Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Also in keeping with the legendary roo hippy spirit, I would never condemn a peson or stereotype them based on appearances. Even if they really were all frat boys and rednecks I don't give a Leno. If they're there to have a good time, enjoy the music, and leave me alone, they have as much right to attend as anyone else.
I think this statement speaks volume. Bonnaroo was always great because I could talk to anyone and everyone acted like a family. Now it's considered good if people won't scrutinize the people around them who are not just like them.
I think the young'n is right even if acting a bit dramatic. Family is being replaced by consumers.
Post by ameliabedelia on Jun 14, 2010 15:50:41 GMT -5
Good day Inforooers! I had a blast this year. I saw some awesome acts and also missed a few of my favorites. Decisions, decisions, ya know. My complaints are minimal, the traffic getting in was horrible and once in there was only one sign pointing to family camping. I had to drive up and down a few roads to find it. But once in, I got a prime camping spot, the port o potties were clean in our area and I brought enough water to take care of me and the twins. It was hot and my girls have a tendency to dehydrate rather quickly but I was super-mom this year and every other sentence was...where is your water? Fun time, a few differences from last year (where is all the free and interactive stuff?), but chances are I will be back next year just because Roo is not far from home for me.
Post by nodepression on Jun 14, 2010 15:54:11 GMT -5
If you guys didn't want to see the fratty douchebags maybe you shouldn't have went to Dave, even then I bet you could have easily avoided them. In fact I saw less fratty douchebags at Bonnaroo than Coachella this year, a lot less. Every show I went to people were great to talk to. Just because they're not giving you free shit doesn't mean they're a terrible person.
Post by ameliabedelia on Jun 14, 2010 16:03:23 GMT -5
It seemed to me the crowd was a little older than last year's crowd. Frat guys and hipsters don't bother me any, gives me people-watching ammo. I don't expect free stuff but last year it just seemed like there was more chances to win things and just more stuff to do along the walk.
I think this statement speaks volume. Bonnaroo was always great because I could talk to anyone and everyone acted like a family. Now it's considered good if people won't scrutinize the people around them who are not just like them.
People say things like this every single year. It really comes down to individual experience. There are plenty of nice and friendly/family-oriented people at the festivals and there are always douches and people who don't care about anyone else.........it just depends on who you happened to come across.
Post by HighlySuspicious on Jun 14, 2010 16:09:01 GMT -5
On the plus side I felt like the sound quality at the stages was improved from the past couple years and there weren't any major delays or technical problems that I experienced at the shows. The heat just kept getting worse, pretty much putting most our camp in a bad mood by the end of the weekend. Hopefully next year will be a little more cloudy
as my first roo it was an awesome experience. the music was amazing. i only wish i could of seen more of it (hiding from the sun and HEAT). we were parked so far out and even that didn't really bother me. there is so much to see on the way to centeroo it didnt' seem like it took an hour! my camp neighbors were awesome. i did think it would be a little more friendly inside but i think that was the heat. overall, i am sad to be home and am already thinking of the line up they could have for the 10 year ann.
Everything was great with us except getting in there. They forgot to wave us in the RV section and we drove through the entire farm with the RVs, through Shakedown and i was freaking out because it was dark and I thought I was going to run over someone. No one told us where to go so we ended up coming out the exit. Then we got sent to the other side of the farm to wait in line AGAIN for another hour. Finally after round 2 we got in like we were supposed to....ugh. Oh yeah and thank God we had a companion car because they said we could only have two gas cans per vehicle which I had never heard before
Well, this is my first 'Roo and I enjoyed it. The porta potties in Centerroo weren't much of a problem for me. I wasn't patted down or even searched much. I have been searched more a in museum than I have at Centeroo. I loved the talent on and off stage. It was pretty much an awesome time.
Here's the thing about the searches, because I've talked to a lot of people about it. The staff that were down by the archway were much less thorough than the ones up by the ferris wheel. The guys by the ferris wheel were ridiculous dickheads.
I disagree. the lines were 10 times linger at the arch when I tried to go thru. I saw 3 people sent away at the arch, and one guy was even searching a guys pack of cigarettes. Really? The first night I got in and out and they were cool, they guy I went thru just said "if you have anything let me know and we'll be cool; but if i find it, I'm keeping it" It was so random. The last day I walked in with my own water bottle in my hand drinking out of it and they didn't say anything. But then it was the last day and i think they were just over it by that time.
