Bonnaroo 2013

 

Was holding out hope for the timing to work so I could go.  Even had my spot reserved on the volunteer roster for parking duties opening day.  Planned on bunking at my old homestead in Tullahoma...you know, air conditioning, shower, bed...and day parking at the farm. Sadly, it's not going to happen for me this year.  And I already had my festival itinerary ready to go...

 

In 2010, our volunteer shift was 2 PM Thursday - 2 AM Friday, totally scrapping the day.  The "powers that be" @ Bonnaroo have learned well from their problem areas of the past, i.e. allowing patrons to enter the grounds beginning Wednesday.  So just in case the shift this year happened upon Hump Day, I had options for Thursday ready...

 

5:30  Futurebirds  -  Get settled and get there because they may be headlining one night a few years

from now, much like Mumford & Sons.  Stoner/alt/folk/country

7:30  Walk The Moon   

10:00  Japandroids for half an hour and then Father John Misty @ 10:30.

If not asleep somewhere after FJM, would probably head over to Maps & Atlases and then Capital Cities for a minute.

 

Friday is the big day.  A former Beatle will play a concert three miles from the first house I ever owned...

 

Start the day with Trombone Shorty @ 12:30 then Calexico at 1:45.  The 3:30 slot is a double, having to split time between Glen Hansard and the band Of Monsters and Men.  Go see the rest of Passion Pit on the big stage afterwards.  Then it would be The Foals for the challenge, and if they are too much to handle, ease over to Grizzly Bear. 

 

The 6:30 - 8:30 slot is the absolute toughest choice to make as the lead-in to Sir Paul at 9.  I'd probably grab a spot at the What Stage for Wilco so I wouldn't have to walk over with the other 75,000 people when all the other stages/tents go dark.  Also starting at 6:30 in the That Tent is John McLaughlin with his electrified fusion.  He's guitar history, folks.  At 7 is Jim James in the This Tent.  His recent solo release is exquisite.  And for the rap/hip hop contingent, history takes the other stage (not tent) in the Wu-Tang Clan.  Once the Beatle is done, I'd have to stick around for the younger pups in ZZ Top. 

 

After the full day of Friday, I'd have to make a judgment call Saturday morning.  Raring to go?  Then I'd get there at 1 PM for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  Hungover, zoned and sleep-deprived?  Then it would be 2:45 for The Mule.  Cannot pass up Mr. Haynes.  Then I'd wander over to Portugal. The Man (new album post soon).  If I had one of those nice, tricked-out RVs as my campground inside the compound, then this would be nap time.  If it's a cat nap, then I'd slink over to Cat Power at 6:15.  If it's a power nap, then I'd wander back and forth between Björk (mostly to see what she looks like in 95° heat index) and Beach House before catching The Lumineers and then Mumford and the Boys on the grande stage.  Not sure if Billy Idol or Weird Al could keep me there after midnight, but again, it would be a call made at the moment.  Maybe that night's Superjam would be the way to go... 

 

If I started early Sunday, I'd check out Kacey Musgraves, otherwise you'd find me at Black Prairie @ 2:45, sliding over to get a whiff of The Sheepdogs at 3:30.  I'd go see The Swans for 30 minutes, Ed Sharpe for 30, and then Tame Impala for their set commencing at 6 PM.  David Byrne & St. Vincent would follow at 7:30.  Doubt I'd stay through all of Tom Petty closing the festival.  It wasn't too long ago that I saw this show and Lord knows I'd want to get a head start on the traffic out of there...(that's funny, I don't care who you are). 

 

I want to hear your stories when you return.  Have fun, but stay away from the brown acid...