24 June 2019 (gig)
30 June 2019
Spread across hundreds of acres outside of the small town of Manchester, Tennessee some 70 miles from Nashville lies a farm. Not just any farm but “The Farm” is what longtime attendees call the grounds of the legendary Bonnaroo Music Music & Arts Festival which takes over this small southern town every June.
Bonnaroo has been one of the key names in the American festival circuit for over a decade but with questionable lineups and declining ticket sales in recent years, many have been predicting its end was near. These opinions were quickly laid to rest as the 2019 edition came around and organizers announced a striking bill with headliners Phish, Childish Gambino, The Lumineers, as well as many other prominent acts set to take place throughout the event.
The excitement around the lineup announcement this January quickly translated to ticket sales eventually leading to a completely sold out event for the first time since 2013. This meant over 80,000 eager campers were soon to be heading to the farm where they would be living for 4 days and making memories looking to be some of Roo’s best.
When festival goers arrived in Manchester and made their way onto the grounds it was quickly clear something was different. Everything from the stages to the vendors had a fresh and modern feel that was a clear upgrade from previous years. The food and drink experience on the farm proved to be a completely refined experience offering gourmet dining options, and vendors showcasing locally sourced produce options. The red plastic cups holding warm beer that is a common scene at most festivals was replaced at Bonnaroo by local breweries serving craft brews.
These upgraded grounds without a doubt contributed to making the over 150 performances some of the most enjoyable we have seen at this festival in a very long time. During every set throughout the weekend Roo’s motto “radiate positivity” was in full force. The spirit of generosity was omnipresent throughout the weekend from the calm and hip crowd of The Avett Brothers on Friday night, to the refreshing hype of Post Malone’s headlining set on Saturday as well as Phish’s magical closing set late Sunday.
All in all, Bonnaroo 2019 was a huge success for organizers, proving they regained their finger on the pulse of the music their fans would like to see on the farm. This is an event that is back on top of the game and one that is hard not to recommend.
