Bonnaroo 2016 all but confirmed

SPEEDY MCCREADY

My luck as far as weather and outdoor shows over the last half decade has been a disaster.

Bridge Shows-RAIN
Alpine-RAIN
Wrigley-Rain

Give me an indoor show, close to home. I no longer want to get on planes, trains, cabs, etc.
Just give me ONE indoor show close to home, and I will be happy.

RoleModelsinBlood31

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

RoleModelsinBlood31 said:

Alfonz said:

PorchRadio said:

Have any of you been to Bonnaroo? It is perhaps my favorite place. So many diverse music acts. Much better vibe than any other festival. And Pearl Jam can play as long as they want to (no curfew, and headliners can play as long as they want). I already have my Roo tickets, so this news just sent me over the edge with excitement!

I've been and hated it. At least for camping. Went the year Buffalo Springfield played, knowing that Neil could pull the plug on that at any time. They were fantastic, but I packed my shit up and left on Sunday morning as quick as I could. As did many people around me.

Started with a 7 hour traffic jam, only to be randomly shunted off with no choice to BFE that was 50 minutes walk from the festival entrance. Despite acres of open camping fields that were much closer.

It was beyond hot/humid, and I'm used to hot weather based on where I've lived. Several people died from heat exhaustion (probably related to partying too hard), and it was so unbearable that you couldn't enjoyably watch any bands during daylight.

And you can't sleep, the sun comes up so early and then cooks your tent. People are coming and going 24 hours, and the normal times a person would sleep were very rowdy. Though it was quite funny hearing people roaming around crying about how they were lost. If you want to sleep at an abnormal time, it's too fucking hot unless you try the cinema tent.

Had some nice people camping near me, but overall the crowd was not the friendly-hippie-jam-band-loving-crowd I expected, mostly a bro/douche/frat vibe. I imagine it has only gotten worse. The bible bashing redneck locals protesting with "Jerry Garcia is burning in hell" signs did provide some comic relief. In Austin alone there are festivals like Psychfest/Levitation and Fun Fun Fun Fest that have far better vibes.

If I was going again (which I won't), I would get an RV spot near the festival grounds, or stay in a hotel and drive in each day. Camping was the absolute pits. Old and cranky rant, over and out.

Wow. You can't seriously compare fff fest and psych fest to bonaroo can you? That's like apples & asparagus dude, smh. It's bonaroo... Not my cup of tea but you come across as someone who's never done a 3 day camping fest before- all the things you mentioned are the same things that happen at any camping event I've been to, from a dozen phish festivals to berkfest etc. you can pretty much expect to walk/lug your gear, not sleep a wink and be hot as shit all day long in the sun.... It's a camping festival in the summer. Lulz/ eye roll guy.

Walk miles with your gear.
Not sleep a wink.
Be as hot as shit all day long in the sun.

Im sold!
Bonnaroo here I come!
Hahahaha

Not in a million years.

Yep- as @PJ_Soul said it's for when you're a lot younger. I can't do that shit anymore! But to expect it to be anything different than a hot clusterfuck when it's a 3 day camping fest to me is cray cray. Of course 80,000 people camping is not going to be like a hotel room, and of course you're going to have to walk an hour- you may be the farthest tent from the stage! Reality!

josevolution

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

SPEEDY MCCREADY

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

josevolution

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

yep being thru this scenario a few times lol no more for me Speedy ...

SPEEDY MCCREADY

josevolution said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

yep being thru this scenario a few times lol no more for me Speedy ...

Its hell getting old, right Jose? You and I traveled all over for shows, while in our late 30's and 40's. Now we are in our 50's, and it has all changed. Haha
Im not getting on any planes. Im not getting on any trains. Im not doing any outdoor shows, so I can get rained on for 5 hours. Just give me ONE show close to home, indoors, and all is good in my world.

But I tell ya, I had a HELL OF A RUN! 50 or so Pearl Jam shows in 20 years. Traveled all over the damn place, partied like a Rock Star! Now I just want ONE Chicago show, and I am good for another year or 2.

rustneversleeps

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

yep being thru this scenario a few times lol no more for me Speedy ...

