Bonnaroo 2016: Short Lightning Delay Can’t Stop Saturday Music!
Saturday at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a difficult thing to describe to someone who has never experienced this festival before. Attendees have hit their stride and tapped in to the pulse of ‘Roo. As temperatures continued to climb, finding your rhythm in what can be an overwhelming experience becomes more and more important.
The heat didn’t stop an amazing day of tunes and treats, though! The amazing Grace Potter kicked things off for us on the main stage and set the tone for the day (amazing, in case you were at all curious). Yet another day of stacked performances by Two Door Cinema Club, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Haim, and Bonnaroo vets Clutch were only part of what was available to be heard.
What apparently can stop a day of tunes, however, is lightning. After a brief storm rolled through that closed Centeroo and cut Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ set short, we were up and running again and only an hour behind schedule. Macklemore even came back out and finished his set. Not a single moment of awesome was missed, albeit slightly delayed. The excitement of the commotion ignited a new energy in the crowd as the day got longer, making for an even more memorable night.
Though slightly delayed, Ellie Goulding and other started their sets and wowed the crowd, making way for the night’s most anticipated appearance: Pearl Jam. From there the night was wide open. The Super Jam provided once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between the likes of Kamasi Washington, Allen Stone, Michelle Williams, GriZ, members of Lettuce and Vulfpeck and many more. Big Grams smashed it out of the park, RL Grime and Adventure Club kept the party jumping, while Kalliope brought it home ’til past sunrise with a surprise set from Cherub.
Behind the scenes even MORE was going on. AC Entertainment’s Jeff Cuellar (as well as MFN’s own Brian Hensley!) were awarded honorary keys to the city of Manchester, while Les Claypool also received the “Key to Coffee County” by Mayor of Manchester Lonnie Norman, Vice Mayor Ryan French, and Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell. It was a great reminder that while we all love Bonnaroo and consider this our home once a year, there is also a community of people who really DO call this place home. Without their support, Bonnaroo would never be able to be the amazing place it is for us. So remember to thank Manchester and Coffee County for opening up their homes and their hearts to us so that we can all share in the very special place together.
Sunday is already well on its way, and as we prepare to say our farewells to our beloved Bonnaroo, we realize there is still a whole day left!
Stay happy, stay hydrated, and we will see you out on the Farm for one last hoorah!
