Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by Warwick2Bonnaroo on Sept 22, 2010 1:53:59 GMT -5
Just wanted to hear the stories of how you decided, I'm going to Bonnaroo! With the price,the heat,the partying,etc..its a big commitment and I can def. pick the friends of mine who would and would not love Bonnaroo. Anyway my little story.
I'm 37, and from Hoboken. I was working the overnight in the live television world and was on the internet (which is pretty much all you do with your down time on that job) and saw a rumor of Led Zeppelin headlining this music festival with Metallica and they were dropping the lineup that night, so @ 2am just because I had nothing to do I went to the website(it was for a TN newspaper) and they dropped the lineup..HOLY SHIT!! Pearl Jam & Metallica , the 2 bands I lived for together @ this festival in TN. Without thinking twice I woke up my gf @ the time (now wife) and said,we are going to this festival in TN, told her all of the bands that had been dropped (she loves moe,mgmt,jack Johnson so it was an easy sell) ..I bought tickets they day they went on sale and we were locked in to go. Than we met a friend in Hoboken who also was going and had a friend @ AC/Suerfly who ended up getting us guest artist camping ,so we sold the VIP tickets and basically went for free! We drove the 15 hours,had the greatest time of my life, and we have been back every year since, and will continue to do so. I don't put much worry or thought into things I do and my wife trusts me when I make a plan, and this could have been one of the greatest finds of my life and we just jumped right into it,I had butterflies walking in,in 08 and I still got them this year...you just never know whats gonna happen,but its always good...I will forever remember saying to my wife as Metallica took the stage " I am on a fucking farm in Tennesee watching Metallica"
I really did decide on the Wednesday before that I was going to go. I had a ticket but I was supposed to go with this girl and things had happened. Then I decided no way I could miss Oysterhead.
I heard a ridiculous noise coming from across the way. I walked out to my driveway, down the road, turned left, then down the road some more, then turned right and crawled over the fence.
I had no idea this thing was coming to my town, much less a half a mile from my house! I had no tickets, but there were huge sections of the fence that were down, so a friend of mine and I walked over from my house and went in. I had never been to a music festival before and my mind was blown!!!!
Had heard about it throughout High School... sounded cool and all, but I had little interest. Then, I saw the line-up for 05 with The Mars Volta and Modest Mouse and I really wanted to go. Something came up ( or things, I can't remember... I was too busy getting in trouble) and I couldn't make it.
The next year, I said I'd go if either of those two were added, even though Beck, Radiohead, Bonnie Raitt, and Petty were draws that I wanted to see. Well, of course, neither were added so I said "no". The weeks leading rolled along, with 3 of my best friends getting tickets and constantly pestering me to go. Just days before the fest I decided to buy a ticket. The rest is history.
I live in Tennessee... it's hard not to hear about something like Bonnaroo if you're into music.
I wanted to go in 2007 but I had just started my job and didn't have vacation time (I got my nose pierced as a small consolation). After missing 07, I was determined to go in 2008 no matter what. And I did.... and I've been back every year since.
I got breast cancer. I was going through radiation, and I was thinking this is bullsh!t. I got to have something to look forward to.
Then I saw Tool and Police were playing, and that was it.
Wow. This is one of those things that's simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting. Hope you're well now, Druid.
This past year was my first 'Roo. I was offered through work to go for free if I did the POD volunteer thing. I wasn't going to do it at first because I am an extremely inexperienced camper and because of the cost involved in making a trip out to Tennessee for a week to camp, but my boss actually convinced me to, telling me I was too much of an old man for a 22-year-old kid and that I needed to start piling up some experiences (and he offered me PTO, which is not whatsoever automatic or even easy for me to come by because I work for an independent business). I know it sounds like something out of a corny movie, but the conversation actually happened like that. Oh, and it happened just a couple weeks before Roo started. I will be going to Roo again next year and the year after that and the year after that and I will not be volunteering this time.
Post by Lawn Gnome on Sept 22, 2010 9:18:28 GMT -5
Some acquaintances in Memphis had gone in 02 and 03, and told my friends and I how great it was. Missed 04 for senior trip but we all promised each other we would go the next year. DMB, Panic, STS9, and Trey were just icing on the cake.
