What to Bring

As I said multiple times before, my friends and I went into our first Bonnaroo with few of the proper things - no alcohol, a tiny tent for three people in the heat, etc. - but I want to prepare you for your first time. Through our own experience and through talking to more experienced Rooers, we were able to learn some genius items that we may have never come up with on our own, but we will be extremely happy to have for the following years. ...Now, let's just see if I can remember any of those:

• Baby Wipes: You don't have a child? Yeah, these aren't for them anyway. Portajohns are not the cleanest restrooms and you won't have a real shower for days. 
• Portable Shower: Our neighbors had one - we didn't. Unfortunate for them.
• Clif Bars: It is almost too hot to eat, but Clif Bars are a snack to give you energy and keep something in your stomach between meals. Be aware that ice will melt very quickly, so any food that has to be kept cool, may not actually be kept cool.
• Personal Fan: Remember those personal fans your grandma or sports team used to have? The ones that squirted water in your face while simultaneously moving around the air. These might be something to look into, if you wouldn't mind carrying it around.
• Battery operated Fan: This one should be for your tent. It is the only way that you will sleep through the heat.
• Bandanas: And you will need more than one. 
• Sunscreen: This is very important. The sun is hot and it is out all day. 
• Blankets: Not for sleeping under, but for sitting on during some of the more relaxed shows. 
• Umbrella: Though it may not rain (even if you are wishing it would, just for five minutes), it is a great way to ensure that you can stay out of the sun.
• Rain boots: ...No not for that rain you are praying for, but for the mud.
• Aluminum water bottles: !!! This is the most important thing on this list. It is incredibly important to stay hydrated throughout the four days. Bonnaroo offers multiple free filtered water stations throughout the park at which you can fill up your water bottles at any time of the day. The lines may be long, but you should constantly be drinking water. Once you thought you had enough, have another bottle, or two - especially if you are planning on consuming alcohol.

That is all for now! I will keep you updated, but keep on the look out for experienced Rooers - I'm sure each one has a genius item to share that I have yet to encounter!

Vendors

Bonnaroo is a great place for all different types of vendors. As a music and art festival, most of the patrons have a genuine appreciation for art. The vendors support the green initiative promoted by Bonnaroo, a cause shared by many of the Rooers. Vendors range from shoe salesmen, to art vendors, to clothing, to sunglasses, to candles, all the way to things as well known as Ben and Jerry's.

Last year, Ben and Jerry's offered free samples of their special 'Bonnaroo flavored' ice cream - which was a great treat in the eat and delicious. Unfortunately, this flavor was no where to be found, until recently!:

Now this post kind of strays from my original purpose - that is, offering all you future Rooers tips. So here goes:  As I said, there are vendors that sell sandals. This came in handy for my friend Danielle, who lost a sandal in the intense mud that forms at Bonnaroo over the course of the festival. With so many people filling up their water bottles, dumping their warm water, and the fountains, giant mud puddles form that are sometimes difficult to avoid, especially in the dark. Some people recommend wearing rain or mud boots and others say just to wear sandals, but to bring an extra pair. Personally, I agree with the latter, as it is far too warm for knee high boots! The thought of socks is sickening. Anyway, Danielle's 'new kicks' may not be the most trendy, depending on your definition of the term, but they are long-lasting, stayed on her feet, and most importantly kept her from being shoe-less for a few days. 

Danielle's New Sandals - Courtesy of the Vendors

Moral of the story, be aware of the mud! and bring an extra pair of shoes or boots. Oh! and just in case, make sure you have some spare money, in case you run into an emergency like poor Danielle.

Drug 101

Drugs are prevalent at Bonnaroo, as with most festivals, but here are some key things to know before attending:

1. Balloons. 

If someone asks you if you want a balloon - no, they do not mean a neon colored, rubber, helium filled balloon. They are referring to a little container of nitrous oxide, yep - laughing gas, that is a sure fire 'pick-me-up'. Though you may see actually carrying balloons filled with nitrous.

2. Molly.

Pure MDMA, similar effects to ecstasy. Molly is extremely common at Bonnaroo and it is often not clarified before offered. "Hey, lick my hand."

3. "Shakedown Street."

Prime location for any drug you could ask for, so obviously a shady area late at night. Consequently, 'Shakedown Street' is not on the actual map. This street is for the non-licensed vendors and you can actually find anything here - from food, to alcohol, to drugs, to clothing. 

