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!!
Being a newbie (as I've been to last years), I can suggest what I noticed from last year and probably can't offer the direction that I think they should go compared to that of someone that has been there multiple times:
Bonnaroo has got to be one of the most unique experiences that one can have in the United States. In a lot of ways it's almost like taking a break from our country in a lot of ways when you enter the farm.
A lot of aspects of life that I don't like and that we deal with on a daily basis don't exist currently at Bonnaroo. Though it certainly still exists in smaller ways there's not the dimensions of control that we deal with ALL the time outside. And I'm not just taking about a specific plant consumption that you might be thinking. There's also reduced corporatization, police presence (If I was to explain to someone who hasn't gone before that 80,000 people all come together, one of things they would certainly ask how many policing specialists come along with that. Personally, I can't remember seeing any cops other than when I first entered the farm), and social norms.
A funny thing happens at Bonnaroo, people start to like and care for one another. Obviously there will be a few exceptions to this, but in my reality I didn't see one thing happen last year that was on the hateful side of human emotion. People had a good time, and were supportive towards others to do the same.
This is what the future direction of Bonnaroo needs to include in the direction that it's heading. Not a list of what type of music it should stick to, and not a type of person that it should attract. It needs to foster the community that sprouts from it. Heck, I grew up in a punk rock community that did this, and lots would think Bonnaroo would be the last place I end up in. But I would not trade this weekend for anything because of what transpire during it. It renews my spirit that even though there are a lot of things wrong with our existense, there are still some bright spots . . .
I guess one question is to what extent the selection of musical acts affects the attitudes of the people who attend. Will people not predisposed to the good vibes wreck things for everyone else, or will those people be engulfed in the good will and take to it?
(Me, I couldn't say, since I haven't even been yet!)
Post by LucyRoo & AdamToo on Mar 10, 2007 20:19:43 GMT -5
I don't think the addition of mainstream bands like Tool, The Police, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, etc... will have a negative effect on Bonnaroo at all. I think the diversity of the music / people attending is one of the draws to Roo, for me at least. One of the reasons bands like this are so popular is their amazing talent to put out awesome music and put on a hell of a show.
For example, I am a huge fan of a lot of the classic Roo bands (galactic, SCI, etc...), but I'm also a big fan of Tool. I don't even really like 'metal' music, but Tool is amazing. I don't much care for The Police, but that may be because I'm a bit young for them. Having acts like Tool and The Police give people like me, and perhaps the older crowd in regards to The Police (not saying only older folks enjoy The Police, but you know what I mean), a much needed treat. I'm excited to have the opportunity to see Tool at the same festival with T-Bone Burnett, Galactic, SCI, and many others. For me it will be a dream come true, as I'm sure it will be for many others.
I think the organizers of Bonnaroo have their fingers squarely on the pulse of those that truly enjoy music from all genres. Bands like Tool, The Police, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes may be 'mainstream', but that doesn't automatically take something away from them. The Bonnaroo organizers have a knack for picking the best 'underground' talent along with the most respected and talented 'mainstream' talent. I don't think you could ask for a better combination.
Post by roolacksreality on Mar 11, 2007 19:26:38 GMT -5
Umm from 2002 it was pretty clear that it wasn't intended to be a small get together. Even if the headliners are somewhat mainstream, the growing popularity was bound to happen. It's not that big of a deal. People who like music go, there are a small, lame-assed minority that goes solely to party. However, they are just a small, lame-assed minority. Back to the headliner aspect, headliners are always the most popular acts. If anything, there are more indie acts present and more musical diversity. Could be worse.
Ummm... Radiohead and Tool are about as mainstream as Phish and the Flaming Lips.
The Police are mainstream, but they are icons. I love the direction that Bonnaroo is taking. It isn't a 'mainstream' direction, but a diverse direction. I love hippie jam bands, but I also love different kinds of music as well. Diversity is what makes a great festival... well... great.
Post by marshalldylan1 on Mar 12, 2007 1:04:44 GMT -5
lucyroo said:
I don't think the addition of mainstream bands like Tool, The Police, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, etc... will have a negative effect on Bonnaroo at all. I think the diversity of the music / people attending is one of the draws to Roo, for me at least. One of the reasons bands like this are so popular is their amazing talent to put out awesome music and put on a hell of a show.
