Festival update: Bonnaroo

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For the ninth year in a row, an expansive farm in Manchester, Tennessee was converted into one of the biggest parties in the United States.

More than 80,000 people swarmed the Bonnaroo grounds to hear music, watch films and listen to the stand-up comedy of wide-ranging performers from all over the globe.

Fans scrounged for shade, showers and watering stations in the 100หš plus weather, but the heat didnโ€™t prevent the artists from putting on a weekend packed with phenomenal performances.

Day 1 (June 10)

Despite a later start to the day โ€“ probably to accommodate the hours-long wait to get into the festival grounds โ€“ Thursday night saw its share of memorable shows.

4:15 p.m.

New York band the Postelles took to one of Bonnarooโ€™s smaller stages and played through songs off their upcoming debut album like โ€œWhite Nightโ€ and โ€œShe Sheโ€, introducing the crowd to their up-tempo brand of rock & roll.

7:30 p.m.

Swedish band Miike Snow may be known for having their tracks featured on shows like Gossip Girl and remixing songs for Kings of Leon and Vampire Weekend, but they got the crowd moving to fan favourites like โ€œSilviaโ€ and โ€œAnimalโ€, proving that their original work stands on its own.

8:30 p.m.

Neon Indianโ€™s performance was one of the most talked about of the night.

Combining their indie electronica sound with a stage full of โ€œneon Indiansโ€ wearing feathers, body paint and nothing else, the girls got as much attention as the music.

Songs like โ€œDeadbeat Summerโ€ and โ€œShould Have Taken Acid With Youโ€ were a perfect match for the crowd of sweltering hot and most likely stoned fans.

10:00 p.m.

Australian band the Temper Trap provided one of the highlights of the night with their rendition of โ€œSweet Dispositionโ€ to a crowd of jumping, clapping festival-goers.

11:30 p.m.

Self-described as a โ€œbig debaucherous nightmare of a messโ€ (in a good way), 8-piece Atlanta band the Constellations crammed in to one of the more intimate tents on site and played through a set of their soulful rock tunes.

11:30 p.m.

It canโ€™t be easy for the xx to try to live up to the insane amount of media buzz thatโ€™s been surrounding them the past two years, but they gave it their best shot as one of the last bands playing Thursday night.

The crowd seemed overwhelmingly impressed, as the band (clad all in black) powered through songs like โ€œCrystalisedโ€ and โ€œBasic Spaceโ€ from their self-titled album.

Day 2 (June 11)

With a packed schedule, Friday introduced crowds to the biggest challenge of the weekend โ€“ the dreaded double booking.

Conan Oโ€™Brienโ€™s comedy set was at the same time as Tokyo Police Club, Nas & Damien Marley were on at the same time as the Gossip, while Kid Cudi and B.O.B.โ€™s late night sets overlapped LCD Soundsystemโ€™s.

Whether fans split their time and tried to see both, or sacrificed one act for another, Friday undoubtedly saw some incredible shows.

2:30 p.m.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes put on an extremely fresh, fun and memorable performance.

Their psychedelic, feel-good music poured out across a myriad of enthusiastic fist-pumpers, as well as mellow hippie folk lying in the grass.

โ€œHomeโ€ proved to be absolutely anthemic, carrying on for nearly 6 minutes and getting everyone โ€“ even those who had never heard the song before โ€“ singing along, while balloons and beach balls bounced through the crowd.

5:00 p.m.

When Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward teamed up and started She & Him, the unlikely pair proved to be the perfect match.

Singles like โ€œIn the Sunโ€ and โ€œWhy Do You Let Me Stay Here?โ€ generated great audience responses, but when the duo closed with a cover of โ€œI Put a Spell on Youโ€ a wave of awe overtook the crowd.

Deschanel transformed into a legitimate soul singer and showcased a set of vocals that no one was expecting, closing the set divinely.

6:30 p.m.

Conan Oโ€™Brien introduced the legendary Jack Black and Kyle Gass (aka Tenacious D) and the pair did not disappoint.

Bringing their trademark combination of comedy and rock & roll to the main stage with songs like โ€œWonderboyโ€ and โ€œTribute,โ€ the crowd simultaneously laughed and rocked out through the entire set.

9:30 p.m.

Kings of Leon have a history with Bonnaroo. Theyโ€™ve worked their way up from the smaller tents at the festival and were finally billed as headliners this year.

