by brittany and everly ormiston
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival returned to the farm in Manchester, TN after a three-year hiatus on June 16-19 2022. Multiple stages featured a wide variety of music genres, including indie rock, hip hop, pop-punk, and alternative. Attendees had the opportunity to camp throughout the duration of the festival, and participate in a one-of-a kind experience at Bonnaroo. The long list of food options available during the festival had everyone’s mouths watering. The interactive art installations, and crafts available for purchase were unique and thought-provoking. All Bonnaroovians radiated positivity, and the energy cast throughout the festival grounds made for an experience of a lifetime.
Charlotte Sands: The Queen of Pop-Punk
Bonnaroo 2022 was monumental for Charlotte Sands’ career in more ways than one. In 2019, Charlotte performed at the campground of Bonnaroo with four people in attendance. This year, the Who Stage was packed so full of people you could not move a muscle. Charlotte showed her appreciation for the crowd with the utmost emotion. She wiped the tears from her eyes and delivered a performance the crowd will never forget. Charlotte whipped her hair back and forth while owning the stage during “Bad Day.” The green lasers bounced off of everyone jumping in sync, and the environment felt similar to a rave. Charlotte showcased her vocal range further by performing an acoustic version of “Want You Like That.” “This is the only love song I have ever written, and it will probably stay that way,” laughed Charlotte. All jokes aside, she dedicated the track to her close friends who are recently engaged. They were even in the crowd to witness the performance in all its glory. To end a killer set, Charlotte performed the song that is now an anthem for millions across the globe, “Dress.” This track was written about Harry Styles when he graced the cover of Vogue while wearing a dress. “He chooses to really embrace who he is, and express himself without holding back. It was really inspiring to me, and still is inspiring to me,” shared Charlotte. In turn, Charlotte is taking over the world with her confidence on and off the stage, and sparking self-expression in others.
Bre Kennedy Shines in the Spotlight
Bre Kennedy put the crowd in a trance with her soft spoken yet powerful vocals and rich storytelling. The backup vocals of the band members during “Whirlwind” were stunning to say the least. This track in particular described being caught in life’s whirlwind, and exhibited an aura that made the crowd feel at peace with the fact things do not always go our way. “Wilburn Street” also played into this same mindset of letting go of yesterday. Bre strummed the guitar with intention and closed her eyes with emotion as she sang about overcoming fears and navigating the bad days. The track is named after the Wilburn Street Tavern in Nashville, the place she goes to meet her friends when life gets heavy. Nashville influences Bre’s songwriting as a whole and allows listeners to connect on another level. “[Nashville] taught me how to share my story, and find my own fingerprints,” Bre stated wholeheartedly. Nowadays, life can be difficult when it comes to social media due to many utilizing it as a source of validation. Bre’s track “Nothing Compares” describes defining your self-worth through the eyes of everyone else instead of through your own. “I wrote this song with my best friend. We wrote it about giving away digital flowers to everyone else while watering our own garden,” mentioned Bre before performing the track. Her soulful vocals accompanied by the vulnerable lyrics uplifted the crowd making each person feel less alone in their struggles. Bre is certainly an artist to watch as she takes over the Nashville music scene with her timeless storytelling and amiable personality.
Saturday Rager With Judah & The Lion
A purple flag with a lion in the center was being waved above the crowd. Inflatable beach balls were bouncing off the hands of those in attendance. Judah & The Lion was written on the screen with confetti falling down around the large bold lettering. “And I ain't trading my dreams for no!” screamed Judah Akers (lead vocals, guitar) in a firm voice. “401k!” answered the crowd, finishing the lyrics of “Suit and Jacket.” The band kept the party going with another throwback, and we all entered a “Quarter-Life Crisis.” The in-your-chest feeling of the bass drum, and the crowd clapping in sync was a whole vibe. Brian MacDonald (vocals, mandolin) showed off during the chorus, and the crowd loved every second of it. Judah’s suspenders and guitar glowed in the dark, which set the scene for “Dance With Ya.” He asked if anyone in the crowd was good at dancing. Once he selected a fan who had raised their hand, Judah requested everyone crouch down low. The fan busted a sick move, and the band was quite impressed. “Bonnaroo, you’re just as lovely as I remember,” declared Judah. Closing out a tent at their hometown festival this year was a dream come true, and they were able to “check the metaphorical box off their bucket list.” Bonnaroo kicked off the beginning of an eventful year for Judah & The Lion. Starting this fall, the duo will embark on a headlining national tour for their new album, Revival, and roar into another era.
