By Jeremy Grandison
June 11, 2024
Bonnaroo, one of the country’s premier festivals, will return to The Farm in Manchester, Tennessee with over 150 acts covering a diverse range of music and entertainment this weekend. Founded in 2002, Bonnaroo has maintained its community vibes and eclectic spirit living up to their name, which in French Creole slang means “having a good time” or more literally, “best on the streets.”
The four-day event will feature headlining acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pretty Lights, Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Cage The Elephant, and countless others, spanning a multitude of genres. This year’s annual Super Jam will be emo themed, titled “Once More With Feelings,” hosted by Dashboard Confessional, featuring surprise genre crossovers and special guests.
The Farm also provides numerous non-music activities for attendees as well. To beat the heat, you can cool off in the iconic Mushroom Fountain or glide down the Big Ass Water Slide. Attendees looking to decompress can find solace in Planet Roo, an area designated for relaxation and wellness, or take a ride on the Ferris wheel to soak in the views of the 700-acre farm.
Bonnaroo’s devotion to long-term sustainability hasn’t gone unnoticed as well. The festival received the Outstanding Certification by A Greener Future in 2009, the non-profit organization’s highest honor for a festival. A Greener Future has helped festivals prioritize event sustainability since 2005, creating the world’s first green event and festival certification. Bonnaroo’s ability to remain carbon neutral since 2008 has allowed the festival to offset the equivalent of 3,524 tons of waste that would have otherwise been diverted to landfills.
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Roo has thrived because of its community atmosphere, inclusiveness, expansive music lineups, and their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This year will mark the 21st time thousands will make the pilgrimage to the Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee.
Before you head out to the festival, here are a few additional things you might want to know:
Centeroo
Centeroo is the main festival grounds composed of six stages (What Stage, Which Stage, Who Stage, The Other Stage, This Tent, and That Tent) in addition to vendor villages, premium lounges, a ferris wheel, late-night wedding chapel (House of Matroomony), and countless other spaces and activities. Attendees can enter and exit Centeroo as they please, with the grounds open non-stop from 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16 at 10 p.m.
Outeroo
Outeroo is home to six campground plazas. Each plaza provides its own lineup of curated events and activations, incentivizing attendees to explore every inch of the outer festival grounds. Attendees can hit up Where In The Woods to hear abstract performances from the hottest EDM acts, play pinball, enjoy chill hangout spots, and dance floors. The House of Yes will host their annual parades, theatre shows, and dance parties. The Groop Galatea plaza encourages Bonnaroovians to make life-long friends by participating in Camp Redarco’s annual craft beer exchange, yoga sessions with Laurel Englesson, and even clothing swaps hosted by Bottom Knox.
Camping Options
Outeroo offers eight camping and parking options on site:
- Roo Galaxy: General Admission + Early Entry ($125)
- Mars Colony: Souvenir Tent ($625, up to two campers allowed)
- Moon Colony: Glamping (starts at $525)
- Starship Spaceport: RV Camping (starts at $625)
- Area 931: Backstage Camping (starts at $1555)
- Basecamp: Accessible Camping (starts at $125)
- Quasar Collective: Community Camps ($110)
- Cosmic Nomads: Day Parking (starts at $40)
The campgrounds will open Tuesday, June 11 at 12 p.m and early entry for Wednesday and Thursday will open at 8 a.m. each morning. The campgrounds will close following the festival on Monday, June 17 at 12 p.m.
Food Trucks
Food vendors will be stationed throughout both Centeroo and Outeroo, providing attendees with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to accommodate all dietary needs. From a quick slice or a burger to one of their many international offerings, Bonnaroo’s food options are vast, and you can check out the full list and locations here.
Bag Policy
Most bags are permitted in the campgrounds, however, attendees should note what items will be permitted when entering Centeroo.
- Small purses and bags that are 6” x 9” do not need to be clear, but cannot have more than one pocket.
- All other bags larger than 6” x 9” must be smaller than 12” x 6” x 12” and clear.
- Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but cannot have more than two total pockets. All liquid in hydration packs must be emptied before entering
- All bags will be searched before entry
Attendees will be allowed to bring in certain items when entering the campgrounds, including alcohol, food and drinks, portable camping grills, generators, instruments, and camping tools. You can check out the full list of what’s allowed/prohibited here.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed at Bonnaroo. To help you decide who to see, here are a few acts we’re looking forward to.
