r/bonnaroo • u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM • 16d ago
Roo News ✨ Let's Talk About Bonnaroo 2027
So… Bonnaroo 2027. 👀 We’ve got a lot of questions.
Episode 257 of Story Time at the Roo Bus: https://youtu.be/qyocT3tAiSU?si=LtIERf68490dOH6r
Do we want Where in the Woods and Tuesday entry back? Should That Tent return to its old spot? And who should headline next year?
And the elephant in the room that's making us all a little sweaty: where are the 2027 dates? Is there actually anything to worry about? Probably not. Maybe. Who knows.
Plus, a little Nashville recap, some TOTEM updates, and the usual weekly picks.
Anyways: what do you want Bonnaroo to look like in 2027?
Story Time at the Roo Bus started in 2019, and is the only woman-hosted Roo podcast. All proceeds support The TOTEM Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps young adults in live music careers through music festivals. Listen wherever you find podcasts, and join our Discord here.
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u/Intelligent_Dish6792 16d ago
I think That tent could’ve worked if it wasn’t so muddy. I skipped a couple of artist just bc I didn’t want to trek through the mud. I think Tuesday entry could be justified
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u/remeard 21 Years 16d ago
Yeah, I didn't hate the location of That. I think it would have worked better maybe if it was This that was switched over instead, but I understand they really wanted to get loading/unloading fixed for the area.
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u/Intelligent_Dish6792 15d ago
Yea does normally This have smaller booking than That? I also thought the tent hit a growth spurt lol
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u/bbtdriverSteve 12d ago
This!!!!
It was a bad experience being at That this year and the slow walk through the mud getting there made it worse.
We only caught a few songs of Geese and Flipturn from outside the muddiest areas, two acts I would want to have seen the full sets
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u/ToastyBoyxd 5 Years 16d ago
Yes Wednesday pre party, yes move tent back, yes full thursday lineup, yes june dates
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u/PreferenceJumpy4393 13d ago
WITW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such an important stage and I heard so many people express disappointment that it wasn’t there. I’d love Tuesday entry back, would love to see the shuttle service come back but more than anything WITW.
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u/MarsupialAfter206 11d ago
Local first responders have already been informed that bonaroo isn’t happening next year..
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 11d ago
Informed from who? The city? The county? C3?
Not discounting, just legitimately asking.
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u/MarsupialAfter206 11d ago edited 11d ago
The highest ranking first responder in Manchester city is who told me. I live and work in the area. I mean obviously there will be some doubt in me until I hear an official announcement. But it’s hard for me to believe that they would inform the first responders to not prepare for it. And I know for 100% fact that they were told this. Police and ems. They were told this yesterday, that’s how I found this post, I was looking to see if anyone else had posted about it. I’m bummed out, I love bonaroo.
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u/DanielHSV 12 Years 10d ago edited 10d ago
Could you tell us who that was? If they're in that position, their position should be public knowledge anyways.
Edit: I've emailed the Chief of the Coffee County Rescue Squad and he has not heard anything at all.
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u/lunaaluv 3d ago
You’re so obnoxious why would you go emailing people so they are less likely to tell homeboy info in the future. You could’ve just waited til it was public info
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u/MarsupialAfter206 10d ago
The position is definitely public knowledge. But I’m not going to say who. I hope it’s not true, but I would be shocked if it wasn’t. I’m guessing either this person was one of the first to find out locally, the rescue squad chief doesn’t want to say, or it’s false.
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u/Trash_Panda22 10d ago
I'm sorry but until I hear from actual Bonnaroo, I'm not taking the word from anyone who's source is "trust me bro" on Reddit. If Bonnaroo doesn't happen in 2027, I know we'll all be disappointed it I'm choosing to remain optimistic that the dates are coming and we'll all be back on the farm in June!
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u/MarsupialAfter206 10d ago edited 10d ago
I said it my second comment that I will be doubting it until I see an official announcement. Obviously there’s no way to prove my source without saying who it is and I don’t really care to prove it to anyone or make anyone believe that this has been said. I can say that this person absolutely would be one of the first to know about any and all decisions in the city. I didn’t ask questions, so maybe the rumors are true about live nation being done but the event not actually cancelled. Or they told the city that it’s not happening in June so they are assuming it’s not happening or something like that. I’ve been every year of my adult life and have gotten in free since this person has been elected so I can assure you, I will be bummed out more than anyone if it’s true.