Post by chicojuarz on Sept 22, 2010 9:27:39 GMT -5
I'd been going to Lolla for a few years and saw that Radiohead and Beck were playing plus I love camping. Seemed like a perfect fit. Now, I'm indifferent to Lolla and in love with Roo.
Ive lived in Memphis (well near Memphis) my who life, and I had never heard of Bonnaroo until 2008. A buddy of mine told me Pearl Jam, Metallica, and Jack Johnson were gonna be at Bonnaroo, and I decided instantly that I was going. I destroyed my ankle Friday night during Metallica, but limped on it so I could see Jack Johnson and Pearl Jam. I left Sunday morning, kinda had to... by then my ankle was horribly swollen and had turned a pretty array of blue / green colors. Skipped 09, came back this year, don't want to miss another one, provided the lineup is decent. Still one of the best weekends of my life.
I had friends that went every year. I finally graduated from college and got a real job and thought that this was finally the year when i could afford to finally go to my first Bonnaroo. I had plans made with some of my best friends, and was getting super excited about it. All I had to do was buy my ticket. Then, I suddenly fell into some major financial trouble. Major car problems, and I was sued by a credit card company which garnished my wages - major trouble. So I resigned to the fact that I could not go. 2 weeks before Roo, I got an email saying that I had won 2 VIP tickets in a contest I had forgotten I'd entered. It was a Bonnaroo miracle!
Was talking on the phone with a friend who had recently moved to NC...shes a huge Dave Matthews fan as myself so we were trying to find something for the summer we could do together. Stumbled upon Bonnaroo looking at Dave Matthews tour dates. We figured TN is pretty much in the middle between Pittsburgh and Wilmington and the rest was history. We were so unprepared that first year, but I wouldnt have changed that experience for the world.
I think I first heard of 'Roo in 2005, had a friend who really wanted me to go with him when we moved down to Cary, NC back in June of 2006, but I didn't have the money after just movin'. Come 2007 and The Police announce a reunion tour and I really wanna see 'em. Tickets are super expensive but I see they're gonna be at Bonnaroo along with some other bands I think are pretty cool. So I talk with my friend who wanted to go the year before, convince him and my other roommate to go along. The rest is history. Fell in love the moment I stepped onto the Farm and now I plan on it every year!
Post by dreamingtree on Sept 22, 2010 18:05:16 GMT -5
I live in Nashville so I heard about the very first one and wanted to go so badly, but finances did not allow. The the next few years finances just didn't allow either so I sat at home and watched the local new footage every year, just knowing I needed to be there.
Finally in 2006 my life changed and I could afford to go, so my first Roo was 2006 and I haven't missed it since.
Post by popsicle sarah on Sept 22, 2010 18:11:41 GMT -5
I'd always wanted to go, but I lived with my boyfriend (then, fiance) during the first 5 and we could never afford it. After we broke up and I didn't have as many bills (and I was smarter with my money on my own) I decided to finally do it, especially since TOOL and the Police were going to be there. I had never been to a music festival but my best friend Teri had been to Roo a couple times. We were extremely under prepared (we showed up with a tent, two chairs, and a cooler). My first 2 days of my first Bonnaroo were terrible and I was convinced I would never do it again. Then as we were wondering through the camp grounds Saturday we met these random guys who must've known we weren't having the best time. They invited us back to their camp which was forever far away (BFE). Them and their friends were so nice and generous to us. We rarely stopped by our "camp" the rest of the weekend. We cried when we had to leave. And I've been back every year since.
Post by dreamingtree on Sept 22, 2010 18:19:36 GMT -5
Ha Sarah that was almost my exact experience the first time. I had been to music festivals but not in June in TN I was SO under prepared for it all. Now I am the most prepared person that you will know at Roo ;D
I first heard about it I think in 2003, I was still in high school. None of my friends wanted to go with me, and my high school self would never go to anything like that alone, plus my parents would never let it happen. Year after year I could not get anyone to go with me and eventually I forgot about it. Then in 2008 my brother told me he wanted to go, and in 2009 we made it happen!
