Festivillian: Music, Art, Culture

 

Every year, Manchester, Tenn. becomes the center of the musical universe for just a week in June. That's when it's taken over by Bonnaroo, one of the biggest music festivals in the country, and one that has grown ever larger with each passing year. It's known for being a good halfway point between smaller, indie-focused music festivals and major ones that bring national mainstream acts in to headline. This is the kind of show where you'll see Bruce Springsteen on the main stage while a small up-and-comer like Neon Indian is earning their wings at a smaller one.

In 2010, the Bonnaroo lineup is more exciting than ever. This year's big names include Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z and Tenacious D. The Flaming Lips are coming to perform Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon from beginning to end, while Pitchfork favorites like LCD Soundsystem and the xx can be found as well. For those in love with classic rock, there's Jeff Beck; for those who love hip-hop, there's Kid Cudi; there's even an odd couple in the form of Damian Marley and Nas.

But the real show is the tinier bands that are unknowns. They make up the bulk of the early part of each day, and most people go to see them because they might have heard a bit of buzz, or may just be bored and looking to pass some time before the next show they're looking forward to. Those moments are crucial for bands that are just starting out because they get a chance to expose themselves and create potential fans across the country.

Bonnaroo isn't all about music, however. The festival also offers a lot in terms of comedy. TV funnyman Conan O'Brien is going to be performing stand-up at the festival, as he's currently on tour now that he's been released from this contract with NBC (the tour, by the way, is entitled the Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour). His stage is guaranteed to be packed, but he won't be the only comedian worth checking out. Margaret Cho, Aziz Ansari and Jeffrey Ross are just a few of the names who will be appearing on the comedy stage.

Additionally, films will be screened here as well, though it'll be a bit of a surprise as to what shows up. Bear in mind that there are going to be some great smaller name bands there that you should catch. A couple of them you should definitely put on the list: Neon Indian, a Utah-based synth-rock band that has drawn favorable comparisons to the Killers; and Dan Deacon, a bizarre, colorful character whose artsy, trippy electronic dance music is unlike anything you've ever heard. Be ready to let loose if you go to his show.

There's always something interesting going on, but you need to start thinking about how you're going to get to the festival and where you'll find tickets. There's only so much space there, and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.stubhub.com/bonnaroo-music-festival-tickets/">Bonnaroo Music Festival tickets</a> are selling fast.

About the Author:
This article is sponsored by StubHub.com and was written by Andrew Good.  StubHub.com is a leader in the business of selling <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.stubhub.com/bonnaroo-music-festival-tickets/">Bonnaroo Music Festival tickets</a>, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.