Two words: Holy plus-a-certain-expletive. That is all that could have been said as part of an alarming reaction to the recent lineup release of Bonnaroo.
The annual four-day camp out music festival stationed on a farm in Manchester, Tenn. continued its trend of stacked acts to rule the fest. By reeling in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Phish and the Beach Boys, one can be sure that the streak of incredible crowds of 70,000-80,000 every summer since its birth in 2002 will surely continue.
When reading the lineup on the official website, it is easy to be drawn into which biggest names Bonnaroo will be featuring. This is not new to the fest, which has had the diverse yet impactful headliners in recent years ranging from Eminem to Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen to The Strokes. However, it is when one scrolls down and stumbles upon an unknown artist with an unorthodox name that truly makes a lineup worthwhile.
Big festivals with plenty of spots for performers offer a great opportunity for up and coming musicians to showcase their stuff before a grand audience. Such as 2008, when Bonnaroo featured MGMT and Vampire Weekend, who both at the time were slowly but surely gaining popularity off of their first acclaimed albums. The same happened in 2009 with Passion Pit, along with The xx and Temper Trap in 2010. Kings of Leon performed in 2003 after only producing their first EP, 5 years before their most popular album "Only By The Night."
Needless to say, it wouldn't hurt looking up a few bands on the lower level of the lineup and seeing what they have to offer. The Antlers, The War On Drugs and tUnE-YarDs are all experiencing a rise in popularity from certain singles or tracks off their latest album are hitting a mainstream circuit. The ever recognizable and equally intriguing intro to tUnE-YarDs "Bizness" will undoubtedly bring a crowd and also raise the demand for better tunes to come. The Antlers' "I Don't Want Love" and The War On Drugs' "Baby Missiles" offer more of an indie side and therefore appeal to an increasing indie crowd. These songs will definitely be included and will portray what else these bands have to offer.
Many lower level bands from Lollapalooza this past summer are also included. The Joy Formidable, Two Door Cinema Club and Grouplove will play as they continue to festival hop their way to mainstream status. All three of these bands have received recent success and exposure via well-known commercials (such as Grouplove's "Tongue Tied" in an Apple commercial) or peer reference (Dave Grohl's open support of Joy Formidable.) This is a unique opportunity for fans to see and follow bands firsthand as they become increasingly popular as time progresses.
Major up and comers in the rap/hip hop industry have made the lineup this year and are looking to make a statement on their prior success. Mac Miller, known for his hit "Donald Trump," is coming off debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 for his first album "Blue Side Park." Yelawolf, said to be Eminem's prodigy, will perform in hope of making a strong stand for Shady Records, while actor Donald Glover, who goes by Childish Gambino, looks to successfully sway from acting to performing.
By just settling on the top-notch headliners that a festival such as Bonnaroo has to offer, one would definitely miss out on what the rest of the fest is all about. Seeing some lower level but equally entertaining bands and then working your way up to the best of the best accounts for an unbelievable concert experience unlike any other. Now pause, take a deep breath and read the rest of the lineup.
—Easterhouse is a freshman from Evergreen Park, Ill., majoring in communications. features@thedepauw.com