MMJ - Bonnaroo

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

 ::)

there's worse things in the world than depressed hippies.  don't be down the hippies, they've got the best drugs!  ;)

[leafygreens]

Ok, I'm new, but I've been reading for a while.

I agree, the lineup for this looks amazing, but I have a few questions.

I have never been to a big music festival, but I always want to go because of the amount of great bands.

BUT - I have no interest in being in a mud pit with crazies all around, so how crazy is Bonaroo?
Those of you that have been, how does it work?  Is there a sane, normal way to go about this? As in, stay in a hotel, then go to the place for a couple hours of performances, go back, etc.

Also, does it matter when you buy tickets? The pictures from these things are always giant crowds, so surely it's just general admission style seating, no?

Thanks for your help!

[Specialist]

if you buy a ticket early, it's cheaper. And by early, i mean the first hour they go on sale.

Everyone at Bonnaroo was extremely nice. As a matter of fact, the people camping next to us gave us hamburgers and hot dogs. The only rude people i encountered was some of the fans at Modest Mouse. They were up after MMJ, and the second MMJ finished, a big group of teens tried to elbow their way up to the front.  Other than that, nothing but courtesy. If you don't like to be around drugs or alchohol, i wouldn't come. If you don't like hearing nitrous tanks all night, i wouldn't come. As far as the mud goes, it's just apart of the festival. If you absolutely can't handle the mud, and you have the money, buy VIP.  There are VIP decks on the main stages.

And believe it or not, most people that attend Bonnaroo are opened minded towards different music. I'm sure Radiohead will go over just fine.

[saki]

Welcome to the board!  (I haven't been here that long either)

Bonnaroo can be muddy, but it's not crazy...if in "crazy" you mean dirty, nasty, mud people throwing mud at other dirty, nasty mud people.  People there are very polite and the vibes from everyone at every show I've been to are very good, peaceful, and pleasant.  Everyone is there for the music and there's really no loud drunk asshole slamdancing, and hitting on your girlfriend.  Basically, if you can stand getting a little dirty like any normal camping trip, I'd say you can definitely handle it.  I guess you could stay at a hotel, but that would be such a hassle in every way.  I mean there are shows going on non-stop from noon until midnight...and why would you want to see only a few artists and then go back to your hotel?  Because there are so many awesome bands you're really gonna want to see as many as possible.  I was introduced to a new solo artist Xavier Rudd who I love now all because of Bonnaroo 04.  And I just happened to see one of the best MMJ shows ever (I think others can confirm this) and you know I had to walk all the way back to my tent and get about 10,000 gallons of rain dumped on me from the stormy skies above and I had the time of my life...if your gonna go to bonnaroo you have to be prepared for rain...but if you don't go just because you don't want to get muddy, you could miss an awesome show!

And BTW this looks like the best line-up I've ever seen at Bonnaroo!!!  

[leafygreens]

Thanks for the info, y'all!
I'm gonna think about it.  Plus, it's not a far drive from Louisville (le hometown), so that's an added benefit!

[Angry Ewok]

I'm something of a pretty boy, but I gotta tell you - Bonnaroo is well worth going 3/4 days without a shower... It's a tad muddy, and a bit smelly - but there isn't any feces tossing or anything disgusting or insane like that going on...

Well, apparently there may be, if Widespread Panic gets 2 shows again... But that's fine with me, I don't like WP at all.

Definately buy yourself a ticket, though, if you think you could survive 3/4 days of great music, great atmosphere, great weather (hopefully), and just overall bliss... the price of living in a tent without running water.

Trying to get a hotel is an excersize in futility - I heard the local hotels are booked for the next 6 thousand June's.



I'm pleased with Bonnaroo's list... Sure, having Wilco and Allison Krauss show up would kick ass - but I can't complain with My Morning Jacket, Radiohead, Buddy Guy, and Tom Petty... Good stuff.

[sideroad32]

Hey All,
I've never been ot bonnaroo but This years lineup has me itchin to go.  But how do i convince my friends to go.  Sure there are good bands and that should be enough, but my friends are pussies afraid to spend money and get dirty and roughed up.

SO what I want to know:
Typically other than travel expenses how much does it cost per person? (with tickets, food, etc...)
Are the crowds friendly and well behaved, or rude and pushy and obnoxiously drunk? (like some other fests i've been to)
How long a set do most bands get and how long do the headliners play? (like how long would the jacket play for, and how long would radiohead play for?)
Is it really worth the cost?

Any helpful answers would be much appreciated.  Hopefully I'll see you all there.

[EC]

Hey All,
I've never been ot bonnaroo but This years lineup has me itchin to go.  But how do i convince my friends to go.  Sure there are good bands and that should be enough, but my friends are pussies afraid to spend money and get dirty and roughed up.

I had that problem last year.  We had to make it a road trip in order to make it work, and even then, once we were there, my poor pal did not really dig it too much.  The crowds and the dirt factor, along with people who kept falling into her tent, did not make it so enjoyable for her.  Try and make sure you go with dudes who really really love music, and then the dirt and crowds don't matter as much.  :)

SO what I want to know:
Typically other than travel expenses how much does it cost per person? (with tickets, food, etc...)

