Manchester, TN's Bonnaroo—June 7 - 10
Jazz Fest may be over, but that doesn't mean you need to stop fest'n till next year (or the Voodoo Music Experience in October)...how about a road trip?
The Bonnaroo Music Festival will be held June 7 -10, in it's regular location, Manchester, TN.
For those not familiar with Bonnaroo, it is one of the largest and most successful music festivals in the world; 80,000 people are expected to attend this year. 2012 features an amazing lineup of A-list acts sure to please fans of every musical persuasion. For rock fans, behold Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Beach Boys, Ben Folds Five, and Foster the People, just to name a few.
For hip-hop fans, two of iconic veteran acts will be performing: Black Star, a collobration between Talib Kweli and Mos Def, and The Roots. For more current listeners, there are Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Ludacris, Yelawolf and Kendrick Lamar.
Electronica fans fear not: three-time Grammy winner Skrillex, will be shredding the stage.
From bluegrass, to indie rock, to country... whatever your favorite genre of music is, you will get your fix at Bonnaroo. There are more than 80 artists committed to perform over the four days.
Like any vacation, to get the most out of the Bonnaroo Festival, it is wise to plan ahead.You are going to be outside most of the time, and it's going to be hot...really hot. However much liquids you think you will need, bring five times that amount. You are going to get very dirty, especially if it rains. Know how to pitch your tent before you arrive, unless you are coming in an RV. Bring comfortable shoes, as you will be walking everywhere; the festival covers 700 acres.
The festival is mainly about music, but every year they have added new types of entertainment. This year they will have a humongous cinema tent, which will screen films 24 hours a day, best of all, it will have air conditioning.
Speaking of keeping cool, why not frost top your taste buds at the beer tent, where you can purchase a wide variety of beverages from more than 20 breweries. Last year's distributors included Abita, Blue Moon, Magic Hat, and Sierra Nevada.
If you are looking to party on a buget, you can also bring your own booze, although there is a (very reasonable) limit on how much each person can bring.
Looking for a good laugh? There is a comedy theater, where you can see several stand-up comedians perform. 2010 MTV Movie Awards host Aziz Ansari headlines the group this year.
There are stores on the premises to buy anything you are looking for, from food to art work. If you want to go, but don't want to buy a tent, you can rent one for all four days. You can also rent an RV.
If you love music and camping, Bonnaroo is for you.