Back to life – the 4-day alternate reality that is Bonnaroo has come to an end. 80,000 would now go back to where they came from, and the 700-acre farm that held countless performances would fall quiet once again.
After an 18 hour drive and a brief camp - out in the Manchester Wal-Mart (or Wally World, as it is affectionately called), we finally drove onto the camp grounds and set up shop. The next day, the flood-gates to Centeroo, the central area of Bonnaroo where all of the music takes place, opened and let in what seemed like every single Bonnaroo-er. We were in Centeroo before the madness started -- check out these before and after pictures:
Performances occur continuously from 12pm–4am (or later) each day at the confusingly named This, That, Other, Which, and What stages . A good nights’ sleep quickly becomes a thing of the past, as many of the more energetic artists we wanted to see went on late at night when the temperature cooled off. Just as soon we would make it back to camp around 3-4 and go to bed, the sun would come up and turn our tent into an oven (it was 97 degrees every day). Camelbacks and hand-held misting fans just became part of our everyday outfits.
While I was looking forward to seeing the performances of big names like Buffalo Springfield, Arcade Fire, Florence & the Machine, and Mumford & Sons, I was even more excited to check out the 10 artists selected through Sonicbids. All of them blew me away, and many made the list of my top ten favorite performances.
Here are a few highlights of Sonicbids Bands:
Fine Peduncle had an incredible performance at “On the Tap Lounge”, right after Eminem’s set and before Scissor Sisters, String Cheese Incident, and Dr. John. Huge crowds were moving from one area of Centeroo to another, and Fine Peduncle’s performance was right in the middle of the action. Fireworks started going off and his music, a combination of intelligent dance, R&B, soul, and prog rock, echoed throughout Centeroo. The stage lit up and drew in the crowd like insects, which is fitting for an artist who derives his name from “A slender, stalklike part, as between the abdomen and middle section of an INSECT.”
Not to mention his friend, dressed up like a praying mantis with feathers and a boa, was dancing and running around to get the crowd moving.
Kellee Maize at Cafe Where? definitely made my jaw drop -- that’s what I get for not writing down each artists’ style of music before I left the office.
When the name of an artist is just, well, their name, I automatically assume “singer/songwriter”. However, when I saw I saw a DJ setting up for Kellee Maize, I started to realize that I might have been mistaken.
Ho-ly moly. She jumped on stage and started spitting like she’s been rapping since she was born, delivering with lightning speed some of the most intelligent, positive lyrics I’ve ever heard. Kellee, originally from Pittsburg, PA, was incredibly engaged with the audience and captivated us all. If she has a show coming through your town, don’t miss it.
Aunt Martha was yet another impressive Sonicbids artists, drawing in a large crowd, the majority of which stayed for fellow SB band Fences. While many of the members are from the Boston area (where Sonicbids is located), they have been generating buzz since they formed in NY in 2008. And for good reason – these guys know how to write beautiful, complex folk songs, which are supported by furious drumming and the melodic sounds of a violin. Aunt Martha is currently touring, so check to see if they’re coming through your town.
The 10th anniversary of Bonnaroo was a festival to remember, and not just because of the headliners on the bill. While the Scissor Sisters, Explosions in the Sky, the Black Keys, and Black Angels were performances that I won’t forget any time soon, the breadth of talent that the emerging artists brought with them was even more memorable. Until next year, Bonnaroo!
PS Check out more pictures from my trip on Sonicbids Facebook page!