Its hell getting old, right Jose? You and I traveled all over for shows, while in our late 30's and 40's. Now we are in our 50's, and it has all changed. Haha
Im not getting on any planes. Im not getting on any trains. Im not doing any outdoor shows, so I can get rained on for 5 hours. Just give me ONE show close to home, indoors, and all is good in my world.

But I tell ya, I had a HELL OF A RUN! 50 or so Pearl Jam shows in 20 years. Traveled all over the damn place, partied like a Rock Star! Now I just want ONE Chicago show, and I am good for another year or 2.

i hope this doesn't happen to me in my 50's. i can smell the Farm already... in the end, its not the years in your life that count. Its the life in your years.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

rustneversleeps said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

yep being thru this scenario a few times lol no more for me Speedy ...

Its hell getting old, right Jose? You and I traveled all over for shows, while in our late 30's and 40's. Now we are in our 50's, and it has all changed. Haha
Im not getting on any planes. Im not getting on any trains. Im not doing any outdoor shows, so I can get rained on for 5 hours. Just give me ONE show close to home, indoors, and all is good in my world.

But I tell ya, I had a HELL OF A RUN! 50 or so Pearl Jam shows in 20 years. Traveled all over the damn place, partied like a Rock Star! Now I just want ONE Chicago show, and I am good for another year or 2.

i hope this doesn't happen to me in my 50's. i can smell the Farm already... in the end, its not the years in your life that count. Its the life in your years.

Hahaha!

It has happened to me. I no longer have the desire to travel all over the globe, to see Pearl Jam. Just give me ONE show, close to home, and I am good. I just look at things a little different these days. Using vacation time from work, to go see Pearl Jam? That scenario is NOT an option anymore. It just isn't. I also just don't have the desire to see 4-5 shows during any given tour. Maybe I just overdid it back in the day. Who knows. One show is fine.

PJ_Soul

I'm still really into traveling. I think going to see live music is pretty much the best basic reason for a trip anywhere. I'm just over the camping part!

PorchRadio

rustneversleeps said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

josevolution said:

Yeah ill leave the camping for the younger folks i need comfort of a city for my concert experience ,,,,
i camped with nine of my friends for the 2nd US festival out in San Bernadino 105 during the day 56 at night what an experience ....

Not that Bonnaroo/camping is even an option for me, since I am not throwing camping gear in my car and driving 600 miles... But if I were crazy enough to do just that, I don't think the camping/no indoor plumbing/lack of showers, etc. would really be the problem. No doubt the biggest problem for me would be the 20,000 hippies I would have to share a campsite with. The 1st drunken, stoned out of his mind, hippie kid, who stumbled upon my campsite, trying to sell me pancakes for a dollar, so he could go and buy some more dope, would probably be enough for me to lose my mind! Hahahahaha

yep being thru this scenario a few times lol no more for me Speedy ...

Its hell getting old, right Jose? You and I traveled all over for shows, while in our late 30's and 40's. Now we are in our 50's, and it has all changed. Haha
Im not getting on any planes. Im not getting on any trains. Im not doing any outdoor shows, so I can get rained on for 5 hours. Just give me ONE show close to home, indoors, and all is good in my world.

But I tell ya, I had a HELL OF A RUN! 50 or so Pearl Jam shows in 20 years. Traveled all over the damn place, partied like a Rock Star! Now I just want ONE Chicago show, and I am good for another year or 2.

i hope this doesn't happen to me in my 50's. i can smell the Farm already... in the end, its not the years in your life that count. Its the life in your years.

