Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival: The one thing that can bring thousands flocking to Tennessee in the middle of June...and with good reason. 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of Bonnaroo, a festival which began as largely a jam band-centric event in 2002. It has expanded into a music, film, and comedy Mecca that includes acts ranging from Arcade Fire and Buffalo Springfield to Eminem and Lil Wayne. There are multiple stages, as well as tents for film screenings and comedy showcases. Not to mention Bonnaroo lasts a day longer than most of it's 3-day festival counterparts. Below are three bands that are definitely worth the humidity to catch:
WHO: Band of Skulls
WHAT: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
WHERE: Manchester, TN
WHEN: June 9th-12th, 2011
WHY: In the vein of The Black Keys and The White Stripes before them, Band of Skulls is a fantastic blues-rock band out of Southampton, England. You may be familiar with their track "Light of the Morning" from the recent Ford Mustang campaign, but you haven't heard Band of Skulls until you've seen them live. If you can't catch them at Bonnaroo this year, make sure to make it out to one of their (always sold out) small venue shows filled with diehard fans before everyone else catches on.
Photo Credit: Pred2k
WHO: Cold War Kids
WHAT: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
WHERE: Manchester, TN
WHEN: June 9th-12th, 2011
WHY: An indie rock band that has never fully gotten the credit they deserve. Tracks like "Hang Me Up To Dry," "Hospital Beds," and "Louder Than Ever" stand out among alternative rock songs from the past decade. Whether you see them plugged in or performing an acoustic set, Cold War Kids always put on a good show filled with both vocal and instrumental talent. Should provide a very nice soundtrack for an evening in Tennessee.
Photo Credit: Bahoolala
WHO: The Head and The Heart
WHAT: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
WHERE: Manchester, TN
WHEN: June 9th-12th, 2011
WHY: One of the newest bands on the lineup, The Head and The Heart is an folk-pop band from Seattle, WA. Similar to The Arcade Fire, they are a large band featuring not only drums and guitar, but piano, violin, and a mix of male and female vocals. They've opened for the likes of Dave Matthews, The Decemberists, and Death Cab for Cutie, and they have a very addicting track in "Lost In My Mind." Another exciting find from Sub Pop.
Photo Credit: Alaina Buzas