It felt like we were cursed.

After eight long hours on the road and countless refuels, roadblocks, and stops, it seems our luck had caught up to us.

Thirty minutes before my arrival to Manchester, I hit a pothole and blew a flat. In a haste, I rushed to replace the tire in hopes that we could still make it before the sun went down. With the trunk popped and my car safely on the side of the road, I got to work, only to quickly realize the futility of my actions.

My spare tire was flat, too.

Murphy’s Law followed me throughout my entire time at Bonnaroo. My flat tire cost me a camping spot by my friends, another close friend had his phone stolen, and I, impressively, managed to lose my wallet on the way back.

But I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

If you know me, you know how much Bonnaroo means to me. It’s the one place I go to escape the exhausting world we live in. It’s like a little universe where everyone can embrace their true selves. Everyone, from accountants to artists showed up and showed out in full force. Bonnaroo 2019 was, without a doubt, one of the most special and personal events I’ve ever experienced. Over 100,000 souls gathered from around the globe to suffer under the sun while smiling from ear to ear for a weekend like no other.

The Music

Photo courtesy of Aaron “Smiley” Davis

The main reason anyone goes to a festival (okay, the main legal reason) is the music. This year was the most balanced we’ve seen in years. Headliners Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone, and the collaborative efforts of the Grand Ole Opery more than delivered on their position on the poster. But the

Biggest Surprise: No show shocked me more than Childish Gambino. I knew I was in for an experience when I managed to make my way to the front, but never did I expect a show so utterly charismatic. He can work a set with the best of them, cycling through songs both old and new as he creates chaos with dances and deliveries alike. I’ve been a big fan of Bino since Royalty, but I never expected a set like this. It’s no wonder his tickets run at such a high price.

Best Set: This is a tough answer, but I think I’ll give the edge to Beach House for their astral projection of a performance. After wearing myself out at Gambino, I stumbled my way across the center site of Bonnaroo to a lofty stage in the distance. What awaited me was a spiritual experience I’ve rarely encountered in a show. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scully’s mastery of the spoken and unspoken word created an intimate atmosphere with the band and the audience. I’d be lying if I said that the set didn’t leave me a little emotional.

Worst Set: I hate doing these because music is subjective, and a set I hate may wind up being someone else’s favorite set. Having said that, I’ve never been more underwhelmed by a set before I went to AJR. I understand that their music is Millennial-pop and that it isn’t for me, but it felt like the band was directly ripping from the playbook of Jon Bellion and 21 Pilots. In fact, many of the special effects they used were eerily reminiscent of Bellion’s 2017 set at Bonnaroo. Maybe I’m getting old, but I was glad I left after a few short songs to score a better spot in another crowd.

The Experience

My Roo Crew, featuring people from Michigan, Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Missouri!

Bonnaroo isn’t a Lollapalooza or a Coachella. Hotels are abandoned in favor of campsites. Outfits focus more on survival than they do Instagramability. Functionality almost always trumps fashion. Despite its inherent beauty, Bonnaroo isn’t made for Instagram influencers or luxury-seekers. This is a festival where people go to experience the glory and the pain of making it through an action-packed weekend. It’s built like one gigantic commune, where hundreds of thousands of people live in dirty, sweaty harmony together while loving every second of it.

Biggest Surprise: Every year the food manages to surpass my expectations, but none so much as this year. My heart will always belong to the pretzels from Peachey’s Baking Co., but this year, it was almost stolen by a biscuit sandwich from Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. No matter where you get your fill, the festival always finds a way to accommodate you. Whether you’re a vehement vegan or a confident carnivore, you’re bound to find something you love.

The Best Part: No festival has ever or will ever compare to the experience Bonnaroo has to offer. The festival itself takes place across 700 acres of farmland, with campsites divided into 12 unique “pods” where specially curated experiences occur at every turn. No two campsites will share the same experience. This year, the newly-added “Where in the Woods” featured all-night DJ sets and relics of Bonnaroos past in a forest beside Pod 1. It was eerily reminiscent of a mini-Electric Forest, and it more than delivered upon its expectations. But nothing will ever top the view you can experience atop the Ferris wheel at night. It’s a sight that no photograph will do justice.