A Never Ending Fever Dream With flipturn
The crowd roared as the band waltzed on stage. “What’s up Bonnaroo?” said Dillon Basse (lead vocals/rhythm guitar). The screen lit up with a red background with a texture similar to paint strokes, and flipturn was layered on top in white lettering. The crowd lost all self-control from the get-go as flipturn performed “Six Below.” Dillon displayed effortless vibrato, and pulled everyone in instantly. The band members were all smiles, and treasuring every moment. Madeline Jarman (bass) gave a shout out to her dad who was watching the livestream of flipturn’s set. The band shared that their highly-anticipated debut album will be released in a few months. “We’ve been working on Shadowglow for about two years now. We started off the writing process by doing a writing retreat in Arizona… You feed off of your environment and atmosphere quite a bit when you are writing or when you are trying to get creative. This definitely influenced [the album] and you can pick up and pick out [those aspects] in some of the songs,” shared flipturn during their interview. The band delivered unforgettable performances of a few unreleased tracks from the new album. The guitar synths and piano riffs were so catchy you were humming them far after the set was over. The anthemic vibe of the second track made you feel as if you could take on the world. The crowd responded by chanting, “flipturn! flipturn!” over and over again. flipturn had everyone feeling like Hippies, and Dillon’s high notes transported you to another dimension. The passion and enthusiasm shown by the band as a whole created an atmosphere that felt liberating and refreshing. flipturn will have our heads spinning over their set for a long while.
The Aces Ate and Left No Crumbs During First Appearance at Bonnaroo
The Aces stepped up to the plate and filled in for another performer who had to cancel last minute. The alt-pop band opened the What Stage on the last day of the festival, and drew the attention of many. Machine Gun Kelly even stopped to watch their set in his pink fuzzy slippers. “The Aces” in rainbow lettering spun in a circle on the screen as the addictive bassline and drum loop of “Stay” echoed through the speakers. Cristal Ramirez (lead vocals, guitar) stomped and ran in place with excitement during the instrumental break. Katie Henderson (lead guitar, vocals) harmonized with Cristal to add to an already flawless start of the set. The crowd cheered during the opening instrumentals of “Kelly,” and they did not waste a second before dancing their hearts out. The Aces certainly had us all in a Daydream with stunning vocals, and a killer performance by Alisa Ramirez (drums). “Bonnaroo, why does it feel so right?” sang Cristal. McKenna Petty (bassist) was smiling ear-to-ear as she jumped up and down and shredded “Can You Do” without missing a beat. The band performed their newest single “Girls Make Me Want to Die,” which has had a positive response so far. “It’s been great! We’ve been excited to put this song out for a while now… We strategically put it out during Pride Month to give that to our fans, our queer fans,” mentioned The Aces. The crowd at Bonnaroo did not disappoint during this track, and the vibes and energy were on another level. The Aces’ camaraderie with each other on stage, and their ability to connect with those in attendance was one-of-a-kind. The confidence radiating from all band members blew the roof off the stage, and inspired others to go out into the world and be kick-ass.
FLETCHER is the Girl of Our Dreams
FLETCHER ran onto the stage wearing a neon-colored outfit, and a whole lot of confidence. She danced with the band during the instrumental break of “girls girls girls,” and was having the time of her life. The crowd was hoping the set would last forever as they were bouncing their hands up and down along with FLETCHER. She strutted across the stage, and knelt down for the outro. She belted out a flawless high note making the crowd go wild. “Nice to meet you, Bonnaroo. My name is Cari,” sang FLETCHER during “Cherry.” Those in attendance were thriving, which aligns with FLETCHER’s house rules. “Put anything in your life aside, and have fun. Spread love, and feel good. Be energetic, and be loud,” she declared. The instrumentals during the bridge and outro of “If You’re Gonna Lie” were even more magical in a festival environment. FLETCHER showcased incredibly smooth vocals during “All Love.” The crowd screamed the lyric “I say I’m doing fine, but I’m f****** lying” with such intensity she requested they do it again because she loved it so much. FLETCHER brought a special guest on stage, Blu DeTiger, who has toured with her in the past. Blu is known as the bass queen, and annihilated her performance with FLETCHER during “Silence.” FLETCHER is admirable for her talent, and ability to be her true self without fear. She empowers others, and puts on her war paint to fight for what she believes in.
We Love COIN So Much It Hurts
A large ladybug figurine was hanging over a corner of the screen. The drum platform was covered in green felt to resemble grass. These aspects gave the crowd a small glimpse into Uncanny Valley, COIN’s most recent album, and the vibe of the upcoming set. The animation of a brain in a 360 degree rotation popped up on the screen. “But I’m learning to love, learning to trust,” billowed through the speakers. Those in the crowd experienced frisson, and appreciated the beauty of the short, yet powerful track. The band appeared on stage ready to capture the hearts of Bonnaroo. Chase Lawrence (lead vocals, synthesizers, guitar) wasted no time, and jumped right into being energetic and chaotic (in the best way). Chase’s vocals during the bridge of “Take A Picture” were raspy and erratic, and complimented his dance moves. The visual of a red house flickered on the screen, and eventually was layered with live footage of the band performing as we entered a metaphorical cemetery. As an introduction to the next track, Chase asked, “You ever love something so much it hurts?” The guitar synth emerged, and the prominent instrumentals were coursing through your veins. Chase formed a heart with his hands and quickly broke it as he sang the lyric “so you really wanna break my heart.” A statue of an angel changed colors on the screen behind the band.