The car searching seemed sorta funky and random. Funky in that me and my husband were fully loaded in an SUV and all he did was ask if we had any glass or weapons, then he lifted the hatch and checked our coolers and we were on our way. One of the cars in out group (we had 6 cars with us) had to have EVERY person in the car get out while the searched. They were moving seats, checking trunks and glove boxes. I mean I know they have to search, but they needed to be consistent with it and not just glance at one and strap on the gloves and lube up the fingers for the other.
Over all I thought it was a good time, however I have no other Roo to compare it to. The water situation was a bit much. The watering stations where I was camping had lines for hours in the morning, and the lines for the water in Centeroo were a bit insane! I didnt have a huge problem with the Portos but then I didn't use the ones in Centeroo and the ones near my camp were almost always clean (well as clean as you can get). But my camp was also towards the end b/c I was one of the first people in so there wasn't a lot of traffic.
The heat got to be a bit much, but it was nothing I'm not use to from living in Georgia. It was a bit more that I expected, but i knew how to keep myself healthy and self. I understand wanting to have a good time, but I don't get the people who were drinking beer at the shows. I stuck to water the whole time except for a CocoBongo the last day. The orange was so good! Tasted like a Frosted Orange from the Varsity. So good!
Post by questionablesanity on Jun 14, 2010 17:06:25 GMT -5
We went in on Wednesday and waited for three hours. I figured we'd get in faster, but oh well. We were camping in handicap accessible and we didn't even go through the toll booths. We bypassed those, went down a road, talked to some volunteers who showed us where to go and we were in. Zero search. They didn't even make us open a door.
I saw a ton of great bands, missed a few to take some breaks at camp but I saw everyone I really wanted to see. I only had trouble getting water once. I brought in a full camelbak, party favors, a DSLR with a huge lense in without issue everytime. We were barely searched at the ferris wheel entrance. I think only one time did they actually pull anything out of my bag. I was rarely patted down. Hell we went in the handicap entrance a couple of times with Wolfaroo and they just waved us through.
It was pretty hot and I don't think people realize how much water they have to drink if they're in that sun all day. I nearly passed out on Friday at the Sonic Stage because I was in the sun for so long. You just have to know when to take breaks. I went to bed early Friday about two songs into LCD because I hadn't eaten enough during the day and I felt like shit. I slept wonderfully this year. Last year, I never slept passed 7am. This year, I don't think I woke up earlier than 10. Hell, I slept til noon on Sunday. A cot under an ezup is sooooo much better than sleeping in a tent.
We found more party favors this year than ever without even trying. Some were good, some not so good. All in all, I had a great time. The portos were nasty a couple of times that I used them, but the rest of the times, I was amazed at how clean they were.
The main thing I noticed was the difference in the crowd. I rarely saw a wook, which I understand is from the lack of many jam bands this year. But I miss watching their antics. People were still friendly, but not as friendly as in years past. Probably because of the heat.
A Thieve's Parade 2/24 Conspirator 2/26 Kevin Smith 3/11 Keller 3/17 Papadosio 3/18 JJ Grey 3/25 Bela Fleck/Edgar Meyer 3/26 Toubab Krewe 3/27 O'Death 4/11 Budos Band 4/22 EOTO 4/28 Summer Camp 5/6-29 All Good
Post by SteveoKnievo on Jun 14, 2010 17:48:41 GMT -5
I thought the line up was great! (I didn't watch any of the headliners cause they're garbage.) Every act I saw was in top form and me and my friends had a blast. If you are in here complaining you obviously didn't watch Jeff Beck! His show was quacking magic!
Did think water was a little harder to get to.I've been going the last 4 years and my beef is security gets worse each year. I got tackeled leaving Centeroo because I exited through one of the entrance gates. Noone was coming in. They actually took me down, brought me back in then escorted me out the exit! I'm a normal looking 44yr old, not drunk or stoned. Just didn't hear them.
if they want to get more commercial than they also need to clean the freakin bathrooms and get more water accessible to us.
how does one have an effect on the other?
if they are going to get into making money then they need to produce a better event than poo coming out of theh top of the toilets. that was a money saving deal there. if they are going to make more money being commercial then do a few improvements
if they are going to get into making money then they need to produce a better event than poo coming out of theh top of the toilets. that was a money saving deal there.
lol if you think that they consciously decided to have poo overflow out of toilets in order to save some money. you honestly think they were like "well if we stop cleaning porta potties then we can save this much"?