The show relied heavily on hits like โ€œSex on Fireโ€ and their closer โ€œUse Somebody,โ€ though songs like โ€œMollyโ€™s Chambersโ€ and a cover of the Pixiesโ€™ โ€œWhere is My Mind?โ€ livened up the set list, ultimately putting on a show that satisfied the tens of thousands of onlookers.

Day 3 (June 12)

With the early afternoon devoted to the England/USA soccer game and mellow songstress Norah Jones, festival goers were ready for another stellar line-up of rock & roll by the time evening rolled around.

5:00 p.m.

English band Mumford and Sons took to the stage and delivered a strong set of their bluegrass-inspired folk rock, which included fan favourites โ€œLittle Lion Manโ€ and โ€œWhite Blank Pageโ€.

Looking genuinely grateful towards and boyishly flattered by the crowd that was clapping, swaying and singing along throughout the whole set, Mumford and Sons put on one of the most authentic and soulful performances of the weekend.

They were even joined on stage by Dave Rawlings Machine for the final two songs โ€“ a cover of Bob Dylanโ€™s โ€œWagon Wheelโ€ and โ€œRoll Away Your Stoneโ€.

6:00 p.m.

The combination of Jack White and Alison Mosshart created an unlikely duo, but one that has proven to work extremely well.

Their band the Dead Weather played on the main stage and ran through a set of new, old, original and covered songs that included โ€œNo Horse,โ€ โ€œHustle and Cussโ€ and Dylanโ€™s โ€œNew Pony.โ€

7:00 p.m.

Weezer catered to the massive audience and played crowd-pleasers like โ€œUndone (The Sweater Song),โ€ โ€œSay It Ainโ€™t Soโ€ and โ€œBeverly Hills,โ€ but the highlight of the set was their covers of MGMTโ€™s โ€œKidsโ€ and Lady Gagaโ€™s โ€œPoker Face.โ€

Frontman Rivers Cuomo entertained the fans with ridiculous dance moves, lifting up the amps and sporting a long blonde wig for his Gaga song.

8:30 p.m.

Stevie Wonder. Enough said.

11:30 p.m.

In two hours, Jay-Z managed to deliver 29 songs and work up the undoubtedly rowdiest crowd of the night.

Newer tracks like โ€œRun This Townโ€ and โ€œEmpire State of Mindโ€ sent the crowd into hysterics, but older ones like โ€œ99 Problems,โ€ โ€œDirt Off Your Shoulderโ€ and โ€œHard Knock Lifeโ€ got equally euphoric responses.

He even brought a fan from the crowd onstage and got the thousands of people in the audience to sing โ€œHappy Birthdayโ€ to her.

By the end of the 120 minute set, nearly everyone had their diamonds in the air for Hova as he closed out the night with an explosion of lighters, glowsticks and cell phones to the tune of โ€œYoung Forever.โ€

Day 4 (June 13)

For those who were able to fend off the hangovers, sunburns and dehydration, Sunday provided yet another amazing line-up of music, comedy and film.

12:30 p.m.

Japandroids played to a mellower crowd than theyโ€™re used to, but with songs like โ€œHeart Sweatsโ€ and โ€œRockers East Vancouverโ€ even the hippie kids got riled up.

Banter between the duo about being Canadian and unable to handle the heat got some laughs, but the water bottles they were throwing into the crowd were received with nothing but gratitude.

3:00 p.m.

Soviet-born, New York City-raised Regina Spektor wowed her fans with a flawless set that included hits like โ€œOn the Radioโ€ and โ€œThe Calculation,โ€ as well as older tunes like โ€œSamson,โ€ โ€œApres Moiโ€ and โ€œPoor Little Rich Boy.โ€

The combination of her innocent appearance and tendency to use profanities made for an endearing performance, while her musicianship really shone as she switched back and forth between piano and guitar.

7:15 p.m.

Parisian darlings Phoenix closed out the Which Stage on Sunday night with style โ€“ and hundreds of red and black balloons.

Songs from the bandโ€™s latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix saturated the setlist, with hits like โ€œ1901โ€ and โ€œLisztomaniaโ€ transforming the sea of exhausted, foul-smelling attendees into the biggest dance party of the weekend.


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Photo credit: Courtesy of Jeff Kravitz

French band Phoenix close out the Which Stage on Sunday night.


9:00 p.m.

Veteran Bonnaroo performers Dave Matthews Band closed out the main stage and the rest of the festival grounds with covers of Neil Youngโ€™s โ€œThe Needle and the Damage Doneโ€ and Dylanโ€™s โ€œAll Along the Watchtower,โ€ while festival-goers began to file out in droves, preparing to go home and rest up until next year.


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