“Bonnaroooooo!” screamed Chase into the microphone. Ryan Winnen (drums) came through with the fast-paced drum loop to introduce the iconic track of “Into My Arms.” Chase ran his hands through his hair right before quite literally putting his whole self, and every ounce of energy into the instrumental break on the synthesizers. Joe Memmel (lead guitar, backing vocals) showed off his baritone vocals during “Brad Pitt” to add a twist to the unique track, and the crowd loved every second. Chase stumbled across the stage, and had the crowd sing the chorus of “Crash My Car” as loud as humanly possible. He smiled and folded his hands as a way to express gratitude to everyone in attendance. “There’s no me without you,” sang Chase in his smooth yet raspy voice. The performance of “You Are The Traffic” was soul-spilling goodness, and filled with an endless amount of nostalgia. The sincere lyrics accompanied by the aggressive guitar synths during the bridge was epic. Following a sick rendition of “Hey Ya!” by OutKast, COIN led into the crowd’s favorite track of the evening. “You know I talk too much!” screamed the crowd as their hands bounced in the air to the beat of the drums. COIN will continue to be a band who successfully reinvents their sound, and delivers poetry-immersed lyrics for a memorable listening experience. Their outpouring dedication to their fans and live music will have all of us learning and loving COIN forever and always.
Machine Gun Kelly: Bonnaroo’s Bloody Valentine
Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) took to the What Stage and gave the crowd everything he had. His outfit of orange cargo pants and multi-colored sequined shirt with Doc Martens embodied the rockstar image perfectly. “I made one promise with the band, and that was we are going to have a drunk show,” boasts MGK. Regardless, the instrumentals were astonishing and were one of the many perks of the performance as a whole. MGK placed his microphone back on the stand, which was made of two arms that also held his red solo cup and cigarette. The crowd was headbanging to “maybe,” and the guitarists and drummer played at such a rate their hands may have started to bleed. Once the track ended, the crowd was so incredibly loud MGK was taken back. “It feels like home right now,” smiled MGK. He decided to switch things up, and jumped down from the stage. He walked along the barricades, and started to climb up a structure next to the soundboard. MGK performed the rest of “drunk face” while standing on the platform as he looked out over the crowd. He has always been one of those artists where you don’t know what he will do next, and this festival was no different.
During “ay!” MGK covered the drummer’s eyes and he did not slip up in the least. Little bouts of fire popped up during the “ay!” part of the chorus to add for a dramatic effect. MGK put on a “born with horns” trucker hat, and placed his hand on his forehead in the form of a rock-on sign to look like horns. “Bloody valentine mother*******,” stated MGK in a monotone voice. This track was surely one of the best parts of the night. MGK pointed into the camera and made a hand-heart as the crowd was clapping to the beat of the bass drum. Later on, MGK made it a point to slow things down and performed “lonely” on an acoustic guitar. He mentioned the song was written for his father who passed away a few years ago. “I’m having fun down here,” said MGK softly as he looked up to the sky, and a tear stained his cheek. Sophie Lloyd (guitarist) delivered a beautiful guitar solo to wrap up the track that tugged on the crowd’s heartstrings. The pace quickly picked back up for the remainder of MGK’s set. Witnessing “my ex’s best friend” at a festival was a party, and the crowd sang the chorus louder than ever. MGK left an imprint on the crowd, especially when talking about live music. “Never let the passion of making signs, singing the words at concerts — don’t let that die. Don’t let them take it from you. Don’t stop slowing down.” MGK is meant for the stage, and the rockstar life. He is a rad musician with an idgaf attitude and truthfully, I want to be him when I grow up.
Wallows at Bonnaroo: Take One
Let’s just say Wallows’ performance was straight out of a movie. The band entered stage right, and the crowd lost their minds. Dylan Minnette (vocals, guitar) greeted the crowd with open arms. “I know the summer won't change. All the fires that start can't be saved,” sang Dylan. With this track, he displayed baritone vocals with such enthusiasm you couldn’t help but dance. The crowd clapped to the beat of the bass drum during “Remember When.” The silhouettes of each band member were prominent against the purple, black, and white striped screen moving at lightning speed. Later on, a tambourine and trumpet were added to the mix that made for a marvelous time. Someone in the middle of the crowd launched a confetti cannon to which Wallows responded, “We love your energy.” The energy level the crowd exuded throughout the entirety of the set was astounding, and the band garnered every ounce of it. The instrumentals, vocals, and everything in between swept everyone off their feet, and had us begging for more. The set has long since ended, however everyone will be saying remember when and reminiscing about Wallows’ performance at Bonnaroo 2022 for years to come.