Could I survive Bonnaroo?

We probably can't go anyway. It'll be something like 3 and a half weeks after we've moved.
But I am dying to go, some of my *favorite* bands will be there.
I am old but I still like festival concerts, we went to the Voodoo Experience last fall which was fine.
Actually, out of all the many concerts I've been to, the worst one for obnoxious people and substance abuse was Jimmy Buffet.
So tell me, how is Bonnaroo and what are the best survival techniques?

How well do you like drunk, stoned, nakked hippies

I know I couldn't.

Just bring your own toilet paper and some alcohol gel for your hands. It would probably be fun.

We probably can't go anyway. It'll be something like 3 and a half weeks after we've moved.
But I am dying to go, some of my *favorite* bands will be there.
I am old but I still like festival concerts, we went to the Voodoo Experience last fall which was fine.
Actually, out of all the many concerts I've been to, the worst one for obnoxious people and substance abuse was Jimmy Buffet.
So tell me, how is Bonnaroo and what are the best survival techniques?

I went two years ago when Tom Petty headlined. Big mistake. I was absolutely miserable the whole time. If I was still in my 20's, it would be great. But alas, I am not. It's just too much.

I went four years ago. Great line-up of bands. It was perhaps the worst experience in my life. What a miserable place to be. 100,000 plus, crazy heat with no shade in sight. Rain came with cold weather. We looked like cattle walking from stage to stage in knee deep mud, barefoot, because shoes would get sucked in. Not a sober person in site. Watched the last show, Trey A., standing in the cold rain in 6 inches of mud. Looking around, I'd say that we weren't the only miserable one. I'd say it is definitely one of the biggest drug parties in the US. Anything you want, just walk down drug row, an entire little village of tents in the parking lot. Bonnarroo was my last festival. It just turned me off from ever doing anything like that again.

My two cents is to use the money which you would have spent on tickets, to buy some CDs of the bands who are playing the event. Take those CDs and play them while sitting somewhere nice, like an open park.

Cil...if you thought Buffett was bad...go ahead and make your plans for Bonnarroo and report back to us!

...step away from the BOOaroo, Cil.

...step away from the BOOaroo, Cil.

I have this feeling she won't be going don't you?

I have this feeling she won't be going don't you?

I don't think I would after reading these posts. :shock:

I believe Cil is a rebel - - she just might do it! :clap_1:

teluride bluegrass is the next weekend, with only 10,000 of your closest friends instead of 70,000+

Ah, but I can't drive to Telluride, and I don't think the White Stripes will be there. But I agree that 10,000 is preferable to 70,000 and up.
I could probably handle Bonnaroo. Drunk naked hippies are okay, mud and cold less so, but doable.
SJ, it sounds like Woodstock, but without the aura of contentment. ;-)
Well, maybe I have to work up to next year.
I did see the White Stripes at Red Rocks in '05, but was looking forward to the Decemberists. I guess I'll head out to the pool and fire up the CD.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

I went four years ago. Great line-up of bands. It was perhaps the worst experience in my life. What a miserable place to be. 100,000 plus, crazy heat with no shade in sight. Rain came with cold weather. We looked like cattle walking from stage to stage in knee deep mud, barefoot, because shoes would get sucked in. Not a sober person in site. Watched the last show, Trey A., standing in the cold rain in 6 inches of mud. Looking around, I'd say that we weren't the only miserable one. I'd say it is definitely one of the biggest drug parties in the US. Anything you want, just walk down drug row, an entire little village of tents in the parking lot. Bonnarroo was my last festival. It just turned me off from ever doing anything like that again.

My two cents is to use the money which you would have spent on tickets, to buy some CDs of the bands who are playing the event. Take those CDs and play them while sitting somewhere nice, like an open park.

sounds like jazz fest in Nola. we did this many years ago and never will again.

sounds like jazz fest in Nola. we did this many years ago and never will again.

I've been to Jazz Fest in NOLA, and it has nothing on the craziness of Bonnaroo. I forgot to mention that Bonnaroo is in the middle of a hayfield during the middle of blistering heat.

I've also been in the infield of the Kentucky Derby. About the same number of people as on day of the Derby, and while the Derby is pretty bad in the infield, again, it has nothing on Bonnaroo.

EDIT: While looking for a photo of some of the things I saw (which I never found), I found this little one day snippet of a news story on Bonnaroo. I think Jeff left out a few incriminating things, but he remembered the part about the bread oven and not knowing how to get back to your tent on the first night.

