Bonnaroo Music Festival History: A Vibe Through The Decades

There’s something magical about music festivals they bring out the best in people. The good energy, open air, bright lights, and wild outfits? It doesn’t get much better. Plus, festivals have this way of bringing everyone together. Time fades, there’s no rush it’s just you, the music, and a crowd of people riding the same wave of excitement. And if you’ve listened to this episode of She’s So Lucky, you know that moments like these are valuable AF. 

We just explored the history of Coachella, and now it’s time to dive into a whole new experience the Bonnaroo Music Festival. From iconic headliners to that real “on the farm in Manchester” experience, this festival is all good vibes. But Bonnaroo isn’t just any ordinary experience. It’s rooted in community, discovery, and a little organized chaos.

To truly appreciate the Bonnaroo Music Festival, you’ve gotta understand how it started and how it’s evolved. It’s truly a gem hidden in the sea of summer music festivities let’s talk about it!

Bonnaroo Music Festival History: A Vibe Through The Decades

If you took Gabby Windey’s advice and decided to skip out on Coachella this year, we get it. But Bonnaroo? That’s one festival you don’t wanna miss and you won’t regret splurging on. Good Instincts reminded us to take a beat for slow girl summer but that can start after Bonnaroo! Until then, we’re here to break things down in a way that’s fun, quick, and full of energy no dry timelines here. 

Whether you’ve been to Bonnaroo more times than you can count or it’s your first time hearing about it, get ready to be blown away. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to grab your tickets and finally get why people say it’s so much more than just a music and arts festival.

What Is Bonnaroo Music Festival?

Bonnaroo is a legendary four-day music festival that’s been held on “The Farm” since its first debut. (Don’t worry; we’ll get more into the location in a sec.) Since 2002, this festival has truly stood to fans and artists alike. There’s always a never-ending iconic lineup, new and exciting events to enjoy, and plenty of places to set up camp with your friends. 

But let’s be real; it’s not just the music that makes Bonnaroo as popular as it is. The hot summer nights camping under the stars, discovering your new favorite undiscovered artist, and hanging out with a whole community of music lovers? Nothin’ beats it. Bonnaroo was a cultural reset, and it’s still being celebrated for the community it creates each year. 

And, since we’re on the topic of Bonnaroo’s strong sense of community, it’s worth mentioning where the festival got its name. “Bonnaroo” comes from a Creole slang phrase meaning “a good time” pretty fitting, right? 

Okay, okay! We’ll get into the juicy stuff now. Let’s deep dive into all of the different eras of Bonnaroo, shall we?

Where Is Bonnaroo Music Festival Held?

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is held every year at the Great Stage Park (AKA Bonnaroo Farm) right in the middle of Manchester, Tennessee. This farm is huge we’re talkin’ a 700-acre farm with another 100-acre entertainment village. From the live music sets during the day to bustling comedy clubs at night, you’ll never run out of things to do. So if you’re planning to head out for The Dear Media Edit in Nashville, treat yourself to an off-season look at “The Farm!”

The festival has become known for its uniquely divided areas: Centeroo (the main stage) and Outeroo (the camping area). In Centeroo, there’s “What Stage,” “Which Stage,” “That Tent,” “This Tent,” and “The Other Stage” easy enough, right??? And then, of course, “Outeroo” has the daytime lounges and plazas for activities.

You don’t have to camp at the farm when you go to Bonnaroo, but it’s a great way to really immerse yourself in the culture and get the whole experience. Because honestly, it’s not just any location it’s a space where love, creativity, and good times blend together. This episode of She’s So Lucky is a great reminder on why each of things are sooo powerful.

What Is The History Of Bonnaroo Music Festival?

The Beginning of Something Big: 2002

Picture this: it’s early 2001(ish), and promoter Ashley Capps (who also happens to be the founder of AC Entertainment) just finished planning the first-ever Bonnaroo Music Festival. Of course, hopes were high, and the energy was up, but he had no idea the turnout would be as iconic as it was. 

The inaugural Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival kicked off in June 2002 as an invigorating 3-day event. Fans experienced their first taste of the now-iconic “SuperJam” a collab set where artists join forces on stage and they were instantly hooked. Remember, Coachella was already in full swing by this point, meaning the large-scale festival scene was alive and thriving. But Bonnaroo didn’t want to be Coachella; it was creating a mood board to be like Coachella’s midwestern-southern younger sister. 

And honestly? Nailed it. The first year’s lineup featured artists like Widespread Panic and Jack Johnson, with a handful of other genres sprinkled in between. Some were established, some were just starting but that didn’t matter. About 70,000 attended that first year (which is a huge turn out for a festival’s first appearance), and the Bonnaroo was considered a success. 

Growing Pains and Glowing Nights: 2003–2006

As Bonnaroo grew, so did the lineup, attraction, and fanbase. This was when the bigger names started rolling in we saw Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and once again, Widespread Panic. Overall, Bonnaroo quickly became known for its incredibly diverse lineup and built-in camping culture. It still featured up-and-coming artists, but the legendary names drew the crowd in. 

