Coverage by Bill Foster, Matt Miller, Rusty Odom & Kent Oglesby
Photos by Bill Foster
As Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2019 comes to a close, there are countless ways in which we could describe similarities and differences to past festivals, the best and the worst acts, what was planned well and what wasn’t and so on. As we leave the farm and enter back into the real world, there will inevitably be tons of these discussions from those who understand Bonnaroo and those who don’t. Those who don’t understand will ask questions such as, “Were you dying in the heat? Was your camp far away? How long were the lines? I bet it was real crowded. Could you even get close? How bad was Cardi B?”
These people aren’t completely off. There are obstacles to experiencing Bonnaroo to the fullest. There are great artists and performers to see, activities to join, food to eat, drinks to try and friends to enjoy. Once you arrive on the farm, those worries and questions fade quickly. Everything is worth it. Lines turn into chances to meet new friends and share Bonnaroo stories. Large crowds turn into relaxing in the back or getting in the thick of it to dance with strangers. Performers you don’t like means the ones you do are even more special.
Bonnaroo has created an experience that is vast and unique, ever-evolving and improving, while strongly maintaining and honoring its’ roots. This idea is truly reflected in this year’s newest addition, Where in the Woods, a new stage and hangout area outside of Centeroo in General Admission. On your stroll through the forested area, there are artifacts of Bonnaroo past, such as the legendary clock tower and Dr. John’s big hat replica. There are 100+ hammocks and tables encouraging hangouts with old and new friends. There are arcade games, pinball machines, collective art areas and even a surprisingly large stage with music going day and night. This addition felt authentically Bonnaroo, bringing together aspects of Bonnaroo past and present that will appeal to all in some way.
After a sold out year, expect to see more Bonnaroos like 2019. A diverse, star-studded lineup with terrific undercard acts, representing all genres and catering to all fans. It’s very simple to find something special to you in this place. The collective love, respect and unity you hear of is not just some grand idea. It’s alive and well for 4 days every summer in Manchester. – MM
Here is our recap of the final day of Bonnaroo 2019:
Kikagaku Moyo
The Lemon Twigs
The Lemon Twigs play power pop with a rock and roll attitude. I’ve seen Cage the Elephant play every size venue there is. Seen the Who. Seen a lot of skinny dudes jumping around. I’m not sure I have EVER seen a band as frenetic and active as these guys onstage. Lead singer Brian D’Addario walks out on stage and immediately flops forward on his face. I guess it doesn’t hurt because he is 20-something and weighs 85 lbs soaking wet but it’s something to behold. His brother Michael is a whirling dervish and a spiky, angular guitar player who sounds like the guitarist from the Wire covering the Rasberries. The brothers climb and leap everything is sight, demand attention and participation from the crowd all while playing spectacular songs filtered through a hurricane of noise. Don’t miss these guys. – BF
Bombino
One of the most fun things at Bonnaroo is to watch a less than full tent become packed as people walk by and hear the band. When I walked into Bombino’s show at 1:45 Sunday, I had no doubt that the tent would be full once he began to play and, sure enough, from the first note people began to dance and move up front. Omar Moctar from Niger is known as Bombino (a corruption of the Italian word for little boy) and the Sultan of Shred. He’s familiar to Knoxvillians from a legendary Big Ears show a couple years back and a previous 2013 Bonnaroo performance. He sings in Tamasheq of the concerns of the Turag people in Niger, a country he fled following political turmoil. His music is danceable and fun, blending elements of trance and world pop with Bombino’s stunning fretwork. His newest record is nominated for a Grammy so we are sure to see more of him soon. – BF
Princess
If you’ve seen Mya Rudolph in movies or television shows like SNL or The Good Place, she’s often showed her singing abilities in certain spots. However, it’s usually in a kind of cartoonish, joking fashion. Guess what? She’s a bona fide soul singer, and along with her fellow Princess vocalist Gretchen Lieberum, these girls slayed in front of a jam-packed That Tent on Sunday afternoon. It was crowded when it started, and as the Tennessee sun kept beating down on the farm, the audience jockeyed for position in whatever shade they could find.
Paying tribute to Prince on a big stage is an ambitious proposition. The band’s A game is what’s required, and Princess brought it in spades. Rudolph and Lieberum as well as their band provided inspired renditions of Prince favorites like “Little Red Corvette” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” Normally after a set ends at Bonnaroo, I’m ready to run off and see what else is out there. After Princess closed with a super energetic “1999,” I didn’t want it to end. I would’ve been content staying right there in That Tent for another 45 minutes. – KO
Brandi Carlile
It’s really hard not to love (or fall in love with) Brandi Carlile on stage. She’s charming, humble, authentic, passionate and intelligent. It’s the combination of these characteristics and others that make her the incredible songwriter she is today. Everything about her live performance is personal, from sharing stories about motherhood and the struggles of the LGBT community, to powering through her songs about heartbreak and triumph. It’s her songwriting, voice and personality that are driving a surge in an already successful career. This weekend at Bonnaroo, there was a few shows where you saw all generations and music fans attending together, but this one was unique. Everyone was there to see an artist based on her pure talent, because a good story and authenticity is what we crave the most. – MM
Cardi B
Which Stage was absolutely packed for Cardi B. Cardi probably will and definitely should be a headliner at some major festivals next year, because she drew a headlining type of crowd to the secondary stage on Sunday evening. I’ve never seen anything like it. Strolling up to the stage right as the set was starting, there was no chance of getting anywhere close. Even as far back as we were, everyone around us knew every word and very enthusiastically were singing along to every word. A girl in front of us looked like she came with some prepared choreography and really cut loose during Cardi’s hit song “I Like It.” With about a dozen dancers and a DJ / hypeman, she kept the almost certainly sleep-deprived Bonnaroovians up and dancing throughout the entire show.
She also showed that she can roll with the punches. After ripping her beaded jumpsuit, she took a brief moment for a wardrobe change and finished the set in a bathrobe. She returned to the stage announcing, “I gotta keep it sexy.” Closing with the song that launched her into stardom, “Bodak Yellow,” people were losing their minds jumping up and down and chanting the refrain of “I make money moves.” It was truly something to behold. – KO
Phish
