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!!
Pipeline has been on a sharp decent for a while now. They used to own the Lawrence/Kansas City concert scene, then they just dropped off the face of the earth about 5 years ago. Wakarusa was all they had left. The class action lawsuit was the final nail.
Suckage considering the best festivals I went to in 2014 and 2015 were both Wakarusa and certainly the best festival times as well. I'm going to miss Waka in 2016.
Well, Im glad Estaban convinced me to go VIP and go hard while it lasted. I wanted to go to Waka way back in 2012. It truly embodies the perfect line up demographic, size, and atmosphere for a festival for myself. With Hangout going down the Pop wayside, it will be time to explore new fests. Austin based ones are great, but I need a new destination. Pemberton looked decent but is one of the bigger sized fests. Camp Bisco looked decent but it may have some legal permitting issues last time I checked.
Well that blows. Wakarusa has always been one I was hoping to hit up but haven't had the chance to yet. Bonnaroo or a not-that-great lineup worth the long drive always deterred me from going, but I was hoping someday I'd get to experience it since I've heard nothing but amazing things.
Thank you for that! I had no clue!! I'm so bummed that it may not happen next year. Waka 2015 was my first time going Does anyone know of other festivals that are on par with waka? Kind of a newbie question but I absolutely loved it and want to be able to go every year!
Well that blows. Wakarusa has always been one I was hoping to hit up but haven't had the chance to yet. Bonnaroo or a not-that-great lineup worth the long drive always deterred me from going, but I was hoping someday I'd get to experience it since I've heard nothing but amazing things.
Since I'm always pimpin' hometown fests (and one that is 10 minutes driving distance from my crib), Euphoriafest (Austin, TX) is shaping up to be a smaller scale Waka with more EDM than Folk/Jam, but they claim to be moving in a more diverse direction w Nakho, STS9, Lil Dicky, Lettuce on the initial line up.
Last year, Waka was definitely my best festival experience. First hangout and first utopia were other great notables. Hopefully it gets picked up by someone else (hey Transmission Events).
Well that blows. Wakarusa has always been one I was hoping to hit up but haven't had the chance to yet. Bonnaroo or a not-that-great lineup worth the long drive always deterred me from going, but I was hoping someday I'd get to experience it since I've heard nothing but amazing things.
It's too cool not to, and it's in an underserved area (NW Arkansas) which draws on that state, OK/KS and the Kansas City metro pretty heavily. It would be hard to replicate what they pulled off at Mulberry Mountain. Everyone knows why they left Kansas to begin with and how Mulberry was the 180 degree opposite of a heat check. But if they move it somewhere else, I probably wouldn't go back unless it was the same kind of scene they provided for Waka, being on private lands and all. JUICY JAY would testify, but the value for VIP was crazy when you could just basically walk up to the rail for either of the main two stages and grab yourself a free 16oz beer from your personal bar within a minute or two of the set starting. There is no comparable value for what they gave you in VIP.
If they resurrect, I'll go back. And I'll go in 2016 if they end up being able to put something together. But if not, it's either shell out a fortune for Electric Forest VIP, possibly go back to Bonnaroo which I had no intention of doing, or just not doing any other major festival between if I still go to Hangout (May) and Voodoo (October). I'd be down to catch a Phish run of a couple of days somewhere or maybe try to go see something at Red Rocks instead. One of my kids is taking me to universal in July, so that's also going to happen. But what I really want is fn Waka back.
Yeah we were considering VIP for Waka last year because out of all VIP offerings it seemed the best bang for your buck. Sadly though the lineup wasn't really our scene so we went elsewhere. It's hard to commit to an 8 hour drive when Bonnaroo is 1 hour away.
Last Edit: Dec 14, 2015 16:11:13 GMT -5 by Linz - Back to Top
Yeah we were considering VIP for Waka last year because out of all VIP offerings it seemed the best bang for your buck. Sadly though the lineup wasn't really our scene so we went elsewhere. It's hard to commit to an 8 hour drive when Bonnaroo is 1 hour away.
I hear you on that. We ended up doing back to back. I didn't think Bonnaroo's VIP held a candle to Waka's for the same price. I like the crowd immensely better at Waka (way more hippies than frat/sorority types), and I prefer the music offerings. But yeah, the number one important thing is that you have to like what you're going to see. Bonnaroo didn't have much for me, and I think STS9, MMJ and Slayer ended up being my Top 3 which was not really what they were charging me for. If I ever do Bonnaroo again, it won't be VIP. I just didn't see any value to that at all except you get a place where you're less likely to get your stuff ripped off if you leave it out. Head-to-Head:
VIP and generic amenities for everyone
Food: Bonnaroo is better though you get 2 free average meals with Waka VIP
Larger Acts: Bonnaroo brings much larger acts because it's a 75-80k festival as opposed to 15-20k
VIP Campgrounds: Waka is shady, by the water, has mountain views, is secluded but right behind the main stage. You can also come and go 24/7 into the fest. Bonnaroo opens the VIP gate in the afternoon and closes not long after main stage headliner. If you get stuck camping close to that, it's a 1/4 mile walk to get in the other entrance. Also, you get unlimited space in Waka VIP where Bonnaroo is a chalked off space similar to GA.
