Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2015: Fourth Time’s the Charm!
I was awakened by Florence Welch sound-checking for her set, singing “Shake It Off,” which was a great way to start my day. It was officially the last day of what has been one of the most amazing experience of my life. I took my last shower, ate Peace Love Tacos for the last time, and hung out half asleep at camp trying to plan the day with my friends. I was trying to have a laid-back Sunday, since I had hardly slept anything the night before and could feel it in my body. I didn’t head in to Centeroo until around 3:30, and it was for Reggie Watts at the Comedy Theater.
I’ve been a fan of Reggie Watts for several years and have always wanted to see him live. I have seen countless youtube performances; although all hilarious, nothing compares to watching this man perform in person. Watts can dress it up with comedy, but he is a musician through and through. Working wonders with a loop pedal , a keyboard, and sounds made with his mouth, Reggie Watts had the crowd in tears playing songs about the Bonnaroo experience. During one segment of the set he pretended to perform cunnilingus on a cable trying to get his keyboard to work.
After the show, we headed to the What Stage to catch Twenty One Pilots’ return to Bonnaroo. They performed with so much charisma that it was impossible to stand still. Tyler came out with a ski mask singing “Heavydirtysoul” with Josh rocking his new red-do and red eyeliner. Tyler apologized for being tardy, saying that the festival organizers made them sign a contract stating that they wouldn’t pay or welcome them back if he climbed anything; since in 2013 he climbed the scaffolding to the top of the tent. The crowd started to chant “Do it!” which appeared to be ignored until later in the show. Performing a plethora of songs from both Blurryface and Vessel, the boys didn’t miss a beat. During “Car Radio” Tyler ran across the field to the lighting scaffolding and climbed the stairs to the top where he threw his mask to the crowd. The coolest moment was when the crowd was given a drum set to hold up while Josh played it.
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A true gem of Sunday was Florence & The Machine‘s highly anticipated return to Bonnaroo. The band hasn’t been to the farm since their 2011 debut at This Tent, and they have certainly come a long way since. It’s amazingly exciting when you get to see a band return to the farm, moving from a tent to the What Stage; it’s almost like you’re a proud parent. When they took the stage, you could see the awe they felt looking out to a full field of Bonnaroovians, and their excitement to be there showed instantly. They jumped right into their high-energy set, giving the audience a few tracks from their recently released How Big How Blue How Beautiful, which they revealed was inspired by the welcoming atmosphere they feel America has provided them. Florence was a ball of energy, running, jumping and leaping across the stage during every song despite her still-healing foot that she broke while performing at Coachella in April. The set ended with the band’s first single which brought them to the farm for the first time: “Dog Days Are Over.” The crowd exploded into a dance party of epic proportions.
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I fell asleep in the field with the Soopergroop family waiting for Billy Joel and missed most of the show. I woke up with enough time to catch Billy Joel’s encore which consisted of “Uptown Girl,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Big Shot,” “You May Be Right” and “Only The Good Die Young.” From what I saw, he put on a great show but ended 45 minutes earlier than he was scheduled, which left a lot of people disappointed. Elton John rocked his piano for the entirety of his set when he played the year before. The crowd was still hungry for more, and the fact that we were being herded out didn’t leave you with enough time to soak everything in. The walk away from the stage is the saddest part of the whole weekend. Knowing you would be exiting the arch for the last time is even more depressing. The rest of the night was spent enjoying beers with my friends and camp neighbors while screaming “Church Boners” until we couldn’t anymore.
My fourth Bonnaroo was a great success and surpassed any expectations I had. I learned a lot about myself and got to reflect and analyze where I currently am in life and where I want to be. The farm helped me clear my mind and devise solid plans to reach my goals. The experience added great value to my life and once again served as a reminder of the importance of radiating positivity. I love you, Bonnaroo, with all of my heart. I will see all of you beautiful Bonnaroovians next year!
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