For example, I am a huge fan of a lot of the classic Roo bands (galactic, SCI, etc...), but I'm also a big fan of Tool. I don't even really like 'metal' music, but Tool is amazing. I don't much care for The Police, but that may be because I'm a bit young for them. Having acts like Tool and The Police give people like me, and perhaps the older crowd in regards to The Police (not saying only older folks enjoy The Police, but you know what I mean), a much needed treat. I'm excited to have the opportunity to see Tool at the same festival with T-Bone Burnett, Galactic, SCI, and many others. For me it will be a dream come true, as I'm sure it will be for many others.
I think the organizers of Bonnaroo have their fingers squarely on the pulse of those that truly enjoy music from all genres. Bands like Tool, The Police, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes may be 'mainstream', but that doesn't automatically take something away from them. The Bonnaroo organizers have a knack for picking the best 'underground' talent along with the most respected and talented 'mainstream' talent. I don't think you could ask for a better combination.
I don't think the addition of mainstream bands like Tool, The Police, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, etc... will have a negative effect on Bonnaroo at all. I think the diversity of the music / people attending is one of the draws to Roo, for me at least. One of the reasons bands like this are so popular is their amazing talent to put out awesome music and put on a hell of a show.
For example, I am a huge fan of a lot of the classic Roo bands (galactic, SCI, etc...), but I'm also a big fan of Tool. I don't even really like 'metal' music, but Tool is amazing. I don't much care for The Police, but that may be because I'm a bit young for them. Having acts like Tool and The Police give people like me, and perhaps the older crowd in regards to The Police (not saying only older folks enjoy The Police, but you know what I mean), a much needed treat. I'm excited to have the opportunity to see Tool at the same festival with T-Bone Burnett, Galactic, SCI, and many others. For me it will be a dream come true, as I'm sure it will be for many others.
I think the organizers of Bonnaroo have their fingers squarely on the pulse of those that truly enjoy music from all genres. Bands like Tool, The Police, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes may be 'mainstream', but that doesn't automatically take something away from them. The Bonnaroo organizers have a knack for picking the best 'underground' talent along with the most respected and talented 'mainstream' talent. I don't think you could ask for a better combination.
Nice post, but you really think Tool and Radiohead are mainstream? ???
^^It's really relative to where you live. Growing up in Dallas, three kinds of music were really popular: rap, country and hard rock/metal. So more kids I knew listened to Tool than Radiohead. And listening to Radiohead, sort of made me left of the dial.
But when I moved to Boston, everybody and their mom listened to Radiohead. People still listened to Tool, but not as many in the northeast.
I'm not trying to start anything but this topic comes up every year in some shape or form. What is Mainstream. To me Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Top 40 radio are mainstream. If I mention a band at work and the owners daughter knows them I'd say they are mainstream for the most part. She knows the dead. So I'm thinking the dead are allowed because of how long they played and the fact that they are icons. (Remember they did have videos on MTV). But if I mention Panic or SCI to her I get a blank look and the question where do you find this music at?
So I honestly want to know. I've heard Jack Johnson on the top40 radio so he is, but I've also head The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper and Wilco. I don't think of them as mainstream. I comsider Umphrey's a well known band. Then in my circle of friends they are. So how does a band or fest become mainstream?
i'm gonna stay outta this one...i'll just say i listen to everything and love the evolution of bonnaroo...i am there for the vacation from reality, the music, and the overwhelming feeling of unity that the community of bonnaroo brings...i just put faith in the fact that everybody else does too and we can continue to see legendary acts year after year after year...the diversity in the music is just a plus...i would be there if it was all 'jambands' or whatever. ill be there rain or shine and i can't wait til 07!!!
Post by trippindaisy on Mar 12, 2007 9:50:07 GMT -5
okcomputer said:
Ummm... Radiohead and Tool are about as mainstream as Phish and the Flaming Lips.
Yeah I was thinking the same. Most people I know have never heard of any of them. Now the Police I would consider mainstream, but otherwise there are not many mainstream bands on that line-up.
Well Bonnaroo itself is mainstream now. No way to change it. I dont think it matter if they had a lineup of strictly unknown coffee house acoustic players. It would still be mainstream. Its the largest festival in the US. My grandmother has heard of it.
Post by hailboognish on Mar 12, 2007 11:03:07 GMT -5
No doubt the name Bonnaroo is fairly well known these days. But I still find when I tell my co-workers about my summer plans and they ask who I'm going to see, I can list maybe 5-6 bands they've heard of, then I get blank looks. I think a lot of this is based on your peer group. Fer instance some folks might know who the Flaming Lips are - but for the most part I have to invoke 'She Don't Use Jelly' before many of them kind of figure out who I'm talking about.
