** RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT ID ** Earth Wind & Fire’s Verdine White, left, and Ralph Johnson, right, perform alongside Chicago’s James Pankow, center, as the two bands play Friday, July 10, 2009 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo/The Courier, Eric S. Swist)If you think the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is just another gig for the famous and wannabe-famous musicians who play it, think again.
When the guys in Mumford & Sons were told Bonnaroo wanted them to headline this year, they hunkered down in the studio to make sure their latest CD, “Wilder Mind,” would be out in time, and decided that the festival, which gets underway today in Manchester, Tenn., would be among the places where they played the new songs live for the first time before a large audience. They will play some smaller shows before Bonnaroo.
“So we kind of experimented by releasing the record without playing any live shows,” Marcus Mumford said in a conference call with reporters to promote the festival.
If you go
› What: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival› When: Today through Sunday› Where: Manchester, Tenn.› Admission: $324.50 plus fees› Online: bonnaroo.com
“And I wouldn’t say it was a mistake, but certainly we’ve missed playing live so much because that’s where it all kind of slots into place for us. . But I really feel like by the time we get to Bonnaroo it’s going to be good.”