2/15/11 update: The Official Bonnaroo 2011 Lineup has been announced.
Summer Festival wanderlust is in full force this week as Wakarusa, Mountain Jam and an expected Jazz Fest lineup are released this week…
The powers-that-be just kicked the Bonnaspeculation season into overdrive by offering up their first in a series of clues that will lead up to the great big initial announcement in about a month’s time. Many of these cloos were misleading last year, and it seemed like the festival was just pulling our legs on a few. But after all, Bonnaroo has always been a great marketing force (even in the first year, when they relied almost strictly on word-of-mouth), always adding something new to keep people like myself intrigued year-in-and-year-out The first clue immediately brings to mind the great David Bowie, what are your thoughts?:
Clue #1 (courtesy of @Bonnaroo): A trip to space thwarted by a speckled lad’s demise. A watershed moment otherwise.
Not that Bonnaroo requires something like a big anniversary to pull out all the stops, but if the transformative Fifth Anniversary was any indication (2006–My personal favorite lineup, featuring Radiohead, Beck, My Morning Jacket, G.R.A.B., and Oysterhead), this year AC Entertainment and Superfly will be pulling out all the stops. So here is my completely speculatory list of artists who might be appearing on the farm in Manchester from June 9-12 (one can wish, wonder, and wander towards the Good Road):
Daft Punk (reportedly going back on tour this summer, on hiatus since 2007 until the October appearance with Phoenix at Madison Square Garden and the killer cameo on TRON: Legacy)
David Gilmour & Roger Waters (Rumored to appear together at a mystery date on Waters’ The Wall Tour, although to my knowledge that has not occurred yet. One of these guys would more than suffice)
The Rolling Stones
Red Hot Chili Peppers (Reportedly getting back together in ’11 minus retired guitarist John Frusciante)
Elton John or David Bowie or Neil Young
Foo Fighters (There seems to be at least one band from this mainstream rock radio universe, could see this one happening with new album, heavy touring in ’11. Would be a slight upgrade from KoL ’10, Jack Johnson ’08).
Gorillaz (Just released their iPad album The Fall on Christmas and just today announced a new cartoon member of the band with a fishbowl head, named The Evangelist)
Rush (Touring North America this Spring and Summer)
Dr. Dre w/ Guests (since Kanye in ’08 and Jay-Z last year, it could make sense with Detox coming out early-2011) or Eminem.
Furthur (No member of The Dead has played at Bonnaroo since 2008)
My Morning Jacket (set to release a new record in the first half of 2011, have not appeared at Bonnaroo since 2008, late night What or Which Stage would be likely. Already confirmed to be headlining Wakarusa and Mountain Jam the weekend before, so you know they will be already supporting the as-yet-named 6th LP)
Widespread Panic (also have not appeared since 2008, a long time for the band holding the record for most headlining appearances. Also, 2011 is the band’s 25th Anniversary and last run until an indefinite hiatus)
Manu Chao (please bring back)
Robbie Robertson and Friends (New album out in 2011, first in 13 years)
The String Cheese Incident (have not done a proper tour since 2007 or appeared at Bonnaroo since that summer.)
The Avalanches (New Album due in 2011)
Wilco
Massive Attack
Chemical Brothers
Dispatch
Zach Galifianakis (with Hangover 2 coming out weeks before, could be this year’s big comedic headliner).
Iggy Pop & The Stooges
Rammstein
Florence & The Machine
STS9
A Tribe Called Quest
Umphrey’s McGee
Delta Spirit
Les Claypool (in some form)
Particle
AIR
Janelle Monae
moe.
Broken Bells
MGMT
Tom Tom Club
Hot Chip
Deerhunter
Yeasayer
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Two Door Cinema Club
Shpongle
Bonobo
Tame Impala
Cold War Kids
Galactic
M. Ward
Warpaint
Anders Osborne
Futurebirds
Growlers
Moon Taxi
Lance Herbstrong
No good basis, but maybe one day??
Outkast (if it’s on the Internet it could be troo)
Black Sabbath (Ozzy has been talking about getting the old band back together and recording a new album)
Talking Heads (everyone is healthy and alive, so why not bury the hatchet?)
Some formation of Bob Dylan & Levon Helm
Rage Against the Machine (the time has come)
Radiohead (doubt they would do it again)
Neil Young solo
Further Speculations/Confirmations
The Cure
My Chemical Romance
The Roots
Paul Simon
Mumford and Sons (Confirmed return?)
Cage the Elephant (Reportedly Confirmed)
Modest Mouse
Devendra Banhart
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Lady Gaga
Toots and the Maytals
Who Do YOU Want to See in 2011?