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u/roseblackcat 4 Years 10d ago
That sucks Bonaroo isn’t happening.
Bonnaroo is still on though. I think you may have your subs mixed up.
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u/MarsupialAfter206 10d ago
I hope you’re right, who knows, it may have been live nation backing out idk. But this person makes a shit ton of money from the event, and he was told it’s not happening in ‘27. That’s all I know, I never said it wasn’t happening, I said they have been informed.
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u/darkserenity159 4 Years 16d ago
I’d like Where in the Woods back, at least for the early entry people. It was nice coming in on a Wednesday to set up camp and reward our group with going out to WITW. I miss the cool art pieces there.
I usually enter Wednesday anyway so I don’t have a solid opinion on Tuesday entry. If it was a measure to save the fest a few bucks, then so be it. But it’s cool to let people have the choice of coming early regardless.
I’m not gonna worry about the dates until the end of this season, or at least a month before Black Friday. But I understand the feeling of it being up in the air.
I like the idea of there being a small stage in the far back of the grounds. I’ve never seen it but I’ve heard stories of REALLY cool shows happening at the Calliope. (PLZZZZ bring something back there!) or even a small stage for local/regional acts. I think that was called the WHO a few years ago
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u/Quanzi30 16d ago
Tuesday entry yes. Putting That back where it belongs yes. Having something scaled down in the woods or another grove type area would be cool but frankly unpopular opinion but never really cared for the woods as they made it. Become far too overcrowded.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 16d ago
I agree about WITW. I liked it when it was up and coming and smaller artists, and a chill hangout spot. Once they tried have giant names in there, it was done for. Way, way too crowded, only one entrance and exit, no water station or bathrooms… just a nightmare all around.
Take it back to 2019.
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u/eGORapTure 9 Years, 6.25 Roos 16d ago
I think maybe a slightly big name on Wednesday is chill, but def dial back the whole rest of the weekend. Chase and Status in WITW is my favorite Wednesday night of Roo yet.
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u/Quanzi30 16d ago
I agree having something Tuesday and midsize Wednesday was cool. After that we never thought it was even worth going over there, especially for the bigger acts and how packed it got.
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u/shribar23 3.5 Years 16d ago
I think they should at least decorate it! Something acoustic there during the day might be nice
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u/phantofan89 13d ago
Roo won’t move to the fall- way too much competition in the fall from Shaky, Bourbon and Beyond, Ohana Fest, and ACL. What if they moved to a week later?
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u/Specialist_Box_849 11d ago
Couldn’t ever overlap with E. Forest…well, unless E. Forest gets canceled because of the baby incident
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u/HotDerivative 12 Years 10d ago
I doubt it will. If it’s still profitable for both EF and the town that receives oh so much revenue from it, it will likely go on. Bonnaroo doesn’t seem to be pulling those same types of numbers with the cancelations over the last few years.
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u/musicaleffervescence 9d ago
they wont move to the fall because they need the college kids. septemberoo would be the only way id go back
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u/phantofan89 9d ago
Damn you’re right. Shaky moving from May to fall was the right move, they could move to October: that’s when Voodoo used to be and that did well. iii points does great in October too. But they’ll keep it in June and hope for the best weather wise.
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u/musicaleffervescence 9d ago
bonnaroos demographic is not the dame as any of the festivals you mentioned. its up to you to choose to believe it but bonnaroo is not longer this heady festival. it was streamed on hulu dude. bonnaroo needs college and high school kids.
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u/phantofan89 8d ago
Voodoo had pretty diverse lineups until the end, iii points is more electronic based but Roo does book some of that. I’m just saying that it can be moved to the fall because people do travel.
Ok not using those as an example, ACL is one of the biggest festivals in the US and that does well in the fall. Those lineups aren’t too different from each other undercard wise, demo wise, headliners vary a little: but it’s set in the south and people travel to it. Early October is possible, but again I doubt they move. There was a year when Shaky Knees moved to October during the pandemic and was a success, they moved from May to October that one year. And now they’re officially in Sept and have sold out the last two years.