If you guys didn't want to see the fratty douchebags maybe you shouldn't have went to Dave, even then I bet you could have easily avoided them. In fact I saw less fratty douchebags at Bonnaroo than Coachella this year, a lot less. Every show I went to people were great to talk to. Just because they're not giving you free shit doesn't mean they're a terrible person.
I couldn't agree more. I went to my first Coachella this year and I definitely thnk it had a higher percentage of douchebags than the two Bonnaroos I've had the pleasure of attending.
This was my third roo and the worst of the three. I still had a great time but no where near as good a time as the others.
Many people say that but many people fail to remember that the first year or two is always really special. It's all so new and awesome and big and stuff. The more you go back, the less special it seems.
This was my third roo and the worst of the three. I still had a great time but no where near as good a time as the others.
Many people say that but many people fail to remember that the first year or two is always really special. It's all so new and awesome and big and stuff. The more you go back, the less special it seems.
with all due respect man, you didn't go this year. 06 was like my fourth year, and that was also the best one i've been to. 08 was probably the least fun. this year? meh. everything was fine except the people that were there. i feel bad stereotyping ANYONE, but there were a LOT of beer pong playing-college aged-backward hat bros there this year, and i met more first timers than EVER. i didn't think it would be a HUGE deal before the fest that there weren't as many jam bands as previous years, bc i thought the wooks would still come out. i honestly didn't see ANY. i mean not 1. not a single one. granted, i never consciously said, "where's a wook?" but thinking back now i can't remember even one. that should say something to you. i will most likely return in 2011 for the 10 year anny, and give it another go, and i'm sure you'll be back as well, but it took another (arguably small) step in the wrong direction.
Many people say that but many people fail to remember that the first year or two is always really special. It's all so new and awesome and big and stuff. The more you go back, the less special it seems.
with all due respect man, you didn't go this year. 06 was like my fourth year, and that was also the best one i've been to. 08 was probably the least fun. this year? meh. everything was fine except the people that were there. i feel bad stereotyping ANYONE, but there were a LOT of beer pong playing-college aged-backward hat bros there this year, and i met more first timers than EVER. most of which were asking questions about things. i didn't think it would be a HUGE deal before the fest that there weren't as many jam bands as previous years, bc i thought the wooks would still come out. i honestly didn't see ANY. i mean not 1. not a single one. granted, i never consciously said, "where's a wook?" but thinking back now i can't remember even one. that should say something to you.
That's totally cool. No offense was taken.....I wasn't there so don't totally know the scene and didn't experience it myself.
That doesn't change my statement though. All I was saying there was the truth. Lots of people have talked about how their first year is always really special and eye-opening and unique.
As far as "beer pong playing-college aged-backward hat bros" goes.........a majority of roo attendees have been colelge-aged. And so what if they play beer pong or have a backwards hat? Does that make them a bad person?
Post by Mista Don't Play on Jun 14, 2010 19:56:29 GMT -5
This year was filled with good and bad extremes this year.
We got in line about 400 am, about 10-15 miles down the highway. It didnt move until about 630am and we weren't pulling in until about 9. I don't know if they usually do it this way or if it was because traffic was so bad, but we entered through some gate/access road right on the side of the interstate. It looked like the handicapped/Rv entrance, but they were bringing everyone through it and then sorting them out.
Too make the wait worse, my vehicle was selected for the "random" search done by the real cops or as they called themselves the "Drug Task Force." This was the most nauseous I was all weekend, by far. Luckily my friends and I are paranoid enough to plan for things like this, but it still took some good acting and conversation starting to keep them from looking deeper.
Then for a stroke of luck we were sent to pod 3, in campground 40 and had a 5 minute walk to centeroo.
It definitely seemed harder to get water this year, but I could have just tried at all the wrong times, although our pod did run out for a while too. The potholes at the lunar stage were ridiculous. My friend stepped in one Friday night leaving Crystal Method and severely sprained his ankle, it almost ruined the rest of the weekend for him, and probably would have if we didn't get him a crutch and weren't so close to Centeroo.
Definitely more first timers this year than before, but the crowd didn't seem any more outrageous than expected, as far as behavior goes. Our neighbors had their bag stolen from camp and someone tried unsuccessfully to go through my friends bag at Deadmau5, but what can you expect? out of 75,000 people there will be a few losers.
T Also just because you may not have had any problems it does not mean that the problems didnt happen for others.
True that. I was generally pleased. They cut some of the VIP amenities, notably less air in the Which VIP cool room, but all in all I had a wonderful time. Actually walked out to the More than Music Tent and had a nice free breakfast and talked with the folks...totally worth the trip.