VIP Amenities: Bonnaroo has a couple of bars and there is a general store where you can purchase discounted beer (like a dollar off) and red bulls. Waka gives you free beer until about 1:00am, has bars in the VIP areas of the main stages, gives you private bathrooms in the VIP areas and had better shower accommodations. Both gave you poster/tshirt type gifts. Waka gives you front row access for Revival Tent and Main Stage. Bonnaroo gives you a chance to stand in the Which Stage area for a set or until you leave, but they periodically flush the crowd out. Bonnaroo has the hill by What Stage (bar noted above).
The festival VIP's were the same price, but Bonnaroo required you to purchase VIP in sets of 2 whereas Waka, you could buy any number of tickets you wanted. Mulberry is way prettier than the farm as well, and in the mountains, so that was a plus. No one that did both with us thought Bonnaroo was remotely as worth it as Waka was. Obviously, to each their own. I'd go back to Waka year after year for the fun. And I'd shell out for VIP. For Bonnaroo, it would be completely lineup dependent, Waka would have to cease to exist at Mulberry, and I would only do GA in the future.
Post by earthrocker on Dec 14, 2015 20:04:35 GMT -5
I'm curious why they wouldn't just sell Wakarusa to another production company and keep the festival alive. Maybe it's not that easy but surely there's someone else who could take over, no?
Roo VIP is more of a mandatory thing versus Waka being a luxury thing (haven't done Waka vip but based on what I've read...)
I wouldn't go back to Roo unless I was VIP. Last time I went in '13 seeing just how far away people get fucked with camping, I knew there was no way I could do it any other way. The main plus for Roo was Which stage VIP area, which was clutch for R. Kelly and Wu Tang.
I didn't know you got to skip the line at the Comedy Tent so I missed out on Bob Saget/John Stamos reunion. Not hetty.
I read the website this year and it says you get front stage access at What Stage now, which is pretty sweet but seems like a clusterfuck for the rest of the crowd.
Didn't realize they were so far apart. What is your scene like?
I love jamband fests/scene which is why I've always had my eye on Wakarusa but the lineup last year wasn't worth shelling out for VIP and making the long drive IMO. While I wasn't crazy about the headliners at Bonnaroo this year, it won out because it was 1 hour away and had MMJ, Bassnectar, Alabama Shakes, Flume, Tycho, Florence, Robert Plant, etc. If I lived closer to Waka that would definitely be my home fest.
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2015 12:34:06 GMT -5 by Linz - Back to Top
So Pipeline answered my email, sort of, by saying that I should check back with them in January so they could put me in touch with their booking coordinator. I wasn't looking to book any acts, I just wanted to know if the fest was on or not. I'm guessing a final decision has not been made. Good news? Maybe.
So Pipeline answered my email, sort of, by saying that I should check back with them in January so they could put me in touch with their booking coordinator. I wasn't looking to book any acts, I just wanted to know if the fest was on or not. I'm guessing a final decision has not been made. Good news? Maybe.
Dude, just play it off and act like you're a band so long as we get some answers.
s with a heavy heart that we must inform you thatWakarusa will take 2016 off.
#Wakarusa has been a labor of love for all of us these last twelve years. We have been defiantly independent and unique since our inception. Together we created a magical 5 day event that stood out from the rest. We've taken great pride in what we've created with you and for you over the last decade plus. The Waka community (friends, family, fans, musicians, artists, performers, volunteers, staff) has really been the heart and soul of what Wakarusa IS. This community shares a natural passion for what is truly genuine. Wakarusa is wonderfully original - it is organic, mystical and always marvelously weird, and like Wakarusa, you too are decidedly different and perfectly magnificent.
As such, you deserve to know the principal reason behind our hiatus:
Wakarusa was significantly damaged by partners claiming to share our vision. Sadly, they lied. They are being dealt with appropriately through the legal system. Further, we have found that the universe is often much more effective in dealing with these perpetrators than the legal system. Regardless, it is our sincere hope and anticipation that what we have built together - we will once again enjoy on our beloved and magical mountain.
For now, we shall dust ourselves off. We must take time to recharge our faith and our energy. Passionate people do not throw in the towel because of a bump in the road. We look brightly toward the future. We will bring more music and more art and many more wickedly unrivaled memories. We know the world is a better place when there is more music and more love.
Our scrape with the unsavory has lead us to realize what is most important to us, which is all of YOU (you and you...and you too). So in our brief absence, please stay in touch and look out for each other. Take special care to really nurture what is most important in each of your lives. There is simply too much to be down or discouraged about in this world. Be the beacon of joy and hope - we need more of that in this world. So now we do ask that you share your positive energy with us. We'll use it as our strength and inspiration to create an even better WAKA experience that is ever more magical. With your help, we will bring Wakarusa back to Mulberry Mountain.
Until then, be safe, spread your positivity and your light and remember to always remain marvelously weird!
Bah. I agree with JUICY JAY regarding it being better to know than wonder. But it's sort of irreplaceable to me. There isn't really much else in the south that compares, and the ones that do such as Hulaween, are not on that level. I asked my contacts over there prior to the sellout of EF VIP, but sadly the response I got from pipeline was after the fact. I guess in the end I will save 1000 or more by not going, but it's going to leave a hole in my summer schedule making it more likely that I will return to Hangout and making it possible that I go to Bonnaroo. As a veteran of multiple visits to both, neither is on par with Waka to me.
Post by earthrocker on Dec 18, 2015 0:50:23 GMT -5
Bummer news. Highberry Festival is moving to Mulberry Mtn this year, happening June 30-July 3. They are capping the crowd at 4000. www.highberryfestival.com/past-line-ups/
