Bonnaroo - Bonnaroo: What, Which, This, That, The Other

Set on seven hundred acres of rolling farm hills in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo is a four-day music and camping festival that draws in more than eighty thousand fans every summer. Showcasing hundreds of live musical performances along with comedy, cinema, art installations, and more, the grounds are converted into a virtual entertainment city. Featuring more than four hundred photographs of some of the most legendary musical acts of all time, the amazing and colorful fans, and numerous personal contributions by musicians and patrons, Bonnaroo: What, Which, This, That, The Other celebrates this beloved music festival and the impact it has made on American culture.

In loving memory of our friends who exemplified
the values of Bonnaroo: Emily Dunn and Jamie Wilcox,
who worked behind the scenes at Bonnaroo, and Greg
Giraldo and Michael Houser, who performed on its stages.

Bonnaroo, as I understand it, is a state of being.
Jim Dickinson

By Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment
Edited by Holly George-Warren
Essay by Alan Light
Photographs by Danny Clinch, C. Taylor Crothers, Morgan Harris,
Taylor Hill, Jeff Kravitz, Michael Loccisano, Adam Macchia,
Douglas Mason, Ryan Mastro, and Jason Merritt

ABRAMS IMAGE , NEW YORK

WHAT, WHICH, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER

For one weekend every June, folks travel from far and wide to a place unlike any other in this country

Held on prime Tennessee farmland, called Great Stage Park, Bonnaroo is where strangers smile and say hello, where hippies hang out with indie rockers, where dancing is as common as standing, where lifelong friendships are forged, and where indelible memories are made.

Since the first Bonnaroo, in 2002, our hope has been to create a diverse community of music fans who not only live together for four days but also ideally grow together through transcendent musical experiences. What began as an idea among a handful of people has blossomed into something beyond our wildest dreams (and we had pretty big dreams!). Every year we try to surprise those who comemany of whom return annuallywith both our lineup choices and the festival grounds. Improvisation and collaboration are hallmarks of the Bonnaroo experience.

Our goal has always been to create the very best music and arts festival we can imagine. Another objective has been to create an event thats fresh, exciting, and focused on the extraordinary sense of community that takes place when people come together to share their love of music and culture. A very special spirit is shared by the fans, the artists, the staff, and those local residents who welcome us to Coffee County and Manchester, Tennessee. Nurturing that community spirit and shared experience is our guiding principle as we plan Bonnaroo each year.

And now we bring you Bonnaroo: What, Which, This, That, The Othera celebration of the thousands of musicians whove delivered amazing sets on our stages and who remind us why we make the trek; the countless employees and volunteers who go above and beyond to make sure everyone is safe and having a good time; and last but not least, the melting pot of fans who come together to create the sixth-largest city in Tennessee for a few days each year. Weve been blessed to have such talented photographers as Danny Clinch, C. Taylor Crothers, Morgan Harris, Taylor Hill, Jeff Kravitz, Michael Loccisano, Adam Macchia, Doug Mason, Ryan Mastro, and Jason Merritt documenting the many facets of the Bonnaroo experience; their work fills these pages with visceral excitement. In addition to the spectacular photography, we hear from the artists who collaborate, the fans who drink in the music, and our wonderful staffers who help pull it together. They are all here to testify about what Bonnaroo means to them.

As you thumb through these pages, you will take a virtual tour of the Bonnaroo experiencefrom entering through the arch to cooling off under the Centeroo Fountain, from seeing shows on our stages (What, Which, This, That, and the Other) to hanging out at the Comedy Theater and chilling in the cinema tent. You can hear upcoming bands at the Caf stages and find out how you can make a difference while spending time at Planet Roo. Then, when you eventually wander back to your tent, you might catch a few minutes of sleepor join in a jam with your neighbors. All in all, it becomes pretty clear that were one big happy family. Enjoy the rideand we hope to see you soon down on the farm.

Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment, September 2011

Bonnaroo 2008 was my first Roo. And everybodys first Roo is a learning experience. I rolled through the entrance in my busted old truck, loaded to capacity, and the long slow roll to get to our campsite began. The truck couldnt take the heat. At least ten times, I had to pull over and lose my spot in line to let the truck cool down long enough to drive a little farther. As I finally rolled up to my spot with smoke billowing off my engine, determined to get there, I parked, stepped out of my truckand every person that had passed me while I was parked on the side of the road began to cheer for me and celebrate me making it to Bonnaroo. None of these people knew me, but at that moment they became my family!

Tyler Bandy, fan, Westmoreland, TN

Those four days of 2010 on the farm were the best four days of my twenty-one-year-old life: the cavalcade of cars and RVs entering those beautiful fields, the general understanding and acceptance among the people. It seemed void of prejudice, and thats what I loved mostthe people and their excitement and passion for the festival. My benevolent Bonnaroo .

Spencer Waddell, fan, Springfield, MO