Ah, but I can't drive to Telluride, and I don't think the White Stripes will be there. But I agree that 10,000 is preferable to 70,000 and up.
I could probably handle Bonnaroo. Drunk naked hippies are okay, mud and cold less so, but doable.
SJ, it sounds like Woodstock, but without the aura of contentment. ;-)
Well, maybe I have to work up to next year.
I did see the White Stripes at Red Rocks in '05, but was looking forward to the Decemberists. I guess I'll head out to the pool and fire up the CD.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

If you are going to specifically see one band, then again, I would recommend against. Find out the nearest regular tour stop and go see them in Atlanta or Nashville. It would me much easier and they would probably play a longer set.

If you are going to specifically see one band, then again, I would recommend against. Find out the nearest regular tour stop and go see them in Atlanta or Nashville. It would me much easier and they would probably play a longer set.

Yes--I did think about this. Thank you, JB. There is more than one band, but I've already once seen the one I like the most.
It will be nice when we are closer to civilization, after the move.
Tootsie, Jazzfest was that bad?
Voodoo Fest at NOLA was fine, almost a little on the tame side, other than the parade of bloody pierced/chained people.

One more reason to not go to Bonnaroo, the 6 hours it takes to drive the last 5 miles to get there.

One more reason to not go to Bonnaroo, the 6 hours it takes to drive the last 5 miles to get there.

They have corrected all that.

Pretty accurate reports. If you decide to call, let me know. I live about 45 min. from there and can provide a change of pace. Just know that it is a hot, dirty, stinky blowout filled with lots of booze and drugs. Of course, there are sober folks as well. One friend takes his van and camps out and loves it..but that may be to get away from his family.;-)

If you go....

Stay in an RV.

Buy the shower pass.

Don't take anything you don't care about ever seeing again.

Be prepared to have someone vomit on you.

Don't expect a lot of sleep.

Map out your band itinerary in advance (what stage and when)


My info comes from a friend in Louisville that goes every year with her parents and her boyfriend- and they have a blast. All of it backed up by the gal that cuts my hair here in SoWal- she goes every year. They both said the same things!

If you go....

Stay in an RV.

Buy the shower pass.

Don't take anything you don't care about ever seeing again.

Be prepared to have someone vomit on you. :shock: :shock:

Don't expect a lot of sleep.

Map out your band itinerary in advance (what stage and when)


My info comes from a friend in Louisville that goes every year with her parents and her boyfriend- and they have a blast. All of it backed up by the gal that cuts my hair here in SoWal- she goes every year. They both said the same things!

those are my responses.....

I have to make sure I never go to Bonnaroo!!

I realize it's not the same as jazz fest/Nola, but like any big music festival you need to know how to do it. If you are fully prepared and got the right attitude, then surely it will be a great time.

when we went to jazz fest in nola, we went with locals and they had yet to figure it all out. all I remember is standing in line for beer and standing in line for the potty. we hardly saw any music at all. like many nola people, they've got it down to a science now, and wouldn't miss it for anything. but, we're just not into anything that huge.

If you go....

Stay in an RV.

Buy the shower pass.

Don't take anything you don't care about ever seeing again.

Be prepared to have someone vomit on you.

Don't expect a lot of sleep.

Map out your band itinerary in advance (what stage and when)

Good advice, except for the shower part. You will be showering in other peoples grime. Also, if you go, you have to forget about seeing all of your favorite bands. It just doesn't seem to happen. Just go with the herds of people and you wont get trampled by the cattle. It is a hay field. ;-)

heh
Jdarg's practical advice is what I was hoping for. Cool!
Funny, an RV did occur to me. My brother in law (single) has a nice one, and maybe would join us if there were naked hippie chicks involved.

We had sort of a plan with Voodoo Fest, and saw everyone we hoped to see, and that was close to 100,000 people (but spread out over 3 days).
We were staying at a B&B, took the trolley. Everyone was friendly and there was mud here and there but the port-a-potties did not have long lines.
Sure there was some smoking/moshing/dancing but nothing to harsh our mellow. ;-)

At Jimmy Buffet, there were people barfing or dead drunk in the parking lot long before the music even began, and for most of the concert, some intoxicated girl in front of us sniped at her equally inebriated husband/boyfriend to the point where he began choking her and security took them both away.
Talk about wasted away in Margaritaville.

Well, as I said, we probably can't go to Bonnaroo anyway--this year. But it was good to hear some opinions about it. Iwishiwasthere, some day I may hold you to your invitation!