There are other drugs present, obviously, and it is your choice whether to do or to not do them and the couple mentioned. There is plenty of space at Bonnaroo and it is easy to walk away. If you are highly anti-drugs and still interested in Bonnaroo, Roo offers a group that commits to staying sober throughout the festival, so do not feel like you are alone!

We were lucky to have 'Drug 101' with our sweetheart of a neighbor.

Late Night Bonnaroo

Alright, time is creeping by and there are only 57 days until the festival! A lot has happened since I last blogged:  a Bonnaroo friend came and went, tickets have been purchased, new cars (that will be making their way to Tennessee) have been purchased, acts have been added, and just recently, Late Night Bonnaroo has been announced. Last year, Late Night Bonnaroo was my favorite part of the festival.  Though difficult to stay awake for after a day in the heat and running on two hours of sleep, it provides some of the best performances. It is also nice to be out of the Tennessee sun.

Night Time at Bonnaroo

Up this year: Lil Wayne, String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Dr. John with the Original Meters and Allen Toussaint performing Desitively Bonnaroo, Pretty Lights, STS9, Gogol Bordello 
Big Boi, Scissor Sisters, Ratatat, Bootsy Collins & the Funk University, Shpongle Presents Shpongletron Experience, The Black Angels.  

Recently, Danielle had a great experience seeing Gogol Bordello in Boston that only enhanced our excitement when Late Night Bonnaroo was announced.

However you have to do it, I advise you to stay up for all the shows you can. What's that saying? You can sleep when you are home and not at a four day music festival? Something like that. Anyway, Bonnaroo provides many means of staying awake - though some more expensive (and legal) than others - it all depends on your preferences. Personally, being around all of the people, the music, some beers, and a Red Bull sufficed to keep me up until six in the morning. Others take a different approach - just a tip:  if you aren't into drugs, think twice before acting when someone asks you to 'lick their hand.' Most likely, they are offering you Molly, a pure form of the drug MDMA that is bound to keep you awake, as well as put you in a great mood. 

Bonnaboozing and What Not To Do

My friends and I traveled innocently to Bonnaroo- no drugs and no booze. As we were under twenty-one on the time, we feared the dreaded search upon entering the festival. Even more so, we feared being pulled over on the drive, since we had heard that Rooers were often targeted by the police. As it was, we did get pulled over on the way to Tennessee and our car was searched upon entering the festival. The car search was no more than a quick look over and we were not even asked if we were twenty-one, so I would advise future Rooers not to fear the car search as I did. The important thing is to avoid glass bottles and other things on the list of 'what not to bring,' but there are far too many cars coming through the entrance for thorough searches.

The traffic that went on for 8 hours in two directions.

As we entered Bonnaroo, we were eager, excited, and stone cold sober.  It was only about ten in the morning, but many of our fellow Rooers had been drinking on the side of the road (I'm not sure if you should worry about the legality of that statement..). We parked our car, set up our tent, and began to plot. Where were we going to get any alcohol? It is fair game to come and go through the festival gates, but we were unlucky enough to be boxed in by other cars (and still not twenty-one years old). Beer at Bonnaroo costs an unbelievable $87 at the 'General Store' for a thirty rack - that is something I just cannot buy. The store is handy for little things you may have forgotten or need, such as duct tape or band-aids, but those will still run you at least double the usual price. Pack light, but pack anything and everything you need. The three of us, inexperienced first timers came beer-less, fan-less, but each having at least two sweatshirts.
You will not need a sweatshirt for Bonnaroo. Heck, you will not need a shirt for Bonnaroo. Pack very little clothing. For this upcoming year, I plan on having a backpack equipped with two pairs of shorts, a few bathing suit tops, and maybe, maybe a t-shirt.
Anyway, back to the alcohol situation. Lucky for us - people were friendly, beer booths did not card, neighbors came in clutch, and all went well. Like I said, socializing is important!

Bonnaroo 2010 - A Compilation

I found a nice video that shows all of the aspects of Bonnaroo - music, people, and the atmosphere.  It can be a little choppy because it is condensed, but it gives you a feel for the festival in a way other than my words.  Enjoy!

A Tip for the Viewers:

After watching, I assume you'll notice the crazy amount of bandanas and hats worn (especially in contrast to the lack of clothing).  As I said, the festival was brutally hot and these hats and bandanas are key items in your survival.  They can be used to mop up your sweat, keep you cool, and block the sun and they should be on your person at all times - unlike shirts and shoes, which are completely optional at the festival.  

PerformaRoo

Are you ready? Now that you are well aware of what Bonnaroo is and what it is like, I think it's about time you had a taste of an actual Bonnaroo performance.