I think tickets are a little more expensive than they were last year, but you're better to decide sooner than later so that you can get the first tier of tickets, which are cheaper.  Go to www.bonnaroo.com and the prices are there.  That price gets you in for the whole time (Thursday afternoon to Monday evening), and includes camping.  You can bring your own food, but they're funny about letting you in to the concert areas with food.  You've got to have your bag checked, and they'll make you throw stuff out.  They have a really amazing selection of foods - pretty much anybody with any food issues can find something for them.  It's not cheap, though.  You can expect to pay btwn $15-$20 for food alone if you want to eat 2-3 meals.  Beer is usually about $5, but there's a good selection of it.  I don't know if you can get mixed drinks or not.  I don't think I did, but I maybe was only drinkin' beer.  You can bring your own beer (in cans) to the camping area, but can't bring them into the concert area unless you're good at being sneaky.  We made the mistake of bringing wine, and they made us dump it out before we even got to the camp grounds.  That was, ah, highly annoying.  But they don't want glass in case it breaks and cuts peoples' feet.  Cell phones generally don't work at Bonnaroo.  There's lots of things for sale.  I think I saw more glass pipes than I ever did in my entire life.  ;)

Are the crowds friendly and well behaved, or rude and pushy and obnoxiously drunk? (like some other fests i've been to)

The crowds are nice.  The people are really good.  You get the occasional jerk, but mostly we found everybody to just be really happy and nice.

How long a set do most bands get and how long do the headliners play? (like how long would the jacket play for, and how long would radiohead play for?)

MMJ played about 45 minutes last year I think.  Radiohead might get more time.  It's usually 45 minutes if I remember properly.

Is it really worth the cost?

I would say yes.  The ticket price is ridiculous for the amount of music you get to see.  (ie, ridiculously cheap)  It's a fun time, and if you're a relaxed dude, you'll really enjoy yourself.  There are weird issues that you have to deal with (bathrooms, no showers, crowds to brush your teeth), but if you plan well and get yourself set up properly (have food in your vehicle, bring as many nice portable amenities as you can), it's really worth it.  Bonnaroo is a wonderful festival.

You can pm me or email me if you have other questions, sideroad.  Plus, I'll tell you which is the "better" border to cross, as we have a selection of 3.

[Coltrane]

EC, I love you!!!!! You are the best!!!!!!

[EC]

EC, I love you!!!!! You are the best!!!!!!

I love you, too, Coltrane.  :)

At some point I think those of us who have gone to Bonnaroo should make an official list of things to bring that make your life easier.  It also helps if you have friends who live in Alabama who make you Bonnaroo care packages.  ;)

1. Wet naps.  Seriously.  I'm thinking about the environmental factor, and perhaps that's bad, but you can buy recycled ones that use good environmentally friendly cleaning solvents, and if you let them dry, you can burn them in a campfire that you, of course, would NOT have on the Bonnaroo grounds, but perhaps at another campsite.  Those things were a godsend.  

[corey]

It also helps if you have friends who live in Alabama who make you Bonnaroo care packages.  Wink

That was completely my wife's idea. She's awesome like that.

[Specialist]

i'd actually say that Radiohead will get a 3 hour slot since they will be headlining one night.

Oh and last year the Jacket were given a 90 minute set.

[EC]

Yes yes.  Oh lord.  I was thinking about the Wilco shows.  Big whoops.  Holy.

Yep, I'm looking at the schedule from last year now.  Most bands get between an hour and an hour and a half.

Dave Matthews got 3 hours, and Widespread Panic got... yeah, wayyyyyy too long.  ;)

[Ghosts_on_TV]

Yeah, the headliners play about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour set. Radiohead is playing on Friday, so my guess is that it will be Petty on Saturday and Phil Lesh on Sunday. I agree about Panic having 2 sets last year. I thought it was kinda dumb.  Their Saturday night set was fucking awesome though, and thats coming from somene that went in going "Fuck pacic"

[sweatboard]

Yeah, the headliners play about a 2 1/2 to 3 hour set. Radiohead is playing on Friday, so my guess is that it will be Petty on Saturday and Phil Lesh on Sunday. I agree about Panic having 2 sets last year. I thought it was kinda dumb.  Their Saturday night set was fucking awesome though, and thats coming from somene that went in going "Fuck pacic"

Are You POSITVE it wasn't just the shroom cakes?

[ratsprayer]

panic?  good?  methinks someone wasn't sober...   ;D

[Angry Ewok]

Definately high on something...

Both WP shows sucked, in my humbled opinion. I just don't understand why people like that stuff... I came to 'Roo with an open mind about WP - and was extremelly disapointed, twice.

Different strokes, though.

[sideroad32]

You can pm me or email me if you have other questions, sideroad

Thanks For the offer EC and the answers.  I'll let you know if i have more questions.  Its good to get adive from a fellow canuk.

I'm slowly getting my friends more hyped to go.  So it looks good now.  Well one freind wants to go for sure the other will take a little more work.   We're all huge music guys though so i don't know why we wouldn't enjoy it especially with the great line up.

Good to hear that sets are a good length to.

Oh and keep making that list everybody, I would like to know what is essential to bring.

[Chills]

This seems like a really solid festival line-up to me. I mean, I'm not going but I wouldn't complain about

Elvis Costello
MMJ
Dr John
Radiohead
Buddy Guy
Gomez
Steve Earle
Andrew Bird

Yeah, I would go to see these!

[Brian]

Widespread Panic rules your faces(Much moreso before Mikey passed away).  Sorry that some of you seemed to have missed that boat.  And no, I am far from a hippie.  At least you guys didnt miss the boat on MMJ.  These guys are really something special.  MMJ deserves a slot on the mainstage early evening.  Jim James is a rock god