BONNAROO 2013: Lineup Speculation and Educated Guesses

UPDATE: the official lineup has been announced!

Earlier today, the 12th Annual announced that ticket pre-sales will begin on Monday, November 26th (known to some as Cyber Monday). Fans can check out the promo video for the pre-sale way down at the bottom. While I’m just personally getting over the fact that Bonnaroo is now well into its second decade of existence (remembering vividly the exciting, zero-expectations-of-what-to-expect sensation of entering the Roo farm’s rickety and hallowed gates almost ten years ago for Bonnaroo 2003), it will once again be interesting and worth looking forward to seeing who headlines this year’s festival after last year’s strong-to-quite-strong , RHCP and Phish trio of headliners.

With Bonnaroo on the brain today, here are a few educated guesses to go along with a handful of completely uneducated and SPECULATORY wishes as to which artists and bands might-should-potentially-maybe make an appearance on the farm at .

PURE SPECULATION, WISHES & A FEW EDUCATED GUESSES – WHO DO YOU WANNA SEE APPEAR AT BONNAROO 2013?

SIGUR ROS

With Sigur Ros setting out on a massive North American tour this spring, perhaps the unclassifiable Icelandic band is ready for a big headlining performance on What Stage (Sigur Ros also appeared at Bonnaroo in 2008).

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS

Weeping Elvis has a hankering from an unrevealed inside source that Petty & Co. will return to the farm for their first headlining performance since 2006.

NINE INCH NAILS or HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS

Also, the buzz around the possible returns of (Roo 2009) and Reznor side project How to Destroy Angels could perhaps indicate a headlining NIN return or middle-card/much-hyped HtDA set in 2013.

DAFT PUNK

Although predicting the future of robot rocker duo is a bit of a lost cause (or, merely great fodder and obligatory guesswork for website/magazine/blog festival wishlists), there have been strong indications that may return in 2013 (website under construction, Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers’ comments that he recorded with them earlier this year). After famously doing Coachella already in 2006, perhaps it isn’t too crazy to think that if DP is going to do one American festival in 2013, perhaps it’ll be Bonnaroo or a return to Grant Park for Lollapalooza (LTP Lolla ’07). Wouldn’t put down a nickel on Jazz Fest, although wouldn’t that be something…

THOM YORKE / ATOMS FOR PEACE

…Now wouldn’t this be something: One headlining band combining members from two of the previous year’s headliners (Thom Yorke from and Flea from RHCP). , like any Thom Yorke/Nigel Godrich-involved project, has been talked about for what seems like a decade (yes, we know, not that long) without any major tour going down. The time is now? (CNN Feature on Atoms for Peace).

SOUNDGARDEN

As we inevitably move further away from the epic decade of music that was the 90s, bands and artists that became popular during the decade have been popping up with regularity the last seven years at Bonnaroo (Radiohead in ’06, Pearl Jam in ’08, in ’09, Red Hot Chili Peppers in ’12) and with releasing their first new album in over 15 years King Animal, an appearance by Cornell & Co. at Bonnaroo would be the band’s biggest headlining slot in some time. After seeing them knock it out of the park at 2011′s Voodoo Experience, this would be a welcome addition to the Bonnaroo festivities.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

Somewhat unlikely here, but this may rival Metallica in the high-voltage category as the heaviest band to ever headline the What Stage. For what it’s worth (probably not much), RATM did just turn 20.

MUMFORD AND SONS

Regardless of whether you loved or hated their chart-busting 2nd LP Babel, it appears have already reached festival-headlining popularity and if the massive and overflowing crowd for their set at Which Stage in 2011 was any indication, they could fill out the field in Great Stage Park at What Stage. Perhaps as the earlier act on a dual headliner set up a la Jack Johnson / Pearl Jam in 2008, Stevie Wonder / Jay-Z in 2010 and MMJ / Arcade Fire in 2011.

WU-TANG CLAN (LATE NIGHT – RUMORED (EVIDENCE via CoS))

WHY?: Because it would be one of the best post-midnight parties Bonnaroo has ever seen. And that is saying a lot. Also, because they have a new LP on the way next year, following up ’s new kung fu flick The Man with the Iron Fists (w/ accompanying collaboration with The Black Keys on “The Baddest Man Alive”). (Further support via Weeping Elvis)

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (LATE NIGHT)

With a 2012 album coming out after the most of the 2012 festival season had passed, a full, proper run through the 2013 festival gauntlet may make sense. Although, making sense of anything AnCo has done up to this point has often been difficult. One can hope to see that amazing set design on Which Stage at a midnight set.

OTHER WISHES

Late Night Ramble featuring Friends of Levon Helm
(never played)
(never played)
(late night)
Manu Chao (LTP Roo – 2007)
(LTP Roo – 2009)
AIR (never played)
(LTP Roo 2011)
(LTP Roo 2009 and damnit it was sexy)
(could be this year’s Kenny Rogers?! – Plays his final show on 11/22/13 in Nashville)
(could be the next great Bonnaroo late night kings?! – a la MMJ / / )
The Meter Men with Page McConnell Super Jam (no basis for this happening in Manchester, but would be an excellent late night)
Kill The Noise (already confirmed for Coachella)
or Phil Lesh and Friends

and/or The Allman Brothers Band


.
Solo (New LP out in 2013)

(LTP Roo – 2009…’til sunrise)

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
K’NAAN


Bomba Estereo (LTP Roo – 2010 / One of the best festival bands out there imo)

Alabama Shakes (played last year to over-packed crowd – has led to subsequent invite back the following year for a handful of bands)
Down


Yeasayer
Dirtbombs
Lord Huron
White Denim (LTP Roo 2012 – playing 2012 Bonnaroo Buzz Tour currently)
Maps & Atlases (playing 2012 Bonnaroo Buzz Tour)
Robert Glasper
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Andrew W.K.




(if recovered and back on the road in time!)
(Touring in 2012)
The Tallest Man on Earth
The Lumineers

Of Monsters and Men
Wild Nothing

(LTP 2011 – should play every year?!)
Shpongle
Gabriel & The Hounds
Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers

Jamey Johnson
Poolside
Django Django

(New Dan Auerbach produced LP out in 2013)

Divine Fits

Black Mountain


Ivan & Alyosha
Thundercat
Natural Child
Woods
Nicolas Jaar

Jonathan Wilson
Lance Herbstrong
Kid Koala
Monster Rally
MORRI$
________ [INSERT AS-YET-FORMED JACK WHITE PROJECT HERE]

^^ EDITOR’S NOTE: If even 25% of this happened, there would be zero chance of me missing out on making it cross-country for my tenth Bonnaroo.

FACT: 85% of Bonnaroovians believe in love and 87% believe in getting weird.

November 14, 2012 |  by  |  Editor's Favorites, Features, Festivals, Rumors

Wesley grew up in coastal Georgia and is a former resident of The Music City and the Big Easy where he helped get Live Music Blog: NOLA off-the-ground, managing it in New Orleans through Jazz Fest 2012. Hodges is now an attorney living amongst THE CALIFORNIANS in West LA. His favorite artists include My Morning Jacket, Pink Floyd, Sigur Rós, Widespread Panic, Futurebirds, The Allman Brothers Band, Dr. Dog, Tame Impala, Anders Osborne, Monster Rally, Radiohead and Bobby & The Midnites. Daft Punk is actually playing at his house tonight and you're invited.

 
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