Khruangbin
Friday at 8:45 p.m. (What Stage)
Khruangbin and Bonnaroo are a match made in musical heaven. The talented Houston-based psychedelic instrumental rock trio composed of Laura Lee Ochoa (bass), Mark Speer (guitar), and Donald Johnson (drums, keyboards), formed in 2009. Their name translates to “engine fly” or “airplane” in Thai, representing the band’s formation through a melting pot of influences. The band maintains their unique and nuanced grooves by separating themselves when writing songs, in order to add their own individual flavors. In April, Khruangbin embarked on an international tour on the heels of their fourth studio album, A La Salsa. There’s something for everyone in their music, as they blend elements of surf-rock, jazz, funk, and hip-hop.
Joey Bada$$
Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (That Tent)
The Brooklyn rapper and actor gained national recognition as a teenager for his uncanny talent for freestyling, releasing his first mixtape 1999 in 2012 at just 17. Known for his introspective Golden Era flows, he has released three studio albums: B4.Da.$$. (2015), All-Amerikkkan Badass (2017), and 2000 (2022). His talents extend from the studio to television, as he has appeared in 13 episodes of Mr. Robot as the character Leon, Power Book III: Raising Kanan as Unique, and the first season of Wu-Tang: An American Saga as Inspectah Deck. Releasing three singles so far in 2024 (“DENiM” featuring IDK, “Vertino” featuring Conway the Machine, and “Passports & Suitcases” featuring KayCyy), Joey Bada$$ is gearing up to drop a new album later this year, which attendees may hear a preview of during his debut Bonnaroo set.
Megan Thee Stallion
Sunday at 7:15 p.m. (What Stage)
Megan Thee Stallion kicked down the doors of rap in 2019 with hit singles “Hot Girl Summer,” featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign, and “Cash Shit,” featuring DaBaby. The Houston native captured the nation’s attention with her bodacious lifestyle, while also empowering women and emphasizing self love. One year later, Meg collaborated with Cardi B for the 2020 track of the summer “WAP,” which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four non-consecutive weeks atop the chart. The rapper was named Best New Artist at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, and became the first female artist to win Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for the remix of “Savage” featuring Beyonce. Meg embarked on her Hot Girl Summer Tour in mid-May, and is scheduled to release his third studio album, Megan, later this month (June 28), so her Bonnaroo set is sure to be a memorable one.
Cage The Elephant
Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (What Stage)
On the heels of their most recent album, Neon Pill, Cage The Elephant is looking to make their fifth Bonnaroo performance their best yet. The electrifying rock band composed of brothers Matt (vocals) and Brad Shultz (rhythm guitar), Nick Bockrath (lead guitar), Matthan Minster (guitar, keyboards), Daniel Tichenor (bass), and Jared Champion (drums) won the Grammy for Best Rock Album for their last two projects, Tell Me I’m Pretty and Social Cues. Known for Matt’s over the top theatrics and spirited sets, 2024 should be a stirring return for the Roo veterans.
Pretty Lights
Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (What Stage)
Sunday at 3:30 a.m. (The Other Stage)
Derek Vincent Smith, also known as Pretty Lights, has returned to the scene after a five-year hiatus, announcing his comeback with the Soundship Space System Tour. In an Instagram post, Smith stated, “I feel recharged and more ready than ever to launch a new vision of PL music and events.” The bass artist is a pioneer in the EDM community, serving as a mentor to big time acts like Odesza and GRiZ. This year will be Smith’s fourth time gracing a stage on The Farm and he’ll be performing two different sets over the weekend. Pretty Lights’ music relies heavily on sampling, interweaving hip-hop, funk, and soul, accompanied by bass-heavy beats. He also takes pride in creating new auditory and visual experiences for his fans by deploying multi-lensed lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, and modular synthesizers to create live remixes of his songs. Pretty Lights’ newfound inspirations will surely translate into his performances, making his highly anticipated return a priority for EDM fans.
Check out the full 2024 lineup, schedule and information on tickets from the official Bonnaroo website.
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