Post by Warwick2Bonnaroo on Sept 22, 2010 23:54:55 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the replies, loved hearing all of the stories...I have to say 08 was my fave due to Pearl Jam & Metallica and it being all new. After that we didnt care @ all anymore who headlines,we are going, 09 was great being from NJ we got Bruce,plus we saw Phish for the 1st 2x,got to see Beasties,Ben Harper,Public Enemy and more..2010 was the funnest Roo I have went to, Weezer was great,Hall & Chromeo was awesome, Jay Z great!, KOL was really good (how the fuck do you close with use somebody? what a downer) I posted some vids I took ,kind of my fave moments I have on video..I caught Rivers Cuomos pic while videotaping him throwing it...Can't wait for 2011...please keep me informed of the meet up, we would love to go this year
I'd been going to Lolla for a few years and saw that Radiohead and Beck were playing plus I love camping. Seemed like a perfect fit. Now, I'm indifferent to Lolla and in love with Roo.
Do you still go to Lolla? We went on 07 and 2010, also will be back for the 20 year anniversary next year...Bonnaroo 10 year Lolla 20 year...and Yankees @ Wrigley...what a summer it's gonna be in 2011
2004 was my first roo and by far the best musical experience of my life. A fraternity brother of mine talked me into going, Thanks Stephens! I turned 20 (6/11/84) on Friday. Saw The Black Keys, Wilco, Bob Dylan, Dave and Friends, and Umphrey's McGee on my freaking birthday. Just looking at the lineup from that year gives me chill bumps. Those were the days!! First time I saw MMJ, Kings of Leon, Gov't Mule, and moe.
It wasn't all roses. Torrential rain Saturday delayed The Dead several hours. The farm also turned into a giant mud hole, and my tent was underwater Saturday night when I got back to the campsite. But overall the experience was amazing. Bonnaroo is pretty much all I talked about that entire summer.
Bonnaroo and the people that attend the festival are amazing. I'll be back every year I can.
In 2003 I was living in New Paltz, NY and heard about a festival coming a couple hours away with The Dead, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews and Les Claypool and bought tix the day they went on sale. Then it got cancelled but by that time it was too late to go to the one in TN (sold out).
When the announcement for 2004 came out I pounced and dragged my friend along. He bailed on subsequent outings (too draining) but I've made every other one, sometimes by myself, sometimes with others. I also got together with my future fiance at the '05 festival.
I had taken a rock & roll history class at the local community college and I had to do a report about Bob Dylan. I fell in love with him and his music. We also had to watch that Woodstock movie. I thought it looked like fun and decided that I had to go to a music festival next summer. I found Lolla and decided to go. I had everything planned out. I found a cheap hotel just outside of Chicago that was close to the Amtrak station. All I had to do was make the reservation as soon as I got paid. I was on the Lolla message board and they were talking about Bonnaroo rumors. There was a rumor that Bob Dylan was going to be there. I got all excited and immediately canceled my Lolla plans and started making plans for Bonnaroo. The lineup was leaked here on Inforoo that year and there was no Bob Dylan. I was disappointed but I was excited about the White Stripes and The Police so I decided to go anyways. I wasn't into music like I am now so I didn't know many bands on the lineup. I bought two tickets. I gave my brother a ticket for his birthday but he told me that he couldn't go because he had to be at his best friend's wedding that weekend. I knew I couldn't go alone so I decided to sell the tickets and not even go. I was about to list the tickets on eBay when my mom told me that she really wanted to see The Police and would love to go with me. We left a week early and camped in Kentucky and in the Smoky Mountains before heading to the festival. It was so hot and dusty that year but we still had fun. In 2008, I won two tickets from Imeem.com but no one could go with me so I went solo. Craziest thing I've ever done in my life. In 2009, my mom came with me again. She wanted to see Springsteen. In 2010, both my mom and dad came. My dad felt left out in 2009 and he wanted to see Fogerty. I am already planning for next year. I think my parents are coming with me again because when we go shopping my mom keeps saying things like "This would be awesome to use at Bonnaroo" or "You should buy this hat to wear at Bonnaroo". My dad told me that he hated Bonnaroo and doesn't want to go back but last weekend he said, "When we go to Bonnaroo next year we have to get in on Wednesday night so we don't have to wait in line for 14 hours". I couldn't believe he said that. I'm so excited for next year!
and Police 
were playing, and that was it.
