Passing Through The Arch at Bonnaroo 2016

Bonnaroo. It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To some it’s an escape from their everyday lives. To others it’s a place to let loose. And to even more, it’s home. Fear of radical changes to this sacred place was evident as long-time Bonnaroovians and first-timers shuffled through the tollbooths, unsure of what lay ahead. What they found was a rejuvenated Farm, welcome upgrades, and, while attendance was noticeably down, the crowd that showed up was full of the Bonnaroo spirit. There was no shortage of magic on the farm this year after all. That was very apparent the moment that the festival first opened its gates on Wednesday to let attendees set up camp and get an extra day in on the farm. High fives were already being thrown around although music didn’t officially kick off until Thursday.

Veteran Bonnaroovians commented on how The Farm was very “different” this year. Some main fixtures had been relocated, and the lighter crowd made it feel much more open. But there were few complaints. It was easier to get around. Things sounded better. And the crowd that was there was the crowd that wanted to be there (us included!)

BEST CAMPSITE PARTYSooperGroop, a group within Groop Camping that was featured in Rolling Stone last year (and is featured on those spiffy cards we got this year), held their yearly opening party. This may have been their biggest celebration yet with Jean Sean playing a four-hour set, drawing a massive crowd until they finished at 2:30 AM (you can read more about that in our recap of Wednesday and Thursday). But what makes SooperGroop so much fun is the fact that this close-knit group of friends plans all year to make Bonnaroo the best experience they can, not only for themselves, but for anyone who wants to come have a great time!

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SooperGroop does it again! // Photo: Brian Hensley

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT: Bonnaroo took some time to make some upgrades this year, which included permanent plumbing lines. Aside from better-tasting water, we were also blessed with REAL BATHROOMS. One was located between the What and Which stage and the other by the entrance near the Ferris wheel. Having to poo at Bonnaroo is no longer something from your nightmares with the flushable toilets/urinals and long sinks with good soap to wash your hands. The permanent bathrooms had refill stations that made getting water quick and easy without creating giant mud pits. It’s the little things in life.

A LESSON IN BONNAROOS PAST: The Rooseum was also a welcome addition. Not only did it bring back favorite art installations that had since been retired (that clock gave us all the feels), but it provided a history lesson in the evolution of the festival for Bonnaroovians of all ages. It also served as a great reminder that in order for this festival to thrive and grow, sometimes things have to change to make room for bigger and better things. It was nice to see that Roo hasn’t forgotten about these pieces of yesteryear and that they are alive and well in the Bonnaroo vaults.

Clock at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
The Clock was a welcome sight for many Bonnaroovians // Photo: Mandi Nulph
Mr T at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
Mr T was back in full force! // Photo: Mandi Nulph
Bobbleheads at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
Welcome back, bobbles! // Photo: Mandi Nulph

BEST ALL-NIGHT DANCE PARTY: Sleep? Who needs sleep? Late-night sets and all-night dance parties courtesy of Kalliope (KAH-LIE-OH-PEE… say it with us, everyone!) have become mainstays at Roo, and they were brought to a whole new level this year. It seemed like if you were making moves towards camp before 4 am, then something must be up. Surprise sets seemed to be happening all the time, starting with GriZ jumping on Kalliope at 2 AM on Thursday. It didn’t end there; Cashmere Cat joined him shortly after his set and played through the night. Everyone present knew that they were a part of something special that night. Throughout the weekend it was just fire after fire (plus ACTUAL fire, thanks to these fancy burners!) on that little stage, with more surprise sets from Cherub, Keys & Krates, and many more!

GriZ at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
GRiZ on Kalliope // Photo: Mandi Nulph
Kalliope at Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
Kalliope was on fire all weekend (literally!). // Photo: Brian Hensley

SECRET SETS? OH WE HAVE SECRET SETS: Aside from all the action at Kalliope, there were LOTS of other secret sets popping up throughout the weekend. You won’t find artists who want to hang out all weekend and get personal with the crowds like the ones at Bonnaroo. Miguel, who had already won us over completely at Okeechobee earlier this year, put on an amazing surprise performance by the tower after parading around the festival grounds on Big Red (not to mention a killer solo set before hightailing it over to the SuperJam)!

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Photos Courtesy of Brian Hensley

GRiZ  also seemed to be feeling the Bonnaroo spirit. Not only did he pop up to kick things off right for the weekend at Kalliope, followed the next day by his own killer set AND an appearance at the SuperJam, but he also decided there was no better way to Roo out than in the campgrounds with the masses! After sending out a tweet looking for someone with loud enough speakers, he and members of Cherub (who weren’t even officially on the lineup!) ventured out to Pod 3 camping and set up right in the trunk of someone’s car. Only at Bonnaroo, y’all!

CHANCE THE CAMPER: The real MVP of Bonnaroo 2016 was Chance The Rapper, who wasn’t on the lineup but made his presence at the festival known in a similar manner to last year. He started posting about how he would be attending Bonnaroo (not playing officially, but just hanging out) months before the festival started. We met on Friday by the Who Stage as he walked around Centeroo enjoying the music. It wasn’t long before he started to get in on the action. Later that night, J. Cole brought him out during his set to perform “No Problems,” where he was met with roaring cheers from fans. On Saturday, Chance joined Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on stage to perform their collaboration “Need To Know.” Then on Sunday afternoon, Chance took to Twitter and posted the following:

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Those in attendance got to jam to Coloring Book with Chance the Rapper himself.

