After 10 years and over 70,000 people meandering around a farm in Manchester, Tenn., Bonnaroo still proves to one of the biggest and best music festivals around.
Bonnaroo is more than just standing around for four days. It’s actually everything other than boring and blazing hot.
Boasting headliners such as Eminem, Lil’ Wayne, The Black Keys and Grammy winners Arcade Fire, Bonnaroo is quickly becoming this generation’s Woodstock. The sites would not be unfamiliar to former Woodstock goers, either.
Everything from festival-goers painted from head-to-toe toe to people giving themselves colorful nicknames, Bonnaroo had a little bit of something for everyone.
The stereotypical festival atmosphere was around, too. You know, the whole not showering thing? It’s definitely true. Even for Junior communications major Shelby Marvel, not showering was the right way to go about it.
“I thought it was awesome,” the Ashland City, Tenn. Native said. “By Sunday I was definitely ready for a shower, but I am glad I went all out.”
By all out she means sleeping in a tent without an air mattress and not showering four days.
“It’s so much fun you forget about how gross you are and how gross you feel.”
It would be easy to say that Marvel was not the only one present that had not showered in a few days, either.
Some surprising acts such as Ratatat, Portugal. The Man, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Big Boi wowed the tens of thousands of fans in Manchester, but for Marvel it was a handful of performances other than those that made her want to attend the festival again.
“My favorite was probably the Black Keys,” Marvel said. “Florence and the Machine, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire and Eminem were all great, too.”
Her defining moment at Bonnaroo, though?
“I saw The Black Keys and Eminem back to back. Where else can you do that? It was awesome.”
As far as tips for going to Bonnaroo, it’s relatively simple. Go in with an open-mind, drink a lot of water, apply sunscreen hourly, get to know the people and most of all, pace yourself. Remeber, it’s a long weekend. Give yourself time to take it all in.
Who should we look forward to seeing next year? Honestly, with the way that ‘Roo is growing, there is absolutely no way to figure out who will be there. However, for Marvel, she has a short list of who she wants to see.
“I’d like to see Robyn. She was there this year but wasn’t till late Sunday night and I left earlier that day,” Marvel said. “It would be cool if the Avett Brothers came back next year, too.”