Bonnaroo is Never Not Great
As the boys over at The What Podcast always say, Bonnaroo is never not great. Regardless of what happens, there will always be at least one moment on The Farm that will leave you speechless. With this year’s incredible lineup, I had high expectations going into 2023, but at the same time, with the ups and downs of the last few years, I was prepared for the worst. That being said, it’s been just over two weeks since Roo has come to an end, and three words have been ringing in my mind ever since: Bonnaroo is back.
When I say “Bonnaroo is back,” I’m not just saying it lightly. I mean, Bonnaroo is back! If you’ve been to Bonnaroo, you know there are so many factors that come into play. You don’t just go to Bonnaroo. You survive, Bonnaroo. From scorching Tennessee heat waves and spontaneous storms to potential off-putting crowds, artist cancelations, and unusual festival management decisions, there is always something that could go wrong. But, at the same time, it also means that there is a possibility that everything could go right. And this was one of those years. From mind-blowing performances to near-perfect weather and welcoming crowds, this year’s Bonnaroo felt just as special as my first Roo back in 2017.
Arriving On The Farm and The Wednesday Pre-Party
We arrived Wednesday, and as soon as I stepped foot on The Farm, I could feel that Bonnaroo spirit in the air, something I hadn’t felt since before covid. Of course, last year had its moments, but in my experience, 2022 didn’t feel like a true Bonnaroo. Maybe it was the wicked heat wave, the smaller crowds, or the fact Bonnaroo hadn’t happened in the two previous years. But, regardless of what caused 22 to feel off, it was clear 2023 was going to be different.
This year we stayed in Moon Colony, and arriving at camp was as seamless as possible. Within 30 minutes of leaving the Walmart parking lot, we were at our campsite, which was a massive improvement from the 12 hours it took in 2019. While this was the second year Bonnaroo implemented the daily entry, with campers arriving as early as Tuesday, it was the first time seeing it in action with a sold-out crowd, and it definitely made a difference.
After cracking a few beers and setting up camp, it officially hit me that we were back at a Roo. There was nothing to do but get lost in the moment and enjoy everything Roo had to offer. This year’s Wednesday Where In the Woods Pre-Party was bigger than ever. Roo Bus kicked things off at their welcome celebration with Cherub as a surprise guest. As the day turned into night, Where In the Woods turned into an all-night rager led by massive performances from Tomi, Opiuo, and Elohim. It’s events like this that really set Bonnaroo apart from other major festivals. Technically Bonnaroo doesn’t start until Thursday, and to curate a lineup with artists as big as Opiuo and Elohim is pretty epic.
Mind-Blowing Performances All Weekend Long
There’s a reason this year was sold out. With such a stunning lineup, there were so many amazing acts to stumble upon, from Odesza to Kendrick Lamar, GRiZ, Foo Fighters, and more. One of the best things about Bonnaroo is its diverse bookings, which not only broadens your scope of music but, in my opinion, makes things easier if you’re attending primarily for the electronic acts. First of all, with five major stages, the crowd is equally dispensed, so you are always surrounded by people who actually want to be there and enjoy electronic music. In addition, with The Other solely dedicated to EDM, you’re able to catch every electronic act on the lineup with little to no conflicts, as opposed to other fests where you may have to choose between your two favorite DJs.
Thursday- Getting Right Into It
Thursday was one of my most anticipated days, and it did not disappoint. Going from Daily Bread, into Mersiv, into Liquid Stranger, into Zeds Dead was absolutely bonkers, especially for the first night of the fest. I may as well of just thrown the classic Bonnaroo advice, “Don’t go hard on Thursday,” right out the window. Daily Bread ended up putting on one of my favorite shows of the weekend. Mersiv and Liquid Stranger melted my face as usual, while Zeds Dead threw down two massive sets, closing out The Other and Where In The Woods. Of course, there is always that one unexpected performance that blows you away, and for me, that was Elephant Heart, who brought the worldly vibes to the farm as the sun went down.
Friday- GRiZ Day Baby!
Friday, aka GRiZ day, was just as insane. We ended up leaving Apashe early to catch the end of Three-Six Mafia to camp out for GRiZ at the Which Stage. We snagged an unbelievable spot just far enough from the rail to soak in all the visuals as GRiZ blasted us with funky bass for the next hour and a half. The night then took us back to The Other, where Boogie T b2b Dirt Monkey b2b Subdocta melted our minds before Subtronics took us to another dimension. After watching Shaq now infamously ask, “Where’s My Moshpit?” we stayed inside centerroo in hopes of a surprise GRiZtronics set that obviously never came. It’s opportunities like these I wish Bonnaroo would capitalize on. With both GRiZ and Subtronics on site and an open slot at The Other, a surprise GRiZtronics set would have been a historic moment for Bonnaroo. But who knows, maybe GRiZ and Subtronics simply weren’t up for it with their already incredibly packed schedule. Regardless it was still a night to remember.
Saturday- Can We Get Much Higher?
Riding the high of Friday, GRiZ took the farm up even higher on Saturday with his Chasing The Golden Hour set to fill in for RKS. Playing all his groovy bangers, he capped off his performance with a brand new beautiful edit of It’s Called: Freefall by RKS as the sunset in the background of The What. Elderbrook and Bob Moses then blessed The Farm with dance-fueled euphoria before Odesza put on the type of show that will be talked about for years to come, but the night still wasn’t over. After immersing ourselves in some psychedelic rock with My Morning Jacket, we wandered over to The Other to get lost in the late-night sounds of STS9 until the sun came up.
Sunday- Make It Count
Before I knew it, Sunday was already here, and I was beaten up and exhausted. But no matter how tired you are, you have to rally. It’s the last day of Bonnaroo, and you have to make it count. We finished the drinks in our coolers and, as some may say, unloaded the arsenal. While I missed Rome In Silver, I was able to catch a bit of Umphreyes Mcgee at The Which. After grabbing a bite, we made our way to Jauz, who was dropping banger after banger. It was refreshing to catch a couple more wubs after not having any bass acts on Saturday. After Jauz, Alesso took us back in time to the year 2013 and played all his big room hits. I legit felt like I was back in my college days. Finally, we made our way over to The What for the Foo Fighters to close out an incredible weekend.
Takeaways
Amazing Crowds
While I saw some complaints on Facebook, my experience with this year’s crowd was unbelievably positive. Everyone I encountered was overly friendly, offering gifts, saying sorry if they passed by, and was just an overall good vibe. There was always room to dance, regardless of what stage I was at, and it truly felt like the Bonnaroo I remember.
Bonnaroo Is Always Improving
From daily entry to paving roads, setting up cooling stations, and consistently improving production Bonnaroo is always trying to do better. It’s clear that Roo does listen to the community a lot better than other fests, and while improvements like giant fans may not seem like a significant change, it absolutely makes a difference. So if there’s anything you think will improve the Bonnaroo experience, don’t hesitate to make it known because there’s a good chance they’ll listen.
Bass Remains Supreme
While electronic music is not the main focus of Bonnaroo, it definitely has an impact. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that every year Bonnaroo books a bass-heavy EDM lineup, they sell out, and when they don’t and book more house artists, we see numbers like we did last year. Not that house doesn’t have its place at Roo, but it’s clear when it comes to EDM, Bonnaroo is a bass festival. If festival organizers follow the blueprint of sell-out years like 2019, 2020, 2021, and now 2023 and book a bass-oriented EDM lineup, Bonnaroo will only continue to grow. But only time will tell, and until the lineup drops in January, Happy Roo!
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