20 years ago today (6/21/02), the first Bonnaroo festival kicked off in Manchester, TN. In what would be a hugely successful inaugural year with a plethora of jam scene-related acts including Soulive, Trey Anastasio Band, Jack Johnson, Phil & Friends With Bob Weir, Ween, Gov’t Mule, Ben Harper, Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, Disco Biscuits, moe. & more; this was only the blueprint for what would soon become one of if not the most diversified music festival in the country through the following decade-plus. The first band to play the first-ever Bonnaroo would be The Big Wu, who switched their song “Kangaroo” to become of course- “Bonnaroo.” Watch Widespread Panic performing one of their last shows with Mikey Hauser on guitar, drop a splendid “Tall Boy” with special guest Dottie Peoples at Bonnaroo 2002.
