The Bonnaroo Music Festival was created by music promotion company AC Entertainment and marketing and event company Superfly Productions. The founders were inspired by music festivals they attended in the 1990s such as Glastonbury Festival, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Phish festivals. The name of the festival is a Creole slang world that means “a really good time”.
Originally Bonnaroo focused on jam bands and folk rock. Over the years it has expanded to include a diverse and eclectic array of genres and styles such as classic rock, pop, indie rock, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, EDM, funk, metal, stoner rock, jazz, country, Americana, folk, gospel, bluegrass, reggae, world music, and others. However, it continues to pay tribute to its roots by providing a highly visible forum for jam bands.
The Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival is usually held over four days in June, starting on the second Thursday of the month. It takes place at Great Stage Park, a 650-acre outdoor event space in Manchester, Tennessee. It is the largest outdoor festival in North America with estimated attendance of over 80,000.
Bonnaroo has several stages including What Stage (the main stage of the festival where the headlining act performs), Which Stage, This Tent, That Tent, and The Other Tent. Notable performers that have played at Bonnaroo include Bob Dylan, the Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, Pearl Jam, and many more.
The festival also features various activity tents like Cinema Tent and Comedy Tent, food and drink vendors, a Ferris wheel, artisans and craftsmen selling unique products, and a silent disco. Besides its rich and diverse program, Bonnaroo is known for supporting sustainability and recycling. It sells food and drink in recyclable materials, encourages fans to create less waste, and initiates many green activities during the event.
Photo: garrett cantrell
