BONNAROO 2011

[Erik26]

They clear you out of the front of the main stage after each show.

one of the things i love about this festival!
when they fill the pit area in front of the main stage there is even room to move a little.  so humane!

So is there a line to wait in to get into the pit area? Do they stop letting people in once they deem it full??

[Penny Lane]

They clear you out of the front of the main stage after each show.

one of the things i love about this festival!
when they fill the pit area in front of the main stage there is even room to move a little.  so humane!

So is there a line to wait in to get into the pit area? Do they stop letting people in once they deem it full??

in 2008, the previous last show ended a 3-4 hours before MMJ before so there was a long break and the crowd completely cleared.. we stood there for a good 2-3 hours before it started and were right up front. (Metallica was playing on the main stage so most people were over there)..on the one hand, they're bigger now than in 08 but considering that bonnaroo crowd's tastes, probably can walk up close up to an hour before the show...

[Erik26]

My only issue with that is Arcade Fire will be playing and I won't be missing that. However, I would have done the same as you in 2008.

[itrainmonkeys]

My only issue with that is Arcade Fire will be playing and I won't be missing that. However, I would have done the same as you in 2008.

I'm pretty confident that MMJ will be on the same stage as Arcade Fire. The only question is does MMJ pre-headline for Arcade Fire or do they play late night main stage after Arcade fire.

[CTdeadhead]

They clear you out of the front of the main stage after each show.

one of the things i love about this festival!
when they fill the pit area in front of the main stage there is even room to move a little.  so humane!

So is there a line to wait in to get into the pit area? Do they stop letting people in once they deem it full??

In 08, Pearl Jam had some pre sold tickets to several thousand im guessing.  There was a marked line or bracelets or something and they let people in the pit before the set began.  Im not sure if this was a PJ thing or a Bonnaroo thing.  I asked one dude in line if it was a Ten Club thing, maybe I missed it, but he said no. 

[Erik26]

Here is everything MMJ at Bonnaroo for anyone who has yet to hear these or forgot about them or just want to listen again or whatever


Bonnaroo 2008 http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2008-06-13.140v3.flacf16

Bonnaroo 2006 http://www.archive.org/details/MMJ2006-06-16..4011s

Bonnaroo 2005 http://www.archive.org/details/MMJ2005-06-12.flac

Bonnaroo 2004 http://www.archive.org/details/mmj2004-06-12.shnf

[Erik26]

Looks like Jack White and his 3rd man rolling records are all but officially confirmed. Should have posted this yesterday...


Michael Stevens
@MichaelRox Michael Stevens
Just got confirmation that @ThirdManRRS WILL be at @Bonnaroo this year!

This was after his surprise school bus show yesterday at SXSW.

[ms. yvon]

erik,  the one time if was in the pit at the main stage got in line during the previous band.  once that band was done, they cleared out the pit and let in about 1,000 into it.  once they reach capacity they close it.  if someone leaves, they let someone else in.

even at max capacity it's not over crowded.  this pit system is only in effect at the main stage.  the other stages are all straight walk-up affairs.

for the record:  pit viewing was wilco in 2007

[Erik26]

Thanks Ms Yvon!

[CTdeadhead]

erik,  the one time if was in the pit at the main stage got in line during the previous band.  once that band was done, they cleared out the pit and let in about 1,000 into it.  once they reach capacity they close it.  if someone leaves, they let someone else in.

even at max capacity it's not over crowded.  this pit system is only in effect at the main stage.  the other stages are all straight walk-up affairs.

for the record:  pit viewing was wilco in 2007

Do we know if that's done for every headliner?  How do you even know how to line up, I saw no marked area...just kinda curious about all this. 

[EasyRyder]

From my experience in 08 and 09, for every headlining act that plays the main stage they open the pit and let in a set number of people. All you have to do is line up on the right side of the stage (if you're facing it) by the barricades, and they usually let people file in about a half hour to an hour before the show starts.

I saw day-time acts and late-nighters from the pit so it's always an option! The bigger the act though, the earlier you need to line up. There were people lined up for Phish all day long, but for Metallica and B.B. King I showed up about 30 min. before and got in easy.