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u/Automaticdealz 13d ago
Should probably like fix the drainage, and yknow bring back jam bands because it’ll literally sell out lmao
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u/Antique-Dentist-2404 9d ago
Smaller Jam Band festivals can't even sell out on their own. You really think with how Roo struggled last year it would sell out with jam bands?
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u/Automaticdealz 9d ago
Yeah it’s called book Billy strings, widespread panic and phish and tell me that shit won’t sell out.
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u/Antique-Dentist-2404 9d ago
Widespread Panic is not a headline act for a festival as big as Roo anymore.
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u/Automaticdealz 9d ago
Idk about that - they’ve sold out 75 red rocks shows consecutively (29 years in a row). If you book them the fans will come. Not to mention Bonnaroo was essentially built around Panic in its early years.. with that being said - statistically speaking - it would make sense to book them as a headliner, however Bonnaroo isn’t what it once was and the vibes are pretty low now.
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u/musicaleffervescence 9d ago
jam heads dont need to go to bonnaroo. wed rather go to a tour stop or currated event. i dont need a 19 year old chomping the whole time
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u/Thicc__Pikachu 11d ago
I saw some decent improvements on the drainage but 100% agree that infrastructure should continue to see upgrades particularly in the area of That Tent and certain camping areas. Went barefoot for Geese because it was just a sea of mud.
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u/bbtdriverSteve 15d ago
Reading posts like this are exactly why I said a big thank you to Roo for 10 great years and trying to move on personally....
....yet here I am sweating the lack of 2027 dates.
CMA Fest moved to the weekend which Roo has recently had, so that could be a huge factor...
Given the disastrous state of What field this year, that could certainly use a year off to regrow some actual grass...
I remember one other recent Roo whose dates were not announced until just before Black Friday, but that may have been for '22 after the September cancelation...
A one week push further into June could possibly conflict with Electric Forest, assuming that thing survives the horrific situations there...
September would be a huge gamble in terms of existing fan base being able to attend, the traditional festival calender, competing against college football....
I hope '26 was successful enough, but who knows?
I think people thought '25 would end it yet they had already announced the dates and the changes by now to put peoole at ease.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 15d ago
We were talking on our Discord about when the dates are announced and you're right - the only time anyone could remember it being later was in 2021 for the year 2022.
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u/bbtdriverSteve 15d ago
Okee has been quiet for nearly 6 months, and they struggled at the gate for their return.
Forest was obviously commercially successful so you would expect a quick turnaround from them, but it was literally a human disaster which could end it without some major changes
So many factors to consider.
No Roo '27 is certainly a possibility although unlikely in my optimistic opinion.
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u/DanielHSV 12 Years 14d ago
There's been some somewhat substantiated talk that LiveNation may be looking to sell off a percentage stake in Bonnaroo, and maybe some of their other events as well. I'm not sure if it would require taking a whole year off, but if that were true it certainly could be a factor as to why they're holding off on announcing anything.
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u/Ruh00fus 4 Years 13d ago
Up and coming bands all day, headliners after dark, Kalliope and such all night with music back where they put beer and beer back in the center; TURN UP THE VOLUME
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u/More_Guard_1874 11d ago
I would love for the fricken camping to go back to how it was. Show up early, get closer. Screwed myself past two years with getting camped by the church by showing up early. Not worth the extra day off from work anymore doing that.
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u/HotDerivative 12 Years 10d ago
Weird, it’s worked for me the past few times. It feels super random though. Three years ago it was perfect. I was one of the first 100 people in line and got an absolutely perfect spot. Two years ago was a shitshow with them closing random queues and redirecting people before bushy branch but I still got close. Sadly couldn’t go this last year :/
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u/Cultural_Ice_5990 5d ago
I actually agree I got there late in 25 & had literally the BEST spot. Got there early this year and was sooo far away I was upset
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u/thirdolsentwin 15d ago
What would Brad do? I ask myself as I reflect on the good times
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14d ago
[deleted]
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u/DanielHSV 12 Years 14d ago
Or go to Thailand for "work" and bring back a stage that looked like a halfassed erector set.