As far as the water is concerned, the first few years there were no filtered water stations. You can drink the sink water--it's sometimes a little musty but perfectly safe. It didn't help that the folks at the filtered water deals were filling five gallons at a time sometimes.
Great surprises for me included the Dead Weather, Space Capone at the Troo Lounge, the Troo Lounge fan/water setup, and just how incredible Stevie was. I really didn't expect a lot from his show; I was so wrong. Tenacious D was a great get this year, too.
Disappointments? The Lips DSOTM. Breathe was fine, neat they changed and rocked it--but then "Time" was the same riff, pretty much, and Wayne yammering about "time to legalize marijuana." Maybe so dude, but not at the expense of the Floyd, OK? John Fogerty was OK, but not spectacular. I had high hopes for Ween but wasn't really feeling that; ditto MMW, which can be hit or miss on a good day (and they were late on Sunday, after a hellishly hot day.)
I wonder if I'll go next year. Lemme consult the 8-ball:
Post by lostgreengoat on Jun 14, 2010 20:17:31 GMT -5
I'll admit that this was my first Roo so I can't make a direct comparison, but it was not my first rodeo. I'll try to break my comments down into separate sections so it makes sense.
Music: Absolutely no complaints, a great line up and I only saw one show I wasn't impressed by (Hot Rize on the Sonic Stage, only saw them because they were sandwiched between Umphrey's and Lotus).
Traffic/Parking: We got in wednesday night around 8:30 and waited in line about an hour an a half to park. We were in Pod 1, which was a bit of a hike, but that wasn't a huge complaint when I was only doing it once or twice a day.
Amenities: Generally everything seemed fairly clean to me, but that may be because my colon timed itself to wake me up every morning AS the portapotties in my pod were being cleaned. Inside Centeroo I can't really speak--as much water as I drank to keep hydrated, I never seemed to have to take a potty break. I personally thought it was a little commercialized, but I understand why and deal with it. Though by sunday I wanted a Chase Freedom card just for the shade. Brilliant marketing, I guess. The water situation, on the other hand was atrocious. The water in our pod almost made me vomit (it tasted worse than it smelled) and trying to get water in Centeroo took great timing, luck and a lot of patience.
Security: THIS was my biggest issue. I didn't find the searches intrusive or over the top at all, personally. And it seemed like there was no shortage of consumables floating around the camps. HOWEVER, for people who did not hear, friday night a guy in Pod 1 was on a BAD trip and slashed open tents, stole things from them and was slashing people's tires. Our tent was destroyed and our coolers (with our water, beer and food) were taken. Aside from the fact we were now homeless, foodless and dehydrated, the worst part was finding security. We were lucky that they had caught the guy as we were reporting it. However, security was extremely unprofessional in detaining the guy (trust me, it felt good to see him get roughed up by the cops, but in hindsight it was excessive). Worse yet, after the guy was arrested, security left without taking statements, and we had to talk to volunteers to radio for security, wait nearly 2 hours for them to arrive, and then say there was nothing at all they could do about our situation. The fact is, a guy on bad acid was running around with a knife and security was no where to be found.
Which leads me to my last point...
People: Almost every single person I met at Roo was great. Even the security guards (when they did show up) were very apologetic and tried to be helpful, even though their hands were tied. Our neighbors were great and gave us food and shelter, expecting nothing in return and most of the people I met in Centeroo were relaxed and there to have fun. Our Roo could have easily been ruined if it weren't for kind hearted people helping us out and making it enjoyable.
Post by coolio9955 on Jun 14, 2010 21:08:30 GMT -5
for me it was a pretty good experience, being my first Roo. Security for me was completely relaxed, they just let me walk on by (I had VIP tickets however). I packed a cooler filled with ice, and it worked out perfectly. The acts that I saw were nothing but incredible, especially Jay-Z, Stevie, and the Lips. They shouldve had more filling stations, and the line for Conan was insane, security needs to chill! other than that, i had a really good time
Oct. '08- Springsteen Nov. '08- AC/DC 6/5/09- TV on the Radio August '09- All Points West (We are Scientists, Echo & the Bunnymen, Elbow, Coldplay March '10- Fishbone/English Beat June 10-13 2010- BONNAROO! 8/17/10- MGMT
Fun, as always, and full of great acts, but the lack of must sees and what seemed to me to be the worst weather made this one the least enjoyable. Still great, though, and I have confidence in the 2011 lineup.