Joe Kwon on cello and Bob Crawford on bass of the Avett Brothers perform during the group’s set on the main What Stage Friday at Bonnaroo.
Staff Photos by Barry CourterMANCHESTER, Tenn. – Playing at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival doesn’t guarantee success for a band, but some of the musicians playing this weekend say it has become a major milestone.
Andy Hall with The Infamous Stringdusters, Michael Jenkins with the Dirty Guv’nahs and Arleigh Kincheloe of Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, all pointed to similar factors in private interviews with the Times Free Press. In fact, they all used the same word to describe both the festival and what it means to be here: huge.
“We do a lot of festivals,” said Hall, “and they are generally smaller than this. The size and scope make this unique in the true sense of the word. The exposure you get and the cross-pollination of musical acts and fans is amazing.”
Jenkins echoed those sentiments.
“It’s just a different vibe. I love Bonnaroo,” he said.