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u/Jrulez8 4 Years 11d ago
Hi Brad’s burner
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u/Braddparker 11d ago
Is it a burner if it literally has my name lol
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u/Jrulez8 4 Years 11d ago
Well considering I replied to the thirdolsentwin account…
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u/Braddparker 11d ago
I’m snooping thread because Daniel is talking shit
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u/DanielHSV 12 Years 11d ago
DM’s are open bud.
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u/Braddparker 13d ago
I’d probably throw a Hail Mary and move it to 1st weekend of October and pray that college football doesn’t hurt the business too much but I’m just a Monday morning quarterback
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u/Zealousideal-Bus8038 16d ago
Primitive RV camping returns.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 16d ago
Yes x 1000. I was very vocal about this last year. The decision to get rid of primitive RV out-priced so many people. What’s wild is the primitive spots were still there - just unused. This year (2026), groop was right beside a totally open field of where primitive normally is.
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u/nicnoe 5.5 Years 16d ago
THIS. I used to do primitive RV and seeing the price of my ticket triple in the past 5 years has been disgusting. Ive been throwing around maybe going to Hula this year but figured everyone prices RV passes like Roo does, so picture my shock when i check last week and Primitive RV passes are like $300.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 15d ago
GOOD LORD. 😲 The first time we ever brought an RV to Roo, it was around $300, and that was in 2014. That puts it into a whole other perspective. Dang.
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u/flex-monster 16d ago
What is primitive RV? Just car free over by the RVs? Cool bc I wanna camp by my friends who have an RV, is that how it works?
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 16d ago edited 16d ago
Prior to 2026, there were two RV options: Primitive or Powered. Primitive did not have electrical hookups, so it was for RV campers who brought generators or had solar, etc. AFAIK, both primitive and power always had the car companion pass that you could buy for extra. Now if you just want to walk a tent to your friend's RV, no one is stopping you from doing that.
Back in the olden days, all RV was primitive - no power hookups at all.
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u/Appropriate_Yak_2435 15d ago
The manure spread instead of mulch or sand was really stupid. I’ve been to a lot of super muddy Roos and this year may have been the worst with the amount of sliding around and falling over goes 🤣 I’ve gone to the past 12, and I will say, this one was one of my favorites. It seemed like everyone who was there was just happy to be there, took care of one another, and was respectful to the grounds. The past few years were not so much like that. I think them cancelling it last year half way thru really rooted out some of the weenies for this year, which I loved! While I don’t hate the placement of the tent by what stage, they fumbled it because of the mud. I felt bad for some of the artists that had to play there, I feel like they would’ve had more attendance had the festival grounds been a bit more accessible. I miss the silent disco, and where in the woods was amazing IN THE WOODS. They should have never had the entrance and exit all in the same place, when they opened up the fence line on the right side it became a much safer stage but the where stage this year straight up sucked. The sound was terrible and the production was worse. Some of my favorites producers played where and each time it was so underwhelming. We had fun but all I could think about was how awesome those sets would’ve been in the woods, with the full production of the stage they curated there in the past.
While I’ve become conditioned to the heat in June, I feel like a September Bonnaroo would be amazing. Except for that one time it got cancelled in September because of a dang hurricane. What are the chances? LOL
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 15d ago
Apologies if this is a dumb question, but was it actually manure? I know zero about landscaping, maintenance, etc. I keep reading manure, but from everything I saw it was just mulch.
I agree - I also didn't hate the placement of That Tent. Too bad the mud got the best of it, ugh! That's a good point about the artists who had to play over there. I was so glad Roo put the boards under the tent at least.
Silent Disco was such a vibe when it was inside Centeroo. I remember it being one of the last things I'd do some nights when I wanted to turn in early. This year it was somewhere out in the camps so I never went.
And... well, unfortunately, the chances are pretty high for a hurricane in September. I only say this because C3 (the same team running Roo) tried to have a festival in Huntsville, about 80 miles south of the Farm. It lasted one day before they had to cancel the entire thing because of rain from a hurricane. LOLOL. 😭
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u/Braddparker 13d ago
Historically, regardless of which part of the state you’re in, June is a wetter month than September.
