Where is it held?
Great Stage Park, Manchester, Tennessee
Bonnaroo’s annual home base of Manchester, TN is located on US Interstate 24, midway between the historic
American music centres of Nashville and Chattanooga.
For most of the year, Manchester is a relatively small city of around 10,000 inhabitants - but, once a year,
its population swells to around ten times that amount, as Bonnaroo brings together music-lovers from all over
the US and beyond for a world-famous four-day celebration of live music and creative culture.
What’s the vibe?
Eclectic, creative, free-spirited
Bonnaroo (or simply ‘Roo’ to many of its more regular attendees) has modeled itself from the outset on the
pioneering spirit of iconic 1960s and ‘70s pop festivals like Woodstock, Monterey and Atlanta International.
Indeed, its memorable name derives from an old Creole slang word for ‘good times’ (a loose translation from French,
literally meaning ‘the best on the street’). It’s a telling nod to the richly vibrant New Orleans festival culture
that shaped the Bonnaroo founders’ early vision. In keeping with that passionate performative spirit, Bonnaroo’s
eclectic approach has always been built around pulling together a diverse and dynamic line-up of the hottest pop and
rock acts around.
With that said, it’s also home to a dazzling range of smaller artisans, craftspeople, makers and performers from a
huge variety of cultures, backgrounds and disciplines. Bonnaroo’s reputation for unbridled, pulsating creativity
saw it singled out by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003 as one of its ‘50 Moments That Changed Rock & Roll’, while GQ
has also nominated it among the top 10 music festivals on the planet.
In short, it’s a free-wheeling, multifaceted arts jubilee with something for everyone to discover, tune in to and enjoy.
What is there to see and do?
Diversity and discovery
The roster of international chart-toppers lighting up Bonnaroo’s various stages over the years reads like a veritable
who’s who of new and evergreen stadium-fillers. U2, Eminem, Tom Petty, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen,
Metallica, Bob Dylan, Phish, Billy Joel, Elton John, D'Angelo, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Questlove...the list of
household names goes on and on.
As noted above, though, a lot of what people love most about Bonnaroo also happens away from that colossal main arena
and its towering central What Stage. Any given year, you’ll find dozens of smaller stages, secret happenings and side-hangouts
to explore at your leisure.
Several of the smaller zones have gradually established themselves as permanent fixtures on the continually refreshing
Bonnaroo bill. Others, meanwhile, give even regular attendees a chance to make brand new discoveries each and every time
the festival rolls around.
Regular favourites include:
- What Stage - the main and largest music stage, situated at the heart of the main Centeroo festival complex
- Which Stage - Bonnaroo’s second stage, often the scene of career-defining performances from some of the hottest breakthrough acts of the year
- This Tent and That Tent - go-to hubs for an eclectic mixture of jam sessions, wild performer collaborations (including the annual Superjam highlight set), and other one-off surprises
- The Other - a dance-focused third arena, with a leaning towards EDM acts, DJ sets, and partying into the small hours
- Who Stage and New Music On Tap - smaller platforms featuring a packed roster of up-and-coming performers for those in the know
- Solar Stage, Lunar Stage, Cinema tent, and campground pop-up performance zones - pretty much anywhere you choose to wander on the Bonnaroo main site, you’ll stumble across amazing live acts from all manner of disciplines (comedy, theatre, live arts), with no two days ever being remotely the same
FAQs and Need-to-Knows
When is Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival?
It usually starts on the second Thursday in June - however, this year’s Bonnaroo festival has been rescheduled to September 24-27 2020.
Any tickets already purchased for the original weekend will automatically be valid for the new dates.
How long does the festival last?
Four days, Thursday through Sunday. General Admission (GA) Campgrounds will be open from 8pm on Wednesday September 23, 2020.
VIP and Platinum Campgrounds open at 7am on Thursday September 24. (Bonnaroo organisers note that VIP Patrons won’t be allowed to enter
the GA campground on Wednesday night.) All campgrounds will close at 12 noon on Monday September 28.
Who is on the next bill?
At the time of writing, the 2020 lineup is slated to feature Tool, Miley Cyrus, Bassnectar, The 1975, Run The Jewels, Primus,
Dashboard Confessional, Lizzo, Flume, Oysterhead, Tenacious D, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend,
Leon Bridges, Young Thug, and many more. You can check out the full line-up here.
Are single day passes available?
Not usually - Bonnaroo is designed as an all-weekend event, although there are various different types of tickets available.
You can buy either General Admission camping tickets, VIP camping tickets, or various other wristband types that allow you to stay off
the main festival site overnight and return for the daytime action.
What’s the street address of the venue?
Great Stage Park - 627 Campground Rd, Manchester, Tennessee 37355.
What ages are allowed to attend?
Bonnaroo is an all-ages-welcome festival, and there is no minimum age to attend. Children under 10 may attend without a ticket,
as long as they’re with a ticket-holding adult. Family Camping is also available by arrangement at no additional cost.
Where do I buy tickets?
Ticketing and wristbands are sold on a tiered pricing system at Ticketmaster.
Bonnaroo tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster by clicking here.
What’s the weather usually like?
During the regular festival dates in June, Tennessee will get hot during the daytime - and you can expect it to be pretty warm
for much of the 2020 rescheduled dates in September, with temperatures usually sitting anywhere between 62f-82f depending on the time of day.
That said, it’s a fully outdoor festival and it’ll go ahead rain or shine, so pack accordingly.
What should/shouldn’t I bring?
There’s a lengthy list of different items that are allowed on the campgrounds, but will be prohibited from the main Centeroo area
of the festival. Note that ‘each person, their belongings, and their vehicle are subject to search upon entry’ to the festival site.
You can check out the full list of allowed/prohibited items for different areas of the festival site here.
Where can I find out more?
www.bonnaroo.com
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