First though, I'd like to explain to you why I chose this to show you. Though this is one of the smaller performances - it was the best of the festival last year in my opinion.  It could not compare to the sound quality and the extravagance of the headliners on the Bonnaroo main stage, such as Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, and Stevie Wonder, but the energy put into the show was unmatchable and created an amazing atmosphere for the audience - even at four in the morning.

B.O.B a.k.a. Bobby Ray

After a long day of heat and non-stop shows, it might be difficult to stay awake until 4 a.m. for an hour performance, but let me tell you how happy I am that I did.  Prior to the show, I was unfamiliar with B.o.B as an artist, but my friend Mike and I had pushed to the front of the stage for the prior KiD CuDi concert and B.o.B was coming out a half an hour later.  Mike left for the bathroom (we had been watching shows since 9 p.m. nonstop and had been drinking insurmountable amounts of water to stay hydrated - so I could not blame him), but there was no chance I was leaving my great view of the stage.  I stuck around and when B.o.B came out I completely forgot about the fact that I had to go to the bathroom so badly my stomach hurt, that I was so sweaty and hot from being surrounded by people for over four hours, and that my mouth was so dry from running out of water an hour ago.  The performance was unreal.  He had an incredible stage presence and seemed genuinely happy to be there, performing for this disgruntled crowd so late in the night.  He had so much energy that everyone forgot about any of their prior 'ailments' and enjoyed their last show of the night.

B.o.B is a well rounded artist and performer.  Even though the performance was short, he mixed up the music and kept the crowd from ever experiencing a dull moment.  Not only did he sing, but he rapped, played guitar, and involved the audience through out the entirety of the show.

The video I'm about to show is B.o.B performing "I'll Be In The Sky" at Bonnaroo last year.  Throughout the song, the audience (from the farthest person back to the closest person to the stage) was throwing glow sticks onto the stage.  From where I was, five people back from the stage in the dead center, it was an incredible sight.  It was pitch black and the only thing I could see above me was the colors of all of the glow sticks flying over my head.  B.o.B did not miss a beat - he continued to sing and dance around the stage, while simultaneously catching the glow sticks and even throwing some back out into the audience.

To this day - Mike's "one regret" is not sticking it out for the B.o.B show.  Sometimes you just have to sacrifice your own well being for the music.

Bonnaroo Fountain

The Bonnaroo Fountain - otherwise known as a place to 'shower' or a place to cool off in the grueling heat

The temperature on the farm in Tennessee must have been at least 100 degrees daily, if not hotter and the humidity was unbelievable.  It is impossible to stay cool and there is barely any shade.  What shade there is will already by taken before you find it.  My friends and I even noticed people sitting in the shade of a flag pole!  What is nice, disgusting, fantastic, and terrible about the festival is that this fountain is a central location on the farm and does wonders.  I say disgusting because the water is recycled and by the end of the four days it will most likely be brown, but that honestly does not matter.  A tip - bring your shampoo and soap with you to the fountain and wash up daily.  The daily rinse will make you feel one-thousand times better and you won't stink as much by day four.  

Heads Up: Tickets On Sale!

Ticket 2010

As I said earlier, tickets went on sale yesterday at noon and already the first two price levels are sold out!

I suppose you'd like to know what I mean by 'price levels,' eh? Alrighty, I'll break down the ticket buying process. Here goes:

Around Thanksgiving time, Bonnaroo does a "Holiday Pre-Sale" for General Admission tickets at Price Level 1. These tickets are $209.50 plus applicable fees.  Note:  be careful! 'plus applicable fees' will trick you if you aren't paying attention.  These applicable fees they mention add up to about another $30 - so make sure your bank account is ready.  Anyway, these are the cheapest tickets you'll be able to find, but the thing is - you do not yet know the line up!  This may not matter to some, but it is a lot of money to spend without knowing who you will be seeing and it is a long time in advance to plan for.  If this package interests you, make sure you keep up to date with exactly what day and time the tickets go on sale, because they sell out very quickly.

Yesterday, all other tickets went on sale - starting at Price Level 2 - $224.50 and moving onto Price Level 3 - $234.50 and Price Level 4 - $249.50 as each sells out.  Unfortunately, I had to buy mine at Price Level 4, but for good reason.  As I said in my last post - Conor came to visit for the week!  Danielle and I spent the morning getting lost in Boston as we attempted to pick him up at the airport.  Luckily, we eventually found him, but consequently missed out on the second and third price levels.  Not too worry though because we are happy to see him and Bonnaroo is well worth the $300.  Some advice though - if you are picking up your Bonnaroo friend, do not rely on a GPS for directions, double check another source! Also, buy your tickets as early as you can. It is nice to save that extra money in case you want souvenirs (t-shirts are great), food, and transportation to and from can get a little pricey.