So much this! We have people that camp with us that are in their 50s, and I hope to god I can still go when I get there. But if you go in with "this camping experience is going to be shit" attitude before even going, please don't go. You will be miserable, and make others miserable. I have so many awesome memories from camping at Roo.....from getting woken up at 8AM on Sunday by someone just sitting playing guitar and singing, and he played for 4 hours (and he had just gotten back to camp at 8, so dude was a trooper...and on a lot of stuff). Impromptu group Bohemian Rhapsody sing along, 4 AM breakfast that consisted nothing but boxed wine....I love Bonnaroo.

my2hands

107 degrees... humid... dusty... in a tent... with the next tent 6 inches from mine... with 80,000 people... 45 minutes walk to get in... bandana over my mouth to breath... water strapped to my back like a camel... fucked up guy playing acoustic porch in front of my tent for 4 hours... I would rather hit my balls with a hammer

but if I was 19... single... and wanted to do drugs... i would be there in a heartbeat

SPEEDY MCCREADY

my2hands said:

107 degrees... humid... dusty... in a tent... with the next tent 6 inches from mine... with 80,000 people... 45 minutes walk to get in... bandana over my mouth to breath... water strapped to my back like a camel... fucked up guy playing acoustic porch in front of my tent for 4 hours... I would rather hit my balls with a hammer

but if I was 19... single... and wanted to do drugs... i would be there in a heartbeat

Lets not forget the 4am breakfast that consists of nothing but boxed wine.

Hell, I would have been all over this in my 20's, in my 30's, and even in my 40's.
But like I said, those days have come to an end.

rustneversleeps

i'm 37, single, and want to do drugs...

dmbolp

Turn 50 this year, have done DMB at the Gorge camping every other year for the past 10 years, was planning on celebrating my 50th this year at Gorge Labor Day weekend as it falls on my birthday every year, but burnt out on DMB and would gladly do the Gorge for PJ instead. And being in ATL, looking forward to an easy drive to do Bonnaroo for the first time this year for PJ. Live and work in high-rise buildings in downtown ATL, looking forward to the grit of Bonnaroo!

SPEEDY MCCREADY

rustneversleeps said:

i'm 37, single, and want to do drugs...

I am older than dirt, married, and have random drug tests at work.

my2hands

rustneversleeps said:

i'm 37, single, and want to do drugs...

I love it!

a few years ago I would be right with you... now I just want a Hampton Inn and a little refer

rustneversleeps

my2hands said:

rustneversleeps said:

i'm 37, single, and want to do drugs...

I love it!

a few years ago I would be right with you... now I just want a Hampton Inn and a little refer

i hear ya. i missed the last 5 bonnaroos, and each year the prospects of ever going back seemed less and less. the pearl jam rumor ignited the fire again, and now i can't wait for one last dose of action, people, freedom... as well a smorgasbord of booze and recreational goodies. we'll splurge on VIP passes, that makes the experience alittle more comfortable at least. no long walks, free showers, much cleaner shit boxes. first 8 years went straight GA camping and we definitely had some long ass walks some years. went VIP year 9 and that was like being at the Taj mahal compared to some of our camp locations.

Daron Oshay

Indifference71 said:

63schoefflin said:

That would be a hugeeee heart rip. No interest in going down to Roo but basically was banking on a Nashville trip. Oh well.

Same here. I love Nashville. That city is awesome. Was definitely planning on hitting up a show there if it happened.

Indifference71 said:

63schoefflin said:

That would be a hugeeee heart rip. No interest in going down to Roo but basically was banking on a Nashville trip. Oh well.

My favorite place to visit in the country

Much rather a show downtown Nashville than anywhere

Alfonz

RoleModelsinBlood31 said:

Alfonz said:

PorchRadio said:

Have any of you been to Bonnaroo? It is perhaps my favorite place. So many diverse music acts. Much better vibe than any other festival. And Pearl Jam can play as long as they want to (no curfew, and headliners can play as long as they want). I already have my Roo tickets, so this news just sent me over the edge with excitement!

I've been and hated it. At least for camping. Went the year Buffalo Springfield played, knowing that Neil could pull the plug on that at any time. They were fantastic, but I packed my shit up and left on Sunday morning as quick as I could. As did many people around me.

Started with a 7 hour traffic jam, only to be randomly shunted off with no choice to BFE that was 50 minutes walk from the festival entrance. Despite acres of open camping fields that were much closer.

It was beyond hot/humid, and I'm used to hot weather based on where I've lived. Several people died from heat exhaustion (probably related to partying too hard), and it was so unbearable that you couldn't enjoyably watch any bands during daylight.

