Just Curious....any Waka - Roo comparisons

I thought Wakarusa blew Bonnaroo out of the water... I felt like the vibe at Roo' was pretty tame this year and i had an INCREDIBLE time and saw amazing acts all weekend but the vibe seemed pretty uninspired and mellow... It just didnt feel like the rager that it normally is...

At Wakarusa EVERYONE was grooving for EVERY set.... There was so much good energy and fellowship in that crowd all weekend long, no one could beleive it.... Roo this year just seemed tame to me... Shakedown wasnt as hooked up, centeroo was kinda mellow for the most part and the freaks werent as well represented as usual....

It was a great crowd this year... Most everyone was kind and laidback about everything... It just didnt seem as interconnected as beforel... It felt a little less like a community to me....

Didn't hit Waka, but as a veteran rooer, I will say it was different, more about the bands and less about the parking lot. Not a bad thing, but different.

As long as Wakarusa is reported as a fuc*ing police state, I won't be attending.

I was all gung ho about doing the WakaRoo thing next year, but unless changes are made, forget it.

I guess when I go to a music festival, I want it to be primarily about the music?! ??? I think the more the focus is on the music, the more beneficial it is for the overall vibe -- at least for me.

Maybe that's why this was the best Roo I've attended yet.

All that said, I'd like to read more reviews of Waka! The vast majority of the press has been about the law enforcement or how it's so much "better." I'd actually like to hear some reviews on the music -- the press is sorely lacking.

that's such a shame, waka had an awesome lineup. I wished I could have gone, but I think I'd have been paranoid too. They should take the police that were hired to patrol wakarusa and use them for better purposes. There are more harmful people and substances just about everywhere else.

Most of those problmes come from the location of Waka. The police were so rampant because it's held in a public park so the promoters can't really keep them out, or at least thats what I've gathered. The same thing probably would have happened at bonnaroo if it weren't on private property. I would consider going to Waka if they continue to have such good lineups and they were to move the festival somewhere else. Otherwise I doubt many people will be headed back. I heard the music was outstanding.

I totally understand there are other factors, and I'm sure part of it's a preference thing, but I guess I didn't think it was lacking this year! I didn't hit the the first two Roos, yet this was my third consecutive year and this was my strongest experience so far. The diversity of the crowd made for some fun people watching and interesting experiences. Shakedown was definitely less defined this year and more spread out, I'll give you that. Others complained about the lack of "extra curricular items," but there was plenty for most and the minor evening out of such things might lead to Roo's survival in what's obviously a very volatile festival scene. Many people in the scene seem determined to keep things as they are and always were. If I hadn't been met with open mindedness a few years back, I would have never given Bonnaroo or a lot of the music originally associated with the festival a chance. I love the way things have expanded -- it's fun to me. This year was definitely a transition year for the entire event and I'm hoping they'll be even more settled into their new found diversification come next year.

The last thing I wanted to do was come off as offensive, so I hope that isn't the case! I didn't go to Waka and unless the venue is changed, I doubt I will next year, which is a huge disappointment for me. I was hoping to be able to use Waka next year to help pacify my desire to expand my "jam oriented" tastes in a big way -- we'll see though, we have a full year to find out where things are going and I hope to explore other festivals! Either way, my anticipation will be buzzing for the rest of the year.

Bonnaroo is a GREAT festival. It was definitly laid back this year, but I'll agree, wasn't the same as in the past. BUT Bonnaroo is exanding, that's what things do. Personally I think this was the best Bonnaroo yet. Others might disagree because the lineup was less Jam-Based this year. and I'll agree to that, but I like the diversifacation with the music. I love jam-bands (all I listen to on the radio is Jam_On Sirius 17) but I think Bonnaroo is heading in a good direction. But I really want to check out Waka, All Good, or 10k Lakes next year to get my fixin of JamBands.

But for what Bonnaroo is all about, is why I will not miss it. Being able to walk centeroo at 3am and find a drum circle jamin for ever it seems. Havin so much good music. Call me crazy, but I think it's a better festival when good music overlaps. You get pissed because you miss something, but look at it as a good thing... there's so much good music there. I think it's more fun running from show to show (instead of sitting at camp because no good music is playing).

LONG LIVE BONNAROO!!!