THOSE HEADLINERS, THO…: All doubt about Roo’s choice in headliners this year quickly dispersed when LCD Soundsystem took to the stage. Equipped with a giant disco ball hanging over their head, the band performed crowd favorites in addition to songs from their new album. Anyone who was hearing the band for the first time became fans, and old fans became diehard fans as everyone danced themselves clean.

LCD Soundsystem at Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
LCD Soundsystem on the What Stage // Photo: Brian Hensley

One of the sets we were most excited to see was Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. They delivered in a way that I couldn’t have ever imagined. Their performance, combined with the amazing light show, was mesmerizing. It was powerful, emotional and will live among our best memories forever. They played music from all of their albums and even played Kevin Parker’s collaboration with Mark Ronson “Daffodils.” The show ended 30 minutes early with an enormous confetti explosion that covered the sky way after the band got off stage. Although we would have been ecstatic to hear more music had they continued, we were beyond satisfied with the set.

Tame Impala at Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
Tame Impala on the Which Stage // Photo: Brian Hensley

Although a possible storm on Saturday forced organizers to shut down Centeroo for an hour, this served as a much needed break to relax and regain some energy before raging on through the night. While “The Great Drizzle of 2016” cut Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ set short, they came back out and picked up where they left off once we got the all clear, followed by Pearl Jam on the What Stage. All in all, the evacuation only set everything back an hour, the storm passed by without incident, and nobody was hurt (which is always the goal in situations like that). We’ll take it!

Macklemore Ryan Lewsi Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis didn’t let the storm stop their killer set // Photo: Mandi Nulph

One of the biggest draws for the weekend was undoubtedly Pearl Jam. They hadn’t made an appearance on the Farm since 2008 (their historical appearance then was the cause of the great Kanye Bonnaroo controversy), and their highly anticipated reunion tour this year brought some serious weight to the lineup this year. Not only did Pearl Jam bring some heat with their set that rivaled the Bonnaroo temperatures, but Eddie Vedder took advantage of his captive audience to address some things on his mind. Not one to shy away from political chit-chat, topics including offering to pay to build a wall around Donald Trump (“I’d pay for it. It wouldn’t be that expensive,” he joked), as well as urging Tennessee State Representative Susan Lynn in a handwritten note to reverse her stance on a LGBT “bathroom bill” that is being considered in the state. Pearl Jam cancelled their show in North Carolina after that state passed a similar bill.

Pearl Jam at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
Pearl Jam // Photo: Mandi Nulph

Vedder also took the tender opportunity to wish his eldest daughter Olivia a happy birthday, having the whole crowd hold up their cell phones and lighters to act as a giant cake for her to blow out. They played everyone’s favorites and lit up the night with the most impressive fireworks finale I’ve ever seen at Bonnaroo. For anyone complaining about the lineup, Pearl Jam was worth the ticket alone.

Closing out the fest, Dead & Co. played a 3 1/2 hour set that enthralled everyone present. For those who were unaware, Bonnaroo originally started as a jam band festival. Ending the 15th anniversary of the festival with a legendary jam band stayed true to Roo’s roots. You did not have to be a Deadhead to truly appreciate the greatness that was taking place on the What Stage.

John Mayer Dead & Company at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
John Mayer with Dead & Company // Photo: Mandi Nulph
John Mayer Dead & Company at Bonnaroo 2016 Mandi Nulph Photography
Bob Weir with Dead & Company // Photo: Mandi Nulph
Dead & Company Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
Dead & Company // Photo: Brian Hensley

WITH HONORS: Bonnaroo is all about honoring those who make a positive impact not only in music and at the festival, but to the greater community, both locally and our global community. This year, the festival honored Les Claypool (who was on hand playing with his new collaboration with Sean Lennon, The Claypool Lennon Delirium) with both the key to the city of Manchester and the key to Coffee County. AC Entertainment VP of Strategic Partnerships Jeff Cuellar was also awarded a key to the city for his ongoing support of Manchester. Our very own Brian Hensley was also awarded a key to the city for Artistic Promotion of the city of Manchester. Manchester continues to support Bonnaroo, and Bonnaroo is happy to give the love right back to the community that continues to let us into their home.

Bob Weir (founding member of The Grateful Dead) was also the first recipient of the Les Paul Spirit Award, to be given to those who exemplify innovation, technology, and engineering through music. Weir was honored at an invitation-only Bonnaroo Works Fund fundraiser “Bonnaroo Eats & Greets” on Sunday afternoon before his Dead & Company set.

Bob Weir Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
Bob Weir receives the Les Paul Spirit Award at a Bonnaroo Works Fund awards ceremony. // Photo: Brian Hensley
Les Claypool Bonnaroo 2016 Brian Hensley Photography
Les Claypool recieves the keys to the City of Manchester and Coffee County. // Photo: Brian Hensley

Fifteen years later, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival continues to prove that it is the best major music festival in this great nation. It grows more every year, and we look forward to seeing what Bonnaroo has in store for us in the future. That yearly visit to the farm in Manchester TN refreshes the soul. It is all at once a place where you can lose yourself and then find yourself in the same breath. The magic on the farm is real, and you can feel it in the ground and in the air. You can see it on the faces of everyone there. You can touch it with every high-five and hug. The theme this year was “15 Years of Magic,” and it was truly fitting. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for our favorite festival.

The dates for Bonnaroo 2017 have already been announced (June 8-11, 2017). Start planning and mark your calendars! See everyone in June!

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You can read what we thought about Bonnaroo everyday in our daily reviews, and see more awesome pictures from the event over on our Facebook page. Thank you again for another amazing year, Bonnaroo!

 

REVIEW BY ROLANDO JIMENEZ & MANDI NULPH

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