The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is going online Sept. 24-26 with several vintage concerts from past festivals, as well some appearances by such artists as Big Gigantic, Bob Roth, Bruce Hornsby, Billy Strings, David Lynch, and Turkauz with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew featuring performances from the Talking Heads' classic album "Remain in Light.
Virtual ROO-ALITY will be available online beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT each day via Youtube. It will be a weekend filled with shows from the archives by Alabama Shakes, Beastie Boys, Dave Matthews and Friends, Jack White, James Brown, My Morning Jacket and Nile Rogers & Chic.
Also, Virtual ROO-ALITY will offer new performances from more than 35 artists, rising stars, and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, including Nathaniel Rateliff, Chromeo, Big Gigantic, Bruce Hornsby Feat. James Mercer, Rob Moose & Polo G, Old Crow Medicine Show's Bonnarootenanny, Denzel Curry, Lennon Stella, Billy Strings, Action Bronson, CloZee, Moon Taxi, Live from Tipitina's featuring Galactic and Tank and The Bangas, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Goose, Live from Graduate Nashville curated by Music City tastemaker Whiskey Jam featuring Ashley McBryde, Ingrid Andress, Devin Dawson and ERNEST, and many more.
Originally scheduled for the middle of June, Bonnaroo rescheduled to Sept 24-27, but like most live music events, it cancelled that event as well because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual festival in Manchester, Tennessee, has become one of the largest and most popular festivals in the country since launching in 2002 by being more than just about music. Virtual ROO-ALITY will present viewers with a wide array of original programming, additional activities and exclusive experiences throughout the three-day event.
Attendees will be able to watch as Big Freedia shares her recipe for Booty Poppin' Potatoes, and share a microphone during "Bonnaroke with Allen Stone," gain some knowledge during "Food Conversations with Action Bronson Live From Greenpoint," and rock the official "Robe Rage" satin robe during Bonnaroo's "Robe Rage" late night dance parties. Not-to-be-missed segments also include the virtual Sanctuary of Self Love, the Dog Dance Party, Bonnaroo Campfire Tales and Cheers to Live.
As part of the virtual Sanctuary of Self Love curated by Hayley Williams, attendees can participate in conversations about important topics including the digital space and mental health, diversity in wellness, and the origins of gender with panelists ranging from Charli XCX, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, Laura Jane Grace, Blair Imani, Maryam Ajai, and more. In addition, Sanctuary of Self Love will also present "Conversation on Meditation, Creativity, and Consciousness" with filmmaker David Lynch and meditation leader Bob Roth, as well as a special endorphin boost via "Sweatfest" with two-times Grammy Award-nominated dancer/choreographer Ryan Heffington.
Toyota will donate $30,000 in grants to Therapy For Black Girls, Dive In Well, Creative Futures Collective, The Orenda Tribe and The Okra Project. Additionally, Bonnaroo will make a donation to the David Lynch Foundation.
Bonnaroo and Tito's Handmade Vodka and the brand's Vodka for Dog People program have created the Virtual ROO-ALITY Dog Dance Party, featuring a special guest appearance from DJ Mel. The daily event will offer viewers and their furry plus-ones a chance to stretch their legs and get their groove on, all while showing support for Manchester's Coffee County Humane Society.
Organizers also realize that everyone who has been to Bonnaroo has a unique story to tell and they've created the Bonnaroo Campfire Tales, presented by TWIX® Cookies & Crème. Online attendees will see a variety of top artists and familiar faces gather around a virtual campfire to share their most amazing tales from the Farm.
Bonnaroo has also partnered with Bacardi to create Cheers to Live, a series showcasing the impact of the live arts from stages of historic theaters that ripple through the entire community and its culture. In each segment, a local bartender will be on hand to share a tutorial on mixing a drink, and Bonnaroovians will learn about a variety of non-profit venues in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis, what their existence means to their community, and how they can show support.
Virtual ROO-ALITY and the Bonnaroo Works Fund will continue to support and raise awareness for the ACLU Foundation, which engages in a broad range of work to protect civil rights and liberties and utilizes donations to help fund litigation and public education efforts, and Headcount, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy, reaching young people and music fans where they already are – at concerts and online – to inform and empower. Donations collected during the virtual weekend for these and additional organizations will be made by the Bonnaroo Works Fund, whose core values are community, creativity, and positive influence. Thanks to your contributions, the Bonnaroo Works Fund supports nonprofits benefiting the arts, education, sustainability, and social impact.
Brand new, limited edition "Bonnaroo From Home" merchandise is available now, exclusively via the official Bonnaroo online store. The collection includes such items as a "Virtual ROO-ALITY 2020" poster, a "Robe Rage" satin robe, a "Farm Fresh" 8 oounce candle, a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, a tie-dye mask, and more. In addition, a special T-shirt – provided by Gildan – will exclusively support the Bonnaroo Works Fun's mission of changing the world through social impact, human development, and community engagement. The collection is available online at bonnaroo.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.