Tents as far as the eye can see, faint but crisp music booming from a tent just beyond a gate, and a mass of people high-fiving each other as they move in opposite directions. It’s 3 P.M. and one of your favorite bands is playing. Then another. Then another. You yawn but realize the day is only just beginning; the music will not stop until 5 A.M. at the least. Suddenly you hear a single person yell, which sparks into hundreds more yells. Fists rise into the air and everyone in the crowd repeats the same ubiquitous name: Bonnaroo.

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival epitomizes everything people love about live music. A lineup stacked to the brim with talent, a familial yet uplifting atmosphere, and constant sensory and auditory stimulation. It can be quite a feat to sum up all the best qualities of the festival due to the seemingly infinite enjoyments. From a water fountain providing an oasis of refreshing water to the harmonious magic of 80,000 people singing along to “Hey Jude”, the sights and sounds at Bonnaroo are numerous and unforgettable.

In light of the coming lineup release (which will be unveiled through the BLAM event on February 19th), White Raver Rafting has compiled ten reasons why Bonnaroo is the best festival of the summer. Read on below:

10. The Lineup

What better way to start the list than to cite the amazing lineups Bonnaroo consistently assembles? Ranging from headlining acts such as Paul McCartney, Radiohead, and Jay Z to rare appearances from the likes of the Beach Boys and D’Angelo, Bonnaroo’s lineup always reflects a wide array of genres and talent. Indie rock, EDM, hip-hop, classic rock, jazz, and many other genres are represented in spades. Unlike many festivals, Bonnaroo avoids unimaginative bookings and opts for unique and exciting artists. Thursday, which kicks off the festival, showcases up-and-coming performers. The headliners also play unopposed, uniting 80,000 people in a massive field. The best part? The slew of talent only marks the tipping point of Bonnaroo’s greatest qualities.

9. Comedy

The lineup does not solely comprise of music, though. Each year a variety of comedians appear in a dedicated Comedy tent. The past years’ comedians have included Chris Rock, Louis C.K. Aziz Ansari, Daniel Tosh, and many more. The tent provides comfortable seating and air conditioning, which helps reinvigorate sweaty attendees. The comedy sets also offer plenty of surprises, such as John Stamos guest starring during Bob Saget’s set in 2013. Having the ability to choose between a band or a stand-up comedian only accentuates the diversity of Bonnaroo’s offerings.

8. Food and Drinks

After eating some savory spicy pie or biting into a mouth-watering Amish doughnut, you will understand why people rave about the food at Bonnaroo. Even though people often bring their own food, camping often prevents people from cooking up elaborate meals. The plethora of food trucks will certainly entice hungry guests, with choices including tantalizing breakfast sandwiches and endless ethnic dishes. Given the often taxing Tennessee heat, vendors come prepared with fresh beverages. 21+ attendees can also enjoy plenty of alcoholic drinks. Vendors rarely outrageously price their selections, giving everyone a chance to enjoy delicious food and thirst-quenching drinks.

7. Art

They don’t call it the Bonnaroo Arts and Music festival for nothing. Artists from all over the world come to Bonnaroo to show everyone their pieces. A sprawling wall which surrounds the festival morphs into a magnificent canvas by the end of the weekend. From grandiose paintings to interactive graffiti (be sure to find the “Before I die I want to…” wall), the art at Bonnaroo serves as a testament to the role of the attendees in shaping the festival. Bonnaroo adds its own breathtaking art installations well. Favorites include a lofty clock tower blasting music all hours of the day, a ferris wheel illuminating the night sky with hypnotic patterns, and creepy yet humorous bobble-heads watching over Bonnaroo’s denizens. Art at Bonnaroo is a reciprocal pleasure and only enhances the festival.

 6. Silent Disco

The concept behind the silent disco is a bit genius. If you walk over to the Silent Disco tent, you will find a bunch of Roo-ers dancing to a DJ’s silent tunes. As crazy as it may seem, they all have one thing in common: headphones which transport you to a personalized DJ set. Once you go inside the tent and don your headphones, you can pick a channel to accompany your dance moves. Silent Disco security adheres to a limited headphone count to ensure ample space in the tent. Different DJs helm the tent all day and night, including bigger DJs such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and band’s DJ sets (e.g. Foster the People and Passion Pit DJ sets in years past). This unique tent demonstrates another aspect of the communion people share at Bonnaroo. It may appear insane from the outside but all inhibitions disappear once you grab a pair of headphones and dance the night away.

