For the third consecutive year, the Bonnaroo Music Festival has sold out in advance. This year, festival organizers increased the ticket allotment to 90,000, selling all tickets through the festival’s Web site. Bonnaroo 2002 and 2003 sold 70,000 and 80,000 tickets online respectively, and the festival’s 2004 installment has enjoyed the same enthusiastic response from fans. Set to take place June 11 – 13, the three-day camping and music festival will once again be held on the same 600-plus-acre farm in Manchester, TN, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.
Recent additions to the festival’s lineup include rock’n’roll veteran Steve Winwood, and punk rock poet laureate Patti Smith. Bonnaroo alums Robert Randolph and Ween have also joined up, along with Danger Mouse (of The Grey Album fame), three-man DJ ensemble the X-ecutioners, experimental all-star band Praxis, and progressive bluegrass trio Jazz Mandolin Project, featuring Phish’s Jon Fishman.
Bonnaroo also continues to break ground with non-music attractions such as this year’s Yet Another (Comedy) Tent. Dedicated entirely to live standup and skit comedy, this performance tent will feature national headlining comedians appearing multiple times per day in a showcase format. Performers include Todd Barry, Louis CK, Jim Norton, and Rich Vos. These laugh specialists are regulars on network and cable television shows and specials, including Premium Blend, Comedy Central Presents, the Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. In addition, New York City’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade comedy troupe will present a special Bonnaroo-themed improvisational show.
This year, Bonnaroo organizers are giving fans the opportunity to extend the enjoyment of live music beyond the festival weekend with LiveBonnaroo.com, the festival’s new online outlet offering digital, downloadable recordings of live performances from the festival soon after they take place. In addition to full sets from the festival in MP3 and FLAC formats, LiveBonnaroo.com will provide downloadable album artwork, CD labels, liner notes, and live photos. With the vast selection of high-quality artists performing at Bonnaroo LiveBonnaroo.com presents an unprecedented opportunity for fans to capture the magic of live music.
See bonnaroo.com for more info.
