umphreys McGee and Bob Schneider listed as playing the weekend of July 15 in West Virginia.
Speaking of TLG, seeing them for the first time tonight, and if things go well maybe again tomorrow night. From the recordings I’ve heard though I think they are gonna blow up and sweep the festival circuit this summer (even more than they did last summer).
Any one who has been to Bonnaroo the last two years knows the new croud it draws. Ive hered rumors that 06 will be sonsered by MTV. Between the shooting lst year, the “Dave” fans, and new breed of jam-crack heads, bonnaroo is dead, save your self the trubel and hit up one of the other major festivals like Wakasaru in Kanssas, Night of 10,000 lake, or High Searia.
Why go to Bon when you have Waka a week before? Kansas, not so hot and come on…$99 for 4 day pass? Tru you would miss out on Radiohead, but Bela will be there… oh yeah….
I’m a TN native, and yes – the summer sun can be quite the hassle. It makes it even worse cause the humidity makes every sweat gland in your body open up, thus making the sun even that more hot on your freshly “misted” skin. I feel ya brother.. I’ve had ONE pleasant bonnaroo weather experience (’03), but it sure is hard to say “no” to a simple 45 minute drive. yep, i’ll probably be back.
I don’t appreciate that kind of talk. Criticism is fine if you’re constructive…
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Ough! Nasty pix. Amsterdam can be pretty cold in march. remember that when your pack your bags for the Jam …
dude, f*** sun poisoning when you can stay in chitown and get alcohol poisoning
There are quite a few reasons why one wouldn’t go to Bonnaroo. It really is impossible to get favorable weather, as blistering sun can make life a living hell. As far as rain goes… well, we all remember ’04.
Another thing is the people at the festival. The past two years, I’ve had to deal with Dave fans, Widespread fans, and the shady meth/crack dealers that always seem to park right beside me. I never see all the bands I want to see, and every year, I vow to never again attend a Bonnaroo.
Yet I always go back. Because I forget all the bad s***, the heat, etc. I do remember the late night shows, the women etc. etc. If Radiohead plays, I’ll probably have to go again, cost be damned.
There are quite a few reasons why one wouldn’t go to Bonnaroo. It really is impossible to get favorable weather, as blistering sun can make life a living hell. As far as rain goes… well, we all remember ’04.
Another thing is the people at the festival. The past two years, I’ve had to deal with Dave fans, Widespread fans, and the shady meth/crack dealers that always seem to park right beside me. I never see all the bands I want to see, and every year, I vow to never again attend a Bonnaroo.
Yet I always go back. Because I forget all the bad s***, the heat, etc. I do remember the late night shows, the women etc. etc. If Radiohead plays, I’ll probably have to go again, cost be damned.