Another feature that Bonnaroo offers when it comes to ticket buying is a payment plan - which allows you to pay in $50 installments over the course of three months.

I realize all this money-talk may be overwhelming and scary, but trust me, it is worth every penny and you will not be disappointed.

Tips to Save:

Danielle's Bonnaroo-Bank

1. Start a Piggy Bank:
It may seem childish, but putting one to two dollars a day away towards your ticket really does wonders!  A piggy bank is a good place to keep it because it is always a terrible feeling to have to break it open.

2. Ask for Christmas/Birthday/Insert Holiday-of-Choice-Here 
Afraid you cannot afford the ticket even though you are working?  Don't worry, there are plenty of holidays to ask your friends, parents, and family for donations! (If you are lucky, maybe someone will like you enough to buy your complete ticket)

This year as a birthday gift, my friends and I are throwing down ten dollars each in order to send one of our friends to the festival this summer.  Twenty friends = $200 and almost an entire ticket! - Not bad.

I should also mention, that when you buy your ticket - it takes a couple days to ship.  Last year, I bought my ticket five days before the actual festival and was anxiously waiting its arrival every day, stressing that it would not arrive before we headed out on our eighteen hour drive to Tennessee. Obviously, I recommend buying as early as possible to avoid that situation, but the important thing is:  buy your ticket and make your friends buy tickets too!


Final note:  all information offered is on General Admission tickets - for information regarding VIP, Total Access, or RV passes, reference the Bonnaroo ticket website linked at the top of this post.

Socializing

Bonnaroo is a great place for socializing.  You can make friends that will last a life time, friends that you'll offer a place to stay in your a hometown if they ever decide to visit, and friends to camp with the following year. Conversations vary on the level of intelligence, but everyone is polite and enjoyable.

On the first night, I met a few people during one of the shows.  We chatted up a bit, discussed shows we were excited to see, suggested other performances to catch, offered places to stay in our hometowns if the other is ever travelling through, but never so much as exchanged names or information.  When the show ended, we wished each other a 'Happy Bonnaroo' and said maybe we'll see each other at one of the other shows. Now obviously this is not one of those 'life time friendships' I mentioned above, but it was nice while it lasted.  Bonnaroo is judgement free and everyone is just looking to have a good time and make sure others are having a good time too.

Mike, Conor, and other 'Rooers in front of the graffiti wall
(Not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed)

On the last night, my friends and I befriended a group of kids, one in particular who has kept in contact with Danielle (the prior 'Rooer mentioned) since the festival ended.  I am currently excited because he will be visiting this coming week to celebrate the birthdays of myself and my other fellow 'Rooer, Mike. This is the type of friend that will last and expect that we will be camping beside his group of friends at Bonnaroo 2011.

Now for a quick tip -
Befriend your neighbors!

Bonnaroo Betty - A Surprise Gift!

Not only do you have to smell them over the course of four days, but it is a great way to get input on who else to see, where to go, and in the event that you forget something, they can help. Being first time 'Rooers, my friends and I forgot just about everything necessary for the Bonnaroo experience.  Luckily, we had the best neighbors you could ask for.  Surrounded by experienced Bonnarooers, we had anything we could ask for.  They even surprised us with a decoration to adorn our pitiful campsite - Bonnaroo campsites go all out - from wind chimes to the jersey of your favorite sports team.

Now - back to having to 'smell them.'  While Bonnaroo is an overnight festival, there is no real shower available.  Some, like our neighbors (luckily), bring tent showers, which may seem silly now - but you'll be wishing you had one.  The farm on which the festival is held, gets filthy - and after spending four days there, so do you.  Befriending your neighbors is great because they offer to let you use their shower - though that will probably more for their benefit than your own.

Us and the neighbors

My advice:

Talk to anyone and everyone you can at Bonnaroo.  Whether it is just for the initial encounter or to create a friendship, you will meet some very unique and interesting people that are bound to influence you in one way or another.

Discovering Artists

Now that you have gone through Bonnaroo 101, you understand the immense amount of music at your disposal. Whether you attend or not, the lineups are always available to pe'roo'se - from the first festival in 2002 until the most recent.  Obviously though, the best way to discover new music is to experience it first hand at the festival itself.  As I said before, the stages get confusing and you may not always end up in the right place, but where ever you end up, there is always music to be heard.

