Bonnaroo 2025
photos and words by Niki Davidson

Every year in the second week of June, people from all over the globe travel to the small town of Manchester, Tennessee to live out their weekend on the farm. Since its inception in 2002, Bonnaroo has become one of the largest festivals in the United States, offering music from every genre, from bluegrass to heavy metal. Attendees bear the unpredictable Tennessee weather together and become not only neighbors but friends. It’s impossible to attend a Bonnaroo without seeing the good in people. From day one, neighbors are willing to help and share their things with one another, and you can even find campers sharing meals and having their own after-hours parties in their campsites. This year's highlights include Tyler, The Creator, Tyla, Insane Clown Posse, Luke Combs, Megadeth, Olivia Rodrigo, and Avril Lavigne, as well as multiple art installations and local restaurants and shops. This year also comes as a hit as the festival has lost co-founder, Jonathan Mayers. The festival put out a post via Instagram on the 10th of June that Mayer had passed, and as a result of such, the festival will be planting a memorial tree in his honor that will grow at the festival as well as have a small in memoriam segment for him.

Day one of the festival is packed with things to do in both Centeroo and Outeroo. Die Spitz, Azzecca. The Lemon Twigs, Hey, Nothing, Marcus King. Wisp, Luke Combs, Dom Dolla, and Insane Clown Posse start the weekend off, as well as the introduction of Bonnaroo’s newest stage, the Infinity Stage. Dubbed the World’s largest 360-degree immersive stage, and according to C3, Bonnaroo’s promoters use technology not yet seen before in the United States, comparing it to that of The Sphere in Las Vegas. Day one also has great installments outside of the music, such as Clown Cult and Roolesque, Bonaroo’s spin on Burlesque, and ending with a set from Insane Clown Posse before the afterparties begin in the outeroo stage, Where in The Woods.

On Day Two, things took a turn for the worse. At nearly one pm, before any band could hit the stage, personnel evacuated the grounds and told attendees to stay in their cars. What would follow was a mix of storm cells that would leave the grounds flooded, with some attendees in knee-deep mud and water. The Centeroo grounds were inoperable, and at around 7 pm that night, we received word that the remainder of the festival was cancelled. Bonnaroo teams encouraged those in RV and glamping areas to assist those who had pitched campsites in getting everyone out smoothly and safely, in the Bonnaroo way. This didn’t stop the festivities, though, as some attendees who could not get out that night started throwing their concerts with John Summit even playing an impromptu set in the campgrounds. Cities surrounding Manchester have welcomed Bonnaroo attendees into events they have put together for those at a loss from the festival, and some bands, such as Hot Mulligan and Mt. Joy have pop-up sets in Nashville as a result of the cancellation.

Even with the cancellation, it’s clear to see the Bonnaroo spirit living on. Despite the unfortunate events, festival goers and artists alike continue to radiate positivity and help one another, some even, such as myself, opening their homes to those who have been displaced due to the cancellation. Bonnaroo is all about community, and when you step foot on that farm, that’s exactly what it is. Sharing meals, throwing parties, and overall enjoying the company of your neighbors is a paramount experience to this lovely festival that brings people from all over the world into Manchester, Tennessee. The events of this year are unfortunate, but for the safety of those attending, Bonnaroo absolutely made the right decision, and it just goes to show how people become family and stick together here. The party continued, however, throughout the weekend in Nashville with multiple acts originally set to play at the festival instead opting for pop-up shows throughout the city with Jessie Murph playing two free sets on Broadway and Hot Mulligan playing a show at Dee’s Lounge making sure people still got to enjoy the sets they love and bringing the Roo energy to the heart of the state in Nashville.