To artists, Bonnaroo was the place to be. With longer set times than other festivals and the opportunity to spontaneously collaborate, the festival basically gave performers creative freedom. Which, in the long run, allowed artists to make each performance feel like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

It had a super laid-back, boho, free-spirited aesthetic. People would come, camp on the farm with their friends, prob turn on this episode of Dear Gabby, and just feel they could truly express themselves. Fortunately, this was only the beginning of Bonnaroo’s success. Due to its rising fame, Bonnaroo took the initiative to expand from a three-day festival to a four-day festival in 2006. 

Cultural Staple Emerges: 2007–2012

By the late 2000s, Bonnaroo earned its place as one of the most iconic music festivals in the United States. It became much more than a festival this is when people realized Bonnaroo was a cultural movement. Of course, there were rocky moments throughout these years, but what festival doesn’t have trials and tribulations? 

We saw a few oopsie-moments from artists (looking at you, Lily Allen), SuperJam took a hiatus in 2009 for the first time since the festival’s debut, and tragically, the event saw a rise in drug-related incidents throughout these years. Aside from the initial missteps, the festival kept climbing the ladder of success. 

As expected, in true Bonnaroo fashion, huge legends joined the stage. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pearl Jam and Jay-Z performed, making this the hot spot for both artists and fans. The music became more diverse, people from all walks of life joined the crowd, and more and more tents were pitched along the skirts of the farm. 

Overall, things looked pretty good for the Bonnaroo Music Festival, especially when they hit their highest attendance rate in 2012, with a whopping 100,000 attendees. 

Expanding Horizons: 2013–2016

As if we thought the Bonnaroo community couldn’t expand anymore, this was the era in which they introduced even more music genres. They still stuck to their iconic jam band roots, but Bonnaroo embraced a wider range of EDM to hip-hop artists. Festival-goers now knew they could experience everything, from unforgettable live shows to legendary throwback tributes.

The years 2013 to 2015 were booming with success. In 2013, Paul McCartney delivered a three-hour set… honestly, that alone defined the year. In 2014, Kanye West returned to the stage, Skillrex and artists like A$AP Ferg teamed up for a wildly successful SuperJjam, and there was a… silent disco? Then, in 2015, headliners artists like Billy Joel and Kendrick Lamar took center stage, comedians brought some laughs, and fans got new “luxuries” flushable toilets. 

2016 is when things get a little tricky for Bonnaroo. For years, the festival welcomed a typical crowd of 80,000. But in 2016? Ticket sales dropped by 38%, bringing attendance down to about 45,000. There’s still a bit of confusion about why this happened, but most people say it could be due to increased competition, a weaker lineup than seen in the past, and straight-up festival fatigue. 

Between Coachella, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Bonnaroo, people had to start being picky about which festival they wanted to attend. What does this mean for Bonnaroo? Any slight bump in the road, and they were out of sight, out of mind.

New Sounds, Same Spirit: 2017–2019

Fortunately, stress was short-lived for Bonnaroo’s organizers. The crowd went up by 43% (totaling about 65,000); not the best they’ve ever seen, but hey! It could’ve been worse, right? 2017 was the year that Bonnaroo finally dedicated a stage for hip-hop and dance music, calling it “The Other.” Here, fans could find all-night dancing, EDM music, hip-hop legends the whole nine. It was a super smart move on the festival’s part; people were hooked again!

In true Bonnaroo fashion, the 2018 lineup featured diverse artists, from Eminem to Paramore. Fans from every music genre were totally back in for the Bonnaroo vibes. 2019 featured a new space called “Where In The Woods,” home to treehouse-like stages and creative art installations. Oh, and we can’t forget the iconic tribute Bonnaroo paid to the Dr. John album, “Desitively Bonnaroo.” It was a legendary moment for all attendees.

Even though the world had evolved since Bonnaroo’s first debut, one thing remained the same: this was where people could have fun, let loose, and enjoy a much-needed escape.

Resilience and Reinvention: 2020–2025

Of course, thanks to COVID, Bonnaroo had to close its doors and put a pause on the festival in 2020. They originally planned to reschedule for September, but as expected, they had to cancel that, too. This was absolutely not up to Bonnaroo but fans were still disappointed. And honestly, can you blame them? Tame Impala was supposed to headline!

Annddddd, here we go again in 2021. Bonnaroo had to cancel once more, which, again, is totally not their fault. COVID was still raging, so they rescheduled to September again, and then Hurricane Ida came through and caused widespread flooding. Props to them for putting the safety of fans and artists above making money, though, right?

Bonnaroo is back in 2022 after their two-year hiatus, and they weren’t effing around. Stages got makeovers, the farm got things like pedicabs and cooling sights, and headliners included STEVIE NICKS??? Iconic. We’re getting FOMO just talking about it. 2023 and 2024 were also strong comeback years, with ticket sales climbing back to 85,000 and fans thrilled to see a fresh lineup of the hottest new artists. 

Bonnaroo 2025 is gonna be held June 12–15 (you still have time to buy tickets!) at none other than “The Farm” in Manchester, Tennessee. With expected performers like Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, and Hozier? Yeah, it’s gonna be one for books. 

Doesn’t diving into Bonnaroos’ history make you appreciate it that much more?

If you’ve done your research on music festival history, then you already know that some festivals really go through it. And in comparison, the Bonnaroo Music Festival has had pretty consistent success. Thanks to the strong culture, insanely talented lineups, and never-ending upgrades, Bonnaroo def deserves its iconic reputation. 

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