Nearly 420 miles away from NC State’s campus, the modest city of Manchester, Tennessee, welcomed about 85,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than two dozen foreign countries to the 14th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this weekend.
Introduced in 2002, Bonnaroo is a four-day, round-the-clock music festival that invites fans to set up camp on a 700-acre farm approximately 60 miles southeast of Nashville.
In addition to showcasing more than 125 artists, including headliners such as Billy Joel, Florence + The Machine and Kendrick Lamar, this year’s festival entertained visitors with comedy shows, vendors, a surplus of delicious food and infectiously good vibes. Nothing short of enticing, this compilation is what made the roughly nine-hour trek from Raleigh to the venue worth it for NC State students.
“Bonnaroo is such a special place,” said Sara Ashley, an NC State alumna. “I will never forget my time there.”
Part of what makes Bonnaroo so memorable are the handpicked performances. Rather than selecting acts based on the latest pop hits or studio expertise, festival organizers choose performers based on their ability to perform live on stage.
“It’s clear that a lot goes into deciding who gets to perform here,” said Cecil Austin, lifelong resident of the Raleigh area. “I didn’t go to a single show that didn’t have me jumping up and down or on the verge of tears from sheer joy.”
The French name Bonnaroo translates to the “best of the streets.” This name was chosen to honor the Louisiana tradition of music performances on the street.
“They really did have a little bit of everything, and I feel like all of the musical genres were represented equally,” Austin said. “You really aren’t going to find an Americana rock band like Alabama Shakes performing right before someone like Kendrick Lamar or Deadmau5 anywhere else.”
Ashley said that while she thoroughly enjoyed the shows put on by musicians such as My Morning Jacket and Flying Lotus, her favorite part of the weekend was experiencing the atmosphere.
Bonnaroo’s slogan “Radiate Positivity” proved true, as Ashley said everyone she met and interacted with was friendly and welcoming.
“I got offered bites of homemade ice cream, and hugs and high-fives all around,” Ashley said.
The atmosphere at this weekend’s festival was also full of laughter, as Bonnaroo hosted more than 20 comedians, including Zach Galifianakis, actor and NC State alumnus.
When he wasn’t performing in the comedy tent, Galifianakis could be found crashing musical performances and even hosting an ‘80s throwback superjam show along with actor and director Jon Hamm. During the superjam, Galifianakis and Hamm performed their own rendition of “We Are the World” and introduced artists such as Chance the Rapper, Metallica’s Rob Trujillo and Reggie Watts.
Among the mud, sweat and cheers, there was also a not-so-disclosed drug culture.
Seasoned Bonnaroovian and Raleigh native, Mark Edwards, said that at Bonnaroo, drugs are easier to find than shelter from the sun.
“I am no stranger to drugs, and neither is Bonnaroo,” said Edwards. “I really do believe that when you have an understanding of your limits, [drugs] help lighten the mood around here. It’s really just another ordinary aspect of Bonnaroovian culture.”
Edwards said he believes the lack of law enforcement within the walls of the festival is what makes drug usage a popular activity amongst festivalgoers.
In an article published by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said that out of the thousands in attendance, his department only made 76 arrests and 132 citations. The majority of these charges took place as attendees were entering the festival grounds.
“Most of the arrests are for drugs,” Graves said. “The citations are for misdemeanor drugs or possession.”
Another significant concern for Coffee County law enforcement officers was the tsunami of traffic Bonnaroo brought to the typically quiet city of Manchester.
“We got to Manchester around 8:30 on Wednesday night and ended up waiting more than six hours in traffic on [interstate] 24 before making it to our campsite,” Austin said. “We were in the car all day, but it was well worth it.”
In addition to the influx of traffic, people who decided to spend the entire weekend camping on the farm had to weather intense heat, large crowds, porta-potties and limited access to showers.
Ashley said even though she didn’t pay to take a conventional shower, which ranged from $5-$10 depending on the time of day, it did not dampen her experience.
In an attempt to remain clean amidst the sweat-inducing and muddy environment, Ashley said she used lots of baby wipes and rinsed off at the mushroom fountain located in the middle of Centeroo.
“Bonnaroo isn’t Bonnaroo if you’re freshly clean every day,” Ashley said. “Embracing dirt is a part of it.”
The general consensus of those who attended this year’s festival: The good overwhelmingly outweighed the bad.
“Bonnaroo is something you have to experience,” Edwards said. “It is nothing short of nirvana.”
Bonnaroo is a four-day musical festival that was first started in 2002. This year, over 85,000 music-lovers from all over the world gathered in Tennessee to enjoy live performances and art and food vendors at Bannaroo. Headliners of Bannaroo included Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, Florence + The Machine and Sylvan Esso.