The Part Worth Noting: This is not a festival for the faint of heart. The suffocating temperatures, high chance of heat stroke, and unpredictability of camping make it a risky experience for the woefully unprepared. Even the website tells you to prepare yourself before you dive headfirst into the festival. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that a show in the middle of rural Tennessee in the heat of summer is, well, hot. My only complaint is the high heat, but that’s my complaint every year.

The Merch

Image courtesy of Bonnaroo.com

Bonnaroo’s traditional tie-dye-infused merch got a bit of a boost this year. The release of the Bonnaroo clothing line added new colorful apparel to their already robust selection. The artist-specific merch got an upgrade, as well, with two separate Official Merchandise tents dominating both corners of Centeroo. Apart from the main attractions, the festival itself features an obscene amount of vendors, featuring over 50 separate brands, fashion outlets, and glassblowers from around the world, eager to sell their stuff. Everything from pashminas to posters can be found if you look hard enough.

Biggest Surprise: Last year, I fell in love with Boss Construction’s unique poster design, snatching a few before I left. This year, I experienced love at first sight with, yes, a Bonnaroo-branded jean jacket. I was a little hesitant at first, but the moment I donned it, I realized that it was the one thing I couldn’t leave without. The moment the weather wears down, I’ll be sporting it day in and day out. I’ve already adorned it with a few pins to add a little extra flair. It’s one of my favorite purchases I’ve made to date.

Best Purchase: Every year, I stop by the sunglasses tent to sport a cool new pair of shades for $5. This year’s selection was more robust than ever before, featuring tinted shades of all colors. I bought a set of blue and green circular sunglasses and frequently found myself switching into them to experience the world through a new looking glass. While they weren’t necessarily the flashiest of purchases, they added a little flair to each set I attended.

Worst Purchase: I caved again. I cave every year, but this time, I really disappointed myself. I purchased a shower three days out of four because I couldn’t stand feeling dirty. Note to future self: no shower is worth $15, no matter how clean you may feel. In the future, I’ll more than likely swallow my pride and shower under the fountain, but this year, I failed. (Side note: I know this isn’t merch-related but I had to share this somewhere.)

The Operations

The one, the only Bonnaroo Ferris Wheel.

Bonnaroo has been in operation for over 18 years. With so much experience under their belts, they know a thing or two about keeping a festival in check. Having said that, I don’t think they were logistically prepared for over 100,000 people to attend. That isn’t necessarily a fault on their part; in fact, it says more positive than it does negative. This led to a lot of traffic, lines, and a traffic backup longer than any in Bonnaroo’s history. Some people had to wait over 12 hours to get in!

The Good: No matter where you were, you could get the care you needed. Emergencies were handled with efficiency and care, bathrooms were as abundant as they were available, and you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a water refill station. It felt good to know that everything was available at a moment’s notice. The altruism from the employees was astounding, as well; whether vendor or volunteer, people seemed to go above and beyond to deliver the best experience possible to every patron.

The Bad: Logistics were probably a nightmare for a festival with over 100,000 people. It’s hard enough to manage the average crowd at Bonnaroo, but with an extra 30,000-40,000 people, it can get ugly fast. Getting in the festival was the most laborious process. People were selfish (shout out the rude Ohio girl who nearly sideswept my car for a chance to get one spot ahead in the line) and it was hard to keep everything in check. Again, this isn’t necessarily the festival’s fault, but a lot of newcomers didn’t know what “radiate positivity” meant until after they experienced their first day. Oh well. Can’t be helped, I guess.

Conclusion

As far as senior years go, this was a success.

Every year comes with its fair share of challenges, setbacks, and struggles. No matter what the world throws your way, no festival will ever top the experiences you make at Bonnaroo. Across four days and 700 acres of farmland, you’ll encounter new artists, make friends for life, and share an intensely personal experience with over 100,000 other people. While it certainly isn’t the place for everyone, it will always hold a special place in my heart. No amount of flat tires or missing wallets can take away from the one-of-a-kind experience that the Farm brings.