Bonnaroo Kicks Out the Jams

The Bonnaroo festival is under way

By Erik Pedersen Jun 12, 2008 4:00 AMTags
Eddie VedderKevin Mazur/WireImage.com

One hundred acts on 700 acres can mean only one thing.

It's time for Bonnaroo, dude.

The four-day festival of music, art, movies and comedy kicks off on Thursday in Manchester, Tenn., and promises a musical experience designed to please, well, almost everyone who likes music, laughter and $7 showers.

Launched in 2002, the festival was largely a gathering of jam bands in the beginning, but has expanded its reach over the years to include performances by Radiohead, the Police and a diverse mix of artists spanning a range of genres.

And since the word "bonnaroo" is said to be Cajun slang for "a really good time," well, why not?

Acts set to appear this year include Pearl Jam, Metallica, Kanye West, Widespread Panic, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Death Cab for Cutie, The Raconteurs, M.I.A., Vampire Weekend, Yonder Mountain String Band and lots more.

As well, the comedy lineup is as stellar as it is increasingly hard to spell: Chris Rock, Louis C.K., Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn and Zach Galifianakis, to name just a few, thankfully.

Unfortunately, we won't be there, but we'll likely be checking out the vibes via the AT&T blue room, which plans to stream performances live from the site.