5. Centeroo

The main hub of Bonnaroo, dubbed “Centeroo”, holds many unique sights and sounds. While it contains all of the stages, food and drinks, silent disco, etc., it holds a variety of other interesting components. A giant fountain spews fresh water for everyone to bask in, an Adult Swim-themed carnival hands out free shirts and challenges Bonnaroovians to games, and an air-conditioned tent distributes free apple juice and offers people a chance to relax with a game of Apples to Apples. At first glance Centeroo may seem daunting, but after a few hours you will not be able to get enough of the nooks and crannies found deep within the festival’s hub.

4. Camping

Camping may just be the most crucial component to Bonnaroo’s success of uniting all of its guests. Nearly everyone who attends Bonnaroo camps, creating a sense of family among thousands of strangers. Tents and cars surround the festival, creating a sight truly awesome to behold. Even though the music ends each night, the party often keeps going in the campsites. Strangers who would normally have never met become best friends, campsite cooks share food, and uniquely rigged sound systems blast from various tents and cars. Yes, Manchester’s heat can often exhaust you, but 80,000 are experiencing everything with you. Every person undergoes the same pleasures and struggles, reinforcing the fact that everyone is now “family.” Camping adds that extra dimension to festivals that makes them so special and memorable; Bonnaroo achieves this perfectly.

3. Superjams/Collaborations

Most festivals strictly follow their schedules. While the lineup may be great, the organization leaves little to surprise or imagination. Bonnaroo refuses to play by the rules and loves to surprise people. The superjams convey this philosophy the most, rounding up an assortment of performers to play a once-in-a-lifetime set. In 2013 a hip-hop superjam became a second Wu-Tang Clan show with Schoolboy Q, Solange Knowles, and backing band Lettuce tagging along. The main superjam united the likes of My Morning Jacket singer Jim James, Jon Oates, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and special guests Billy Idol and R. Kelly in a glorious homage to 70’s soul tunes.  The superjam is truly something that only occurs at Bonnaroo and cannot be replicated elsewhere.

In terms of collaborations, artists love to guest star during each others’ sets at Bonnaroo. Whether it was Weird Al joining Portugal. the Man’s rainy performance or Pretty Lights’ Derek Smith playing bass guitar with various Wu-Tang Clan members, 2013’s festival proved that the possibilities were endless. Festivals offer a unique chance for artists to not only converse and catch up but to perform together, which usually results in very rare collaborative performances.

2. Late Night Sets

The headliner just finished their set. At any other festival, it’d be time to go back to your hotel and catch some sleep before the next day. Not at Bonnaroo. From Thursday to Saturday, music ends whenever the performers feel like stopping, and sometimes artists do not stop until the sun comes up. Pretty Lights defied all expectations with a massive 4 hour set that ended as the sun rose into the next day. The late night sets also show how creative Bonnaroo’s guests can get. A flurry of light toys, hoops, and costumes adorn centeroo with color; glowstick wars are not uncommon. A barn decorated with Christmas lights and figures plays trap and tech house all night while the silent disco clandestinely keeps everyone in its tent awake and energized. With the 2014 theme consisting of neon lighting and glow-in-the-dark art, it can be assumed this year’s late night sets will be the best yet.

1. The Bonnaroovian Code

The #1 reason why Bonnaroo is the best summer festival can be summed up in its official code:

• Prepare thyself
• Play as a team
• Radiate positivity
• Respect the farm
• Don’t be that guy/girl
• Stay true Roo

This code exhibits all the qualities people fall in love with at Bonnaroo. In the span of a day you will high-five hundreds of strangers, scream “BONNAROO” countless times, smile and laugh with your closest friends, and sing along with thousands of people to your favorite songs. No pushing nor shoving, no weird looks, no frowns, and no negativity. The only tears you will see and shed will be tears of joy. When a band comes to play, the roaring of the crowd can be heard miles away. Creativity rests at the core of Bonnaroo, from the hundreds of flags and banners lining the horizon to the elaborate art people display and perform. The unhinged energy at Bonnaroo truly has no match. The various forces of the festival combine to create a paradise for everyone attending.

When 80,000 people sing along to “Hey Jude” as Paul McCartney himself plays it, you understand what every other festival is missing: harmony. Everyone is your friend here. All doubts and worries disappear, the pure energy and excitement swallowing them whole.

This is Bonnaroo.

The lineup will be revealed on February 19th. For more information, check out Bonnaroo’s official website

Photo Credits: Bonnaroo, Stereogum, Bonnarootips, Spin, Novice and Sage, Jambase, Summerfests, Sparq Vault, Consequence of Sound.

---

Share On