While wandering this past summer, I was able to catch a few shows that really caught my attention.  The XX, a band I had never heard before was playing on one of the stages and their sound really appealed to me.  I was also able to see a bit of The Black Keys, who I have really come to enjoy, while waiting for another show.  Now go ahead, give me shit for using Myspace, but when it comes down to it, it is a great tool for expanding your music.

A tip that I have come upon is that before the festival even starts, you should check the list for artists you do not yet know and attempt to familiarize yourself with their sound.  With so many performances, it is hard to pick and choose who to see and who to skip, but the more you know about all the performers, the easier it gets.  Although, sometimes conflicts do occur and they have you running from That Tent to This Tent and then hurrying over to The Other Tent to catch the last fifteen minutes of another show.

Bonnaroo: The Low Down

Bonnaroo is a four day music and art festival that takes place in Manchester, Tennessee each June. This festival began in 2002 and is dedicated to expression through music, art, and personality.

The Place:
Bonnaroo takes place on a farm in Manchester and is separated into two areas: the camp grounds and the enclosed area for the stages, art and product tents, and food and beverages.

You read right, I did say campgrounds. As it is a four day festival and shows run from 11 a.m. to 3 or 4 a.m., you may not have much time to sleep, but even the few hours of rest you do get, you need a place to crash. Camp sites range on another broad spectrum; from small two person tents for three people (my friends and I were definitely not the most prepared) to collaborations of five or six giant tents linked together by tapestries and sheets and even RVs or elaborately painted buses (complete with tables, couches, and hammocks!).

Aerial View of Bonnaroo Living Situation

You may be thinking - 'that must be some close living quarters' - and you would be correct. Being as it is, around 80,000 people attend the festival each year, but at Bonnaroo, it is all about the music and everyone carries a good attitude.  You'll come to love your neighbors and be thankful that they are there to supply you with anything you might have forgotten or tips about bands you had never heard of and how to navigate around the stages.

Which Stage - Bonnaroo '07

As if navigating around a festival isn't troublesome already, the Bonnaroo stage names do anything but help.

Main Stages:  What Stage and Which Stage

Tents:  This Tent, That Tent, The Other Tent

Confused yet?  Try being there, try being under the influence (of the music of course), and try telling your friend where you are.  Last year, while attempting to direct my friend to That Tent for the She & Him performance, the conversation got confusing as the calls were dropped and the words 'what' and 'which' were thrown around.  Instead of seeing Zooey Deschanel, one of her girl crushes, she ended up at a completely different stage.

The nice thing is that if you do end up at the wrong tent or stage, you may discover a new artist and if you do decide to ask for directions, the people are all approachable and willing to help you find your way (though you may want to be cautious on who you ask - as some people are more heavily under the influence than others).

The People:
Bonnaroo in itself is a sustainable festival and highly promotes environmentalism.  As a result, it is home to 'crunchy granola heads' - as my friend and fellow 'Rooer' would call them. The weirder more eccentric you are, the dirtier you are willing to get, and the friendlier you are - the more apt you are to enjoy these four days.  People of all ages attend the festival (you are now thinking a four day festival full of music, drugs, and dirty people may not be the place for a one-year-old, but, well - I've seen it done).

It is normal to dress up and prance around at Bonnaroo

Alright, now to the most important, I know you have been patiently waiting...

The Music Scene:
Though, beginning with a focus on jam-bands, Bonnaroo has come to have a stage for all types of music, ranging from Lil Wayne to Buffalo Springfield to Norah Jones to the Arcade Fire to Jay Z to Tom Petty to Bassnectar. With such a diversified set list, Bonnaroo has a place for anyone. And it is not just the names that are unbelievable - the performances are outstanding.  With non-stop shows all day and night, you can get your fix of any music you are in the mood for. Whether it is sitting in the coveted shade (the heat in Tennessee is brutal if you are not used to it like I wasn't) and passively listening to something soothing, raging to the different DJs, or anything in between - you will find it at Bonnaroo and the performance will blow you away.

Each year, the lineup is highly anticipated. I myself cannot deny checking the Bonnaroo website daily (since the day I returned from TN in 2010) to see who would be playing the following year. I have to say honestly that I came across this years lineup at the start of my Writing in Electronic Environment's class on Tuesday, February 15. (Now would be a good time to apologize to my professor for being slightly distracted as my head filled with band name after band name in the beginning of class-until I recognized how flustered I must have looked with my head so close to the computer screen and had to pry myself from the Bonnaroo website.)

By now, I expect to see all of you there. So buy your tickets when they go on sale this Saturday, February 19.