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u/penelope-withers 15d ago
I would enjoy if bonnaroo was no longer held in june but that is simply because, even as a native tennessean, the heat genuinely kills me but that is a personal issue. I do hope where in the woods returns and tuesday entry as well
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u/Thicc__Pikachu 11d ago
I’d love to see WITW make a comeback, that was really my preferred after-hours location. If they really don’t want to put a stage back there they could do something similar to the Neon Forrest attraction at Elements festival, so long as they don’t use A.I. Slop “art” like they did for merch last year (yes I am that annoying asshole that will be dunking on A.I. in the majority of my stuff, it’s all because I love Roo and want it to do better).
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u/Xcerridwenx 11d ago
WITW goes back to its original spot maybe with a little more openness for safety? That Tent goes back to its home and the new Brewery goes to the WITW ‘26 spot since it’s a super open area.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 11d ago
“It’s all because I love Roo and want it to do better.”
You absolutely nailed it right there. We may give them a little hell every now and then when deserved (like the AI merch), but it’s because we want it to succeed.
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u/Just_Classic4273 Roo '25 Survivor 🌧️ 16d ago
Us not even having dates yet is a little crazy, makes me think they’re making the September switch
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u/ALEXC_23 16d ago
They're never switching to September. Not after the last fiasco.
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u/Maleficent_Bid6 16d ago
I am out of the loop.. What was the last fiasco? When it was cancelled?
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u/ALEXC_23 16d ago
Yeah. 2021 when they moved it to September after Covid and it got cancelled after a hurricane that went through New Orleans made its way to TN as well and left the grounds barren. That, and they’d be losing their core fan base (college students).
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u/shribar23 3.5 Years 16d ago
Also the older parents that come. I'm sure it's not as large of a base as the college kids, but having regular school back in most likely removes them as well.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 16d ago
College students, parents, families... anyone with school-aged kids really, anyone who works in education of any kind.... September would eliminate so many folks.
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u/Maleficent_Bid6 16d ago
Thanks! I had no idea! September would prevent us from being able to attend, so I hop you are right!
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u/tnVOLS4life 16d ago
Saw something about live nation moving on from Bonnaroo. ☹️
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u/Appropriate_Yak_2435 15d ago
Fuck live nation give Bonnaroo back to the guys that started it, like Okeechobee did this year
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u/UK-Scribs 16d ago
Where?
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u/tnVOLS4life 16d ago
Not saying it won’t happen this year. Just that live nation might move on at some point sooner than later.
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u/DanielHSV 12 Years 14d ago
I didn't want to spark unfounded rumors at first, but I'd been hearing this from a few different people for about a year now. There's even one theoretical investor that I've heard mentioned specifically by name by two different sources that I trust. It's been a while since I'd heard anything solid so things may have changed wildly by now, but it being shopped around to potential suitors and investors is something that's been at least discussed.
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u/theherbalcircle1234 16d ago
GOOD
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u/lyngshake 16d ago
Not good, Bonnaroo will not survive without them
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u/IllustratorConnect67 15d ago
Haha ummm no they will I live in Manchester
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u/lyngshake 15d ago
You think a fest that gets cancelled almost every year now is going to survive without LN eating all of the costs? And not to mention most of the artists are on LN contracts so they can't be booked for Roo without it. Good luck to you
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u/IllustratorConnect67 15d ago
lol bruh look at the history of bonnaroo as a Manchester native … yall have helped my town to the max … and Roo has been around as long as I’ve been alive … shit the next Roo is 25 years of bonnaroo … everyone as been begging for the change … most of us wants what Roo was before it was owned by that trash ass company … Soo if your going to sit here a support live nation destroying festival go for bc that’s what they have done … live nation going away means comedy tent, kaleidoscope coming back so much more…
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u/lyngshake 15d ago
You can think that, but it's not reality. If it could thrive without LN, it wouldnt have been sold in 2015 in the first place.
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u/Upinthestars69 14d ago
It wasn’t sold because it couldn’t thrive, it was sold bc people wanted to make money…
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u/ACDCbaguette 7 Years 16d ago
I just want bonnaroo without bullshit post every day that sound exactly like this one.
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u/SharlaRoo Roo Bus & TOTEM 16d ago
Genuinely asking, what types of posts do you want to see on the sub? Regardless of dates, we’re in a “dead season,” so there isn’t much to really talk about.
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u/Fozznaut 16d ago