Bonnaroo gears up for big summer
February 14, 2012
The summer music festival puzzle added a few more pieces Tuesday morning.
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival announced its preliminary lineup via Spotify Tuesday morning, and headliners include Radiohead, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish and the Beach Boys.
The Manchester, Tenn.-based festival is celebrating its 11th anniversary and will take place over four nights from June 7 through June 10. Bonnaroo will feature about 125 music acts and 30 comedians. Tickets go on sale Saturday.
The festival’s lineup is packed with notable acts, including Bon Iver, hip-hop vets the Roots, Chicago prog jammers Umphrey’s Mcgee and folk crooners the Avett Brothers.
Other performers include the Shins, Ludacris, Childish Gambino, Skrillex, Foster the People, Feist, tUnE-yArDs and Fitz & the Tantrums.
The lineup has something of a ripped-from-the-headlines feel. Several acts had notable nights at the Grammy Awards. The reunited Beach Boys lineup of Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks made their live debut at the awards, joined on stage by Foster the People.
Bon Iver won best new artist, Skrillex took home three trophies and two-time Grammy winners The Civil Wars are scheduled to play just a few weeks before singer Joy Williams’ baby is due.
The festival’s lineup was initially announced via online music player Spotify and a teaser video hosted by SportsCenter anchor John Anderson.
“The lineup’s crazy,” said Keith Winford, senior communications major and emcee for DeKalb hip-hop band Legend Haz It. “There’s so many artists.”
Winford said he would consider driving to the festival, especially since the Roots are one of his favorite groups.
“They’re just very original and very real,” he said. “You can tell their music is heartfelt.”
Headliners the Beach Boys will celebrate its 50th anniversary as a band, with original members Wilson, Love, and Jardine performing with later members Marks and Johnston.
This festival marks the second time Phish has headlined the festival in four years, when it shared the stage in 2009 with Bruce Springsteen and the Beastie Boys.
Bonnaroo is often noted for its inclusion of comedy acts during the festival, and this year’s lineup features Aziz Ansari, best known as playboy Tom Haverford on NBC’s Parks and Recreation.
Four-day general admission passes go on sale 11 a.m. Saturday and cost $234.50 before processing fees. After the initial round of ticket sales closes, ticket sales will resume at a higher price.
Festival attendees with disposable income can splurge on a $1399.50 two-person VIP package, which includes parking and camping closer to the stages, special shower and restroom facilities, and exclusive viewing areas for some stages.
Unlike festivals like Summercamp in Chillicothe, Ill., Bonnaroo allows festival attendees to drive to their campsite. But unlike Summercamp, Bonnaroo will take some effort to get to: it’s a 10 hour drive from DeKalb to Manchester.
But it could be worth it. There’s a little bit of something for everybody.
Five songs you can’t miss at Bonnaroo
Spread out over four days and dozens of artists, Bonnaroo has something to offer for every type of music fan. DeKalb Scene columnist Alex Fiore tells you which artists aren’t to be missed and which songs will bring the house down.
1. “Good Vibrations” – the Beach Boys
With the Beach Boys reuniting during Sunday night’s Grammys, the group gave hope to music fans that it would be touring this summer, bringing sun-soaked classic surfer rock to the masses. With California’s finest likely closing the festival, this is the perfect song to listen to while the night winds cool down your Tennessee sunburn, and hopefully a summation of the festivals vibes.
2. “Everything In Its Right Place” – Radiohead
When Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke steps up to the microphone to perform this classic of 2000’s Kid A, his vocals will be more processed than Spam, but it will certainly put you in a trance. This song will make you feel like there isn’t a single place on Earth you’d rather be at that moment, and it will be true.
3. “Sophia” – Laura Marling
Though she has released three studio albums, British folkie Marling tends to fly under the radar. That’s unfortunate, because the singer-songwriter has an incredible vocal range and writes songs ranging from dark and brooding to eternally optimistic. This is bound to be an early set and will be a great way to start your morning (regardless of whether or not you went to bed).
4. “Cinema” – Skrillex
The Bonnaroo lineup is kind of short on electronic artists, but they managed to pull in one of the biggest laptop-toters in the game. When Skrillex drops this Benny Benassi remix, the bass will shake the Tennessee farm dirt. Even if dubstep isn’t your thing (it’s not mine either,) it’s at least worth the time to see what the womp is all about.
5. “School’s Out” – Alice Cooper
This song is perhaps the ultimate summer anthem. Nothing will sum up a weekend of utter freedom of music, art and friendship more than this song. When Cooper performs this 1972 classic, you might even forget you go to NIU for a few minutes.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.