Frontier Ruckus takes their backcountry show to the camp grounds of Bonnaroo and Mayer Hawthorne introduces the rowdy crowd to "Maybe So, Maybe No."As I return from yet another exhausting Bonnaroo and attempt to recharge my batteries, it's half heartedly that I say next year will be a tough one to attend. Each year the common complaint among those in the live music scene is that it is by far the "most corporate" festival on the circuit, however, I've always asserted if you're standing around wondering what Garnier Fructis is doing there, instead of going to see music, you've officially fucked up. What keeps Bonnaroo alive every year is that it is a challenge to self proclaimed music fans. It is an open invitation to come discover new music, and every year they put out a lineup with so much diversity that it's impossible not to find artists you'll like as well as to discover some new ones.
It was great to see so many Detroit and Michigan area artists make their mark down in Tennessee, as the festival has grown to mythic proportions, and is a great notch on any band's resume. Frontier Ruckus, Mayer Hawthorne & The County, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, and Mike Posner all seemed to grab some new fans who happily stumbled across their shows.
Coming back to Michigan, I can't help but be reminiscent of Rothbury — which unfortunately was put on hold this year, but plans to return in 2011— the 4th of July weekend festival on the west side of Michigan which set out with extremely ambitious sustainability goals and truly catered to the concert patron in one of the best festivals I've ever been to. Bonnaroo now in it's 9th year, could easily have invested more into their site as Rothbury did, but at the same time they are still going strong while Rothbury is reeling. Also with this year being the first Bonnaroo finally plugged into the local electrical grid (i.e. not running on generators) they are still moving in the right direction as far as greening. A final look at my pictures.
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