2004 Bonnaroo Confirmed Artists (more to be announced): (the lineup was just announced, so I think the website is melting down due to intense traffic). The Dead Dave Matthews & Friends Bob Dylan Trey Anastasio Willie Nelson David Byrne Primus Wilco Burning Spear String Cheese Incident Ani DiFranco moe. Gov't Mule Los Lobos Galactic Yo La Tengo Femi Kuti Medeski Martin & Wood Gomez Yonder Mountain String Band Damien Rice North Mississippi Allstars Hill Country Review Beth Orton My Morning Jacket Gillian Welch The Del McCoury Band Taj Mahal Sam Bush Band Vida Blue feat. the Spam Allstars Los Lonely Boys Grandaddy Kings of Leon Bill Laswell's Material Soulive Neko Case Calexico Leftover Salmon Cut Chemist Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud Umphrey's McGee Maroon5 The Black Keys Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra The Bad Plus Marc Broussard Donovan Frankenreiter Blue Merle
I've never quite gotten Bonnaroo, to be honest -- great midday / 2nd stage lineups, but the same 2 or 3 dinosaurs headlining every year. Do people who spend the money for these shows really watch YLT or Gomez or Kings of Leon (no wait, they probably love Kings of Leon) or Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra or Beth Orton, or are they all just hanging out in the campground, eating grilled cheese and waiting for sundown? Not that I'm complaining that these acts are getting paid and gaining exposure, but given the eclecticism of the rest of the show (though there may be more black drivers at the Daytona 500 than black musicians at this festival), why stick with The Dead / Phish / WP / Allmans? Why not get as diverse at night as they are during the day?
I saw last year's DVD and the crowds were packed as mess to watch Tortoise, Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Polyphonic Spree, etc. They probably all had over 15,000 people watching them, if not more. It's a musically open minded crowd. Everybody thinks people that like Phish and bands like that only care about that kind of music, but its quite the opposite. I've seen Phish 25 times and can't wait to see Trey play, but I will totally be into YLT, Femi Kuti, Bill Laswell, My Morning Jacket, Beth Orton, Calexico, etc. The headliners play late, but they actually have shows that start later too and go until the wee hours of the morning if you're into that sort of thing. I saw some band talking about playing until 5am last year.
Looking at that line-up, me thinks there will be alot of patchouli, alot dreadlocks, and not many bras, sticks of deodorant, or razors.
Would be nice to play some pickup games, even in the blazing Tennessee summer sun. I got my tickets last night by the way.
A few more artists added to the lineup today. More additions on the way soon according to the emails: Ween The Jazz Mandolin Project featuring Jamie Masefield and Jon Fishman Jo Jo and his Mojo Mardi Gras Band Guster Patti Smith and Her Band The Radiators Hackensaw Boys New Monsoon Ween will be totally out of hand. JMP is always a good show. Suprised to see Patti Smith.
I've got my ticket. =) i'll look for the fools dehydrating themselves with a soccer ball. perhaps i'll stumble along.
Here's a list of black artists to have appeared at Bonnaroo: Robert Randolph & the Family Band The Roots Ben Harper North Mississippi All-Stars (1/2 the band is black) James Brown The Meters Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (1/2 the band is black) Joshua Redman The Wailers Mix Master Mike Michael Franti & Spearhead DJ Spooky Rebirth Brass Band Vusi Mahlasela DJ Logic Soulive Karl Denson Blackalicious The Lil' Rascals Brass Band Jurassic 5 Corey Harris Campbell Brothers Norah Jones Blind Boys of Alabama Dottie Peoples Burning Spear Femi Kuti Taj Mahal The Spam All-Stars there are quite a few other acts that have one black member or are comprised of entirely of other minorities.
We'll definately have to meet up there, if not first at the USA-Brazil women's game in B'ham (if you're coming to that.)
More performer additions announced today: Robert Randolph & the Family Band Doc Watson Barbara Cue (featuring Todd Nance of Widespread Panic) Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing) Rachael Yamagata deSoL