[CTdeadhead]

I was there last in 08 and the PJ line was right in the middle of the main crowd, which I thought was strange. 

[EasyRyder]

with all the new west coast/canada/england announcements, looks like Bonnaroo will be my final answer!

Even though I was hoping for some more Southern dates, I feel more at ease knowing that my 3rd Bonnaroo is just around the corner 

Does anyone know when the time slots came out last year?

[oistheone]

Last year I got the schedule e-mail from Bonnaroo on May 20th. So I'm sure we've got a while to wait, unfortunately...

[EasyRyder]

Last year I got the schedule e-mail from Bonnaroo on May 20th. So I'm sure we've got a while to wait, unfortunately...

Ergh. I guess chances will have to be taken then.  thanks for the info 

[Erik26]

Everything seems to be a little wierd this year with old Bonnaroo. They announced bands on a different day than the tickets went on sale. They have waited longer than normal to start announcing additional acts. I think they also announced less acts to start with than usual as well.

It's their 10th anniversary so a lot of people are thinking they may do a few things out of the norm such as having stage acts on thursday instead of just having the tents going. If they do that it wouldn't surprise me if they have late night sets on thursday as well this year. And if they do that it wouldn't be shocking for them to release the schedule earlier than normal so people could change/make arrangements to get there earlier than they were planning.

Personally I think they have some BIG surprises in store for us this year. They almost have to, I mean Sasquatch added an entire day for their 10th this year and Bonnaroo is supposed to be the biggest and best so I imagine they will do whatever they can to maintain that and I think there is proof of that in just the initial lineup alone. Who else has an artist showing up to play the album their festival is named after?

[itrainmonkeys]

It's their 10th anniversary so a lot of people are thinking they may do a few things out of the norm such as having stage acts on thursday instead of just having the tents going. If they do that it wouldn't surprise me if they have late night sets on thursday as well this year. And if they do that it wouldn't be shocking for them to release the schedule earlier than normal so people could change/make arrangements to get there earlier than they were planning.

I feel pretty confident in saying there will NOT be main stage acts on Thursday. In addition to the problem of people who can't arrive on Thursday feeling cheated out of a decently-big name act there are also tons and tons of people who wouldn't be able to see them because they are still in line or pulling into the festival. I know this interview is from last year but it gives you an idea of how they people who run Bonnaroo feel about doing Thursday stage acts/mini-headliners:

Has there been a reason for not including a mini headliner on Thursday?

Because at some point you've just gotta decide you're not going to do some things. All of a sudden your festival lasts a week instead of three days and originally the Thursday night thing evolved because it was just local acts and regional acts and we didn't even announce who was playing. It was intended just to give the people who came to the festival early some music that they could enjoy before the actual festival kicked in big time. And it was our opportunity to surprise people with new artists that they probably didn't know, but that we thought they'd really like. Then it became more and more popular and more people kept coming to the festival earlier and earlier so we turned it up a notch and started booking bigger up and coming acts. It's still generally focused on relatively new artists to their scene but have a considerable buzz gathering around their music, but we really don't want to program the big stages that early in the weekend. It's enough to stay focused on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

So then, in the future incorporating a Thursday headliner to the mix is something you wouldn't be interested in?

Never say never but it's not part of the plans for right now.

source: http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/interview-ashley-capps-co-founder-of-bonnaroo-music-arts-festival-round-2/


While he says "Never say Never" I feel like it's not going to happen this year.

I do agree that they will have some big things planned. They have been promoting the fact that they will focus on the collaboration side of things again so we could see a lot of unique sit-ins. I'm sure there will also be some interesting comedians and films there. Probably a big name surprise or two (speculation is on Jack White showing up for Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson's sets).

[Erik26]

Now you're crushing my dreams on 2 forum boards. LMAO ;D What about some late night thursday action this year? What if the Which stage opened at 00:01 Friday? Technically it would be a Friday act.

[Erik26]

Additions tomorrow? Any believers? Or am I running on endless optimism?

[Ghosts_on_TV]

Someone on inforoo said that Jim told him tonight at the Everest show that they are opening for arcade fire playing 8 to 10.  :(