Bonnaroo first timer suggestions

Prepare to sweat your balls off

baby wipes. lots and lots of baby wipes.

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If you are in a tent it will likely be 85 degrees by 5am

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FIFY

Take the shuttle to and from Nashville so you don't have to sleep in a tent in June Tennessee heat.

Right when you park throw your EZ up up (if ya do t have one get one, or three). Claim you're space, you'll want it...throw your tents up next and make sure you're not near the EZ up, if you have friends like mine who stay up all night, it won't matter but if you want some sleep make sure you bring ear plugs.


Baby wipes, gallons and gallons of water. No water is ever enough. One of those rags that always stays cool. Dry ice. You don't wanna be buying the 10$ bags of 5 pound ice every morning. I like to bring a cot, if you have one so once your tent is a sauna at sunrise, you can go outside and get a little breeze under the EZ up. Sunscreen. All I can really think of that I bring to bonaroo that I really don't at other festivals other than EZ ups. See ya on the farm Wednesday!

I always get a kick out of Bonnaroo haters. I went to the first 3, then made a triumphant return in 2011. I was like a lot of people, who weren't happy with the direction of the festival after the first few years. I said f it, and decided to go in 2011 (basically to see MMJ and Panic). Well the festival is better than ever.

At one point, I needed some shade so we went into the air conditioned sports "bar". It was incredible. I could charge my phone, watch sports on flat screen tvs, while also watching Railroad Earth on the big screen (w/audio) that was happening at the main stage, while ordering a beer and playing FIFA against some spun out kid who could barely hold onto his controller. They also had free pool, darts, etc.

As far as the grounds go, a lot has changed too since the first couple years (obviously). I mean they have a 50ft inflatable water slide for god's sake. They still have 2 main stages, and three tents. But now they have a few other smaller stages setup.

One thing that hasn't changed, is the conditions in the camp grounds. You are still in the trenches at Bonnaroo, unless you get VIP. It's one of the most difficult festivals to camp at due to the weather and lack of shade. You know that going in though.

Have fun...a lot of magic still happens out on the farm. And drink a lot of water....

(if you can get a handicap parking pass, do it)

Honest question: What's the knock on Bonnaroo?

I love everything about it. I don't care what kind of music you are into, there should be enough there for everyone. The music is almost secondary to the experience.

My favorite band is Panic, so I get people knocking the lineup over the years. All I know is last year I spent the day with Greensky, Drive by Truckers, and Tedeschi Trucks. I spent the early evening with Jack White and Elton John. And then Derek Trucks killed it until 3am.

To each their own, I guess.

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Honest question: What's the knock on Bonnaroo?

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I had a blast every time I went (06,07,09). However the lineup really has just become much less jam-centric and therefore the original target audience has lost interest. In addition to that, many other large and midsized festivals have popped up all over the country and saturated the circuit.

The one thing Bonnaroo still is king at is the epic late nights. The music doesn't end until 8 or 9 am.

I only went the first year and my only advice is to bring more water than you think you'll need. Like whatever amount you think you'll need, double it. It's hot, and the days are long.


Actually I have more advice. Pace yourself. Don't feel like you have to see every band.

And finally, plan to take a few days afterwards to recover. I wasn't back to normal for almost a week afterwards. Sleep deprivation and lots of hallucinogens wreak havoc on your body.