Im sorry. Tool and Radiohead might not be the most obscure bands of all time, but they are far from mainstream. Radiohead is probably more mainstream then Tool, but I dont know how mainstream they are. Tool does not get very much radio play, they arent exactly selling millions upon millions of albums, they usually sell out their shows, but they arent playing huge stadiums or anything.
"They won't break me because the desire for freedom, and the freedom of the Irish people, is in my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show. It is then that we will see the rising of the moon."
Post by Sköldpadda on Mar 12, 2007 14:25:03 GMT -5
I think Tool and Radiohead could be considered mainstream, but I was also big on punk rock in high school, where anything on the radio or television at all was mainstream.
I'm actually more surprised to be seeing Modest Mouse listed in that little group, and nobody questioning that. I'm not sure how many people realize how long they've been making records, and how different their new material is from the old. I just don't see them as overtly mainstream. Then again, AFI used to be one of the most hardcore punk bands playing, and now, well......
Either way, I think the point should lie in why anyone cares. I don't think whether or not you consider a band mainstream should affect your judgement of their music. Music is music. Some of these bands have scraped by on what they could make, and they finally got a chance to be financially stable and took it. Some of these bands always dreamed of being on MTV, and now they are.
Bonnaroo - the festival - isn't taking sides. I don't see them letting some corporate monster take the reigns for a while, I don't see Brittany Spears getting booked for a late night, and I don't see any police scanning the crowd with thermal binoculars.
Whichever way it's headed, I'll probably meet it there anyway.
I saw one of the founders of Superfly quoted once as saying their #1 goal is for everyone - no matter how young or old, no matter what their inclinations/expectations/desires - to leave Bonnaroo thinking "I got some serious value for every dollar I plunked down for this weekend."
I do believe they have this in mind when planning - something to keep a smile on everyone's face.
No doubt the name Bonnaroo is fairly well known these days. But I still find when I tell my co-workers about my summer plans and they ask who I'm going to see, I can list maybe 5-6 bands they've heard of, then I get blank looks. I think a lot of this is based on your peer group. Fer instance some folks might know who the Flaming Lips are - but for the most part I have to invoke 'She Don't Use Jelly' before many of them kind of figure out who I'm talking about.
^ Very true. People ask and you name the headliners. After that you just give up tryin' to tell them the bands because most of the people haven't heard of anybody but the police and tool! I don't like the word mainstream. It's bogus.
P.S. Good to see a fellow hotowner there HAILBOOGNISH...
What happens if my tee shot lands on a bird's back and he carries it out of bounds but then is attacked by a larger bird who grabs the ball and drops it in the hole? Is that still a hole in one? 'Cause that's how I'm gonna play it.
Post by WestStainesMassive on Mar 12, 2007 16:13:05 GMT -5
Bonnaroo is definitely headed in a different direction but not necessarily mainstream. With last years Tom Petty and Radiohead and this years The Police and Tool, it seems like having a classic act as well as a band that pushes the boundaries of music seem to be the direction of the headlines. With WSP this years roo still has a jamband element headlining. Last year it was Phil Lesh. For the most part roo hasn’t had headliners like this in the past but the core of the show, which is in the other acts, has stayed the same. In ’02 they had SCI, John Butler, Keller Williams, North Mississippi Allstars, OCMS, Galactic, and WSP. In ’03 they had The Slip, Michael Franti, Keller, STS9, North Mississippi Allstars, Tortoise, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Galactic. All of these bands are playing in ’07. I wont bother boring you with the other 3 linups roo has had but they all had bands that are playing this year. Also, roo has always had different types of music besides the jambands its known for. DJing, Rap, Spainsh, Jazz, String, and Techno have always been present in past shows. If this were one of roo’s first years they probably wouldn’t have the money to afford The Police and Tool but now that they do they have the ability to expand the show into a new era while keeping the heart of bonnaroo the same. Ive loved Tool for years and now that Ive been listening more, Im loving The Police. But Im certainly not going to pay around $200 to go see The Police and Tool, its about everything else. And from what Ive heard Police tickets are around $250 just to see them alone. Anyway, don’t let the change in headliners let you think Bonnaroo is selling out. They’ve allowed themselves to expand, become more diverse, and appeal to a larger crowd while keeping the heart of Roo where its been in the past.