And you can't sleep, the sun comes up so early and then cooks your tent. People are coming and going 24 hours, and the normal times a person would sleep were very rowdy. Though it was quite funny hearing people roaming around crying about how they were lost. If you want to sleep at an abnormal time, it's too fucking hot unless you try the cinema tent.

Had some nice people camping near me, but overall the crowd was not the friendly-hippie-jam-band-loving-crowd I expected, mostly a bro/douche/frat vibe. I imagine it has only gotten worse. The bible bashing redneck locals protesting with "Jerry Garcia is burning in hell" signs did provide some comic relief. In Austin alone there are festivals like Psychfest/Levitation and Fun Fun Fun Fest that have far better vibes.

If I was going again (which I won't), I would get an RV spot near the festival grounds, or stay in a hotel and drive in each day. Camping was the absolute pits. Old and cranky rant, over and out.

Wow. You can't seriously compare fff fest and psych fest to bonaroo can you? That's like apples & asparagus dude, smh. It's bonaroo... Not my cup of tea but you come across as someone who's never done a 3 day camping fest before- all the things you mentioned are the same things that happen at any camping event I've been to, from a dozen phish festivals to berkfest etc. you can pretty much expect to walk/lug your gear, not sleep a wink and be hot as shit all day long in the sun.... It's a camping festival in the summer. Lulz/ eye roll guy.

I was comparing specifically the vibe based on a previous post saying the vibe of Bonnaroo is the best out of any festival. And yes, I can do this. The vibe relates to all elements of the crowd/music/site, including the size.

And yes, along with proper camping in the wilderness, I have done camping festivals many times. Byron Bay Bluesfest (5 days x several times) and other smaller ones around Australia. Not as hot, but other issues such as storms and a torrential downpour that washed my tent away once ... and I could still laugh at that and enjoy myself. But Bonnaroo was a different kettle of fish for me.

All that shit that just happens at any camping festival in summer ... just because it is to be expected and accepted, it doesn't mean it's good or has to be liked.

AndySlash said:

nah, he doesn't.

several people died? no, 2 people died that year, both labeled as drug/heat related (i assume they passed out in their tents after drugging it up) and there have been 12 total in 14 years ranging from drugs, heat, car accidents, and natural causes. considering an average of 80,000-90,000 people go each year, that is an astonishingly low number given the number of different things that can happen. i'm still waiting for a giant storm to plow through there, that would be my biggest fear regarding safety. too many people don't take that shit seriously. anyway, as it relates to roo, just don't be fucking stupid and most likely you won't die. what a concept, i know.

sucks about the camping location - i've been out there, too, in 2007 when it was so hot and dry that every car was covered in dust and most everyone had to wear bandanas/masks. we had a 45-min walk to the centeroo gates. does it suck? sure does, but if you're 1) prepared and 2) have a good attitude you can get through it instead of letting it define your experience, which in his case it sure seems like it did. that's decidedly NOT getting it.

I thought it was 2, maybe 3, so I just said "several". Sorry. The point was more to show how uncomfortable and potentially dangerous it was. Drugs or no drugs.

I went with a good attitude, excited to take a road trip and see some of the country, to then see Buffalo Springfield (a possible once in a lifetime chance to see my hero in that guise), and to experience the supposed Bonnaroo magic and meet new people. I am grateful I went, especially since Neil pulled the pin and it was to be the last show. They did not disappoint. But that was in spite of the festival, not because of it.

I was well aware of the various things that could happen at Bonnaroo, but not much can be done except prepare and then wait and see how it actually pans out. So I went open minded and let Bonnaroo define the whole experience to me once I was there. Excuse me if that's "decidedly NOT getting it". I can't control if I like a festival or not. Nothing to do with needing a different attitude. Some things were great like Gogol Bordello at 3am. Some OK. The majority of things sucked balls to me. I won't make myself believe that everything smells like roses. If other people can like it, and they obviously do, then good for them.

PJ_Soul

rustneversleeps said:

i'm 37, single, and want to do drugs...

Oh, I'll do drugs. I just don't wanna sleep in a tent city, lol!