Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
This year's Roo was a brief trip. Had a pretty easy drive and got in line at least two hours ahead of any other year. Scored a decent campsite, only 5-10 minutes walk from the back gate. Met all our neighbors, who seemed pretty cool, although we were a little leery of the large crowd in the enormous tent right behind us as they were pounding shots at one in the afternoon. We wandered around a bit. Checked out Shakedown, tried to sell a few of the hoops I brought (hassled by the Mounties, btw...) then we went into Centeroo.
Got an arepa and some other munchies and went to hear one of the opening bands. Went over and staked out a good spot to see Back Door Slam. They were excellent. Near the end of their set, I felt my phone vibrate. My wife was trying to say something, I couldn't hear so I left the show and got far enough away to call back. My dad had died.
My buddy Kevin got me back to our campsite. I was freaking out, we were completely landlocked and all the roads leading in were choked with traffic. We started throwing all our stuff back into the truck. Kevin saw that a few of the guys from the party tent were still around and went to talk with them. They were really cool, they moved a bunch of their stuff and their tent was so big that we were able to actually drive our truck through it. After stopping and asking a bunch of official staff, we finally found someone who was able to direct us to a gate to get out. We made a stop for gas and coffee, I called my mom. Kevin drove all night and got me home a little before 7am (we'd been up more then 25 straight hours). Everyone should have such a stand up friend. By eleven I was on a plane to Florida. The rest of the weekend was a blur.
I didn't write this to try any make anyone feel bad or to gain sympathy. Bonnaroo has always been a highlight of my year, my father's day weekend treat. I probably enjoy it more than Christmas. We start planning for the next year on our ride home. The second I'm home I log on to see what the rest of you thought about it. This is the first time I've been on Inforoo in a month, the whole experience had left me so miserable I wasn't sure I could find any joy in the festival any more. Thumbing through the most recent Rolling Stone I saw a bunch of Roo pictures and felt almost homesick. Bonnaroo and life in general were going on. What I'm writing has been rattling around in my head for a couple of days and I needed to get it out and get on.
My dad loved music. He had a big collection of swing and big band records. When he was young, growing up in northern NJ, he went with his friends to hear live music in New York. Like most people's dads, he was larger than life to me. By the time he was 24, roughly the age of most of the people at Roo, he had flown 51 combat missions as the ball turret gunner in a B17. I never once beat my dad at golf until he was into his 70's. I last spoke to him on Wed before we left and promised to call over the weekend. I miss him a lot.
If you've read this far, thanks for indulging me. I'm not by nature a chatty person and this might be the longest post I've ever made. Next year's Roo will probably be a wait and see thing. I'll talk it over with Kev and see what he thinks. For now I'm going to look around the site and see what was missed...
Somewhat similar thing happened to me last year, I guess. I got a call on Friday afternoon to hear that my grandma (who I'd lived with my whole life, up to the day I left for Bonnaroo) was in the hospital, and had been diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. I couldn't leave so it was on my mind the whole weekend.
But like I said, I'm sorry for your loss, man. I'm sure it was glad to get out what was on your mind...and I don't know that theres a better place than here.
damn man, i really don't know what to say. I'm really sorry that this happened to you. I'm glad you have a good friend that did that for you. I wish i could shake his hand right now. I'm sorry man.
*i like coconuts, you can break them open they smell like ladies lyin in the sun** *Hell I don't even know where I am** *for now I must sit here and ponder the yonder: The herbivores did well cause their food didn't never run** *We listen, if it feels good We shake** *You made a big impression for a girl of your size, Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.**
Post by purplefuzzystuff on Jul 8, 2008 3:52:11 GMT -5
I am so sorry for your loss, I know how hard it is and my thoughts are with you. I'm glad you were around good people and had a friend who made sure you got home safe.
Post by trippindaisy on Jul 8, 2008 7:19:18 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear about that
The one big thing my Dad and I had in common was our passion for music - I learned to love music because of him, and every time I am at Roo, I wish he could have experienced such an amazing music festival.
Instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.
I can't express how bad I feel for you, nothing feels better to me than Thursday night at Bonnaroo, I can't imagine how I'd be so excited just getting there and then my whole world just immediatley falling apart with a phone call. I'm sorry you lost your dad and Bonnaroo 08.
Post by goldbondking on Jul 8, 2008 9:47:38 GMT -5
I'm so sorry John. Reading on the boards, you really do get a sense of who people are and I know you are such a good person. I'm glad you have friends like Kevin during such a tough time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I missed Roo last year because of similar situation, so I definitely can relate! But it was definitely good for me to get back to the farm this year. It made last year's pain fade away a bit more because I knew that life does indeed continue plunging forward and we gotta plunge forward with it!
Search through the pages of memories here, feel jealous, then we'll make some totally awesome memories with you next year, yo!
very sorry for your loss...my heart saddened just reading your post...thank goodness for friends like kevin...best wishes to your and your family, and hopefully see you on the farm next year