Student Report From Bonnaroo

[AtPontchartrain]

This is from today's LSU student newspaper, The Reveille. From the way it starts, I thought maybe we would get a detailed consumer review of the offered products. Price/efficacy comparisons, you know. But no. But did he HEAR any music??

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Bonnaroo 2007 Festival has everything from drug-laced food to drug-induced music

by Nicholas Persac
6/21/07

It was within the first fifteen minutes that I was asked to buy drugs at Bonnaroo.

A shaggy-haired high school boy approached my tent donning a school bag full of marijuana. As soon as the boy left, it was less than five minutes before a second dealer trolled through my campsite; this time offering to sell me ecstasy, mushrooms, LSD and pot baked in a variety of food.

Every half-hour for the remaining four days, at least one dealer would stop by my tent looking to make a sale. The widespread sale and consumption of drugs were part of the equation that makes Bonnaroo a Disney World for hippies.

Bonnaroo, the four day music festival held in Manchester, Tennessee, is known to music lovers not only as a safe-haven for drug use, but also as the premier music festival for bands of every genre.

All of the festival's tickets sold out through online preorder on Bonnaroo's Web site. And all 80,000 ticket holders surged into Manchester less than 24 hours after the gates opened Thursday. By the afternoon, cars flooded the 700-acre farmland and a temporary city of tents was erected.

Roads leading from campsites were lined with vendors selling everything from clothing, jewelry and art to drug paraphernalia.

Everything within the stage area was designed in a playful, or more likely, a drug-influenced state of mind. In the middle of the stage area, a glowing mushroom fountain painted in black and white checkers gushed water which concertgoers played in to take a break from the summer heat. Also adding to the euphoric feel of the festival's set up was a full-sized ferris wheel.

During the day Saturday, I was lucky enough to elude lines at the artist signing tent. I was able to meet and get autographs from artists including Warren Haynes and Ziggy Marley.

When I met these artists, I asked what their favorite part about playing at Bonnaroo was. Haynes said he enjoyed playing with friends, while Marley looked at me with a beaming smile and in a seemingly stoned manner replied simply, "the people."

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http://media.www.lsureveille.com/media/storage/paper868/news/2007/06/21/Opinion/Bonnaroo.2007-2917232.shtml

[McGregor]

...college men from LSU
Went in dumb. Come out dumb too
Hustlin' 'round Atlanta in their alligator shoes
Gettin' drunk every weekend at the barbecues...

[mightyradgumbo]

Note to self Go to Bonaroo next year LOL

[Corona]

I'm with ya brother ;)

[tabasco]

Me three! but I wish they would lighten up on some of the restrictions!

# NO MORE than 3 cases of beer per person
# NO MORE than two 1.75 liters of hard liquor per person

I was planning on bringing three 1.75 liters of hard liquor...
I guess I'll have to sneak it in!!! :eek: LMAO!!!

[NeenAtlanta]

Note to self Go to Bonaroo next year LOL

And second note - bring LOTS of cash.

[Amy Winette]

FWIW, there are no liquor limits at High Sierra -- we brought a keg last year :)

[ohio]

I'm with ya brother ;)
Me too! Thinkin' an RV like my friend did last year would be THE ticket. That was my buddy we watched the Allmans set with at fest...

[Corona]

Me too! Thinkin' an RV like my friend did last year would be THE ticket. That was my buddy we watched the Allmans set with at fest...
Ahhh, they were fun people Bry....would LOVE to do Bonnaroo.....the RV deal would be perfect. I friggin love jam bands!

[chicagomike]

Bonnaroo is hard work. Fun, but hard work none the less.

[funkkjunkie]

mike, are you referring to the distances you have to travel to see the music?

[chicagomike]

Funk, I guess it would be several things. 5 days of Tennessee June camping. The rain and cow pasture combo. The lack of sleep....BUT... I havent been since 2005 and seriously considered going this year. It is a lot of fun but it is a lot of hard work that requires much more planning then jazzfest.

[funkkjunkie]

Ah, as with any camping festival-all that camping gear and food planning and marching to music are definitely work. rain + cow poop = stanky and sticky. YYR, on the heat. Wakarusa in Kansas kicked my ass last year. I came home a day early because of the heat. But I did discover my first year at waka that earplugs are a lifesaver when it comes to needing sleep. We were just a couple hundred yards from the revival tent but were able to sleep with the plugs. But then the sun and heat kick you out of your tent by 8 am, if you're lucky, 7:30 if you're not.

[Corona]

ouch! that's so early huh? I know what you're saying....CFF was a blast but I had forgotten how much work it is. Having said that...I still can't believe what MDfest pulled off for all of us and the amount of planning, money, time and energy that went into organizing such an amazing trip. I'll never forget all that you did for us MD! Wanna do Bonnaroo next year? ;););) (for real, I'm kidding!)

[funkkjunkie]

Yeah, but you can just move that sleeping bag or tarp outside and continue sleeping...

[mightyradgumbo]

ouch! that's so early huh? I know what you're saying....CFF was a blast but I had forgotten how much work it is. Having said that...I still can't believe what MDfest pulled off for all of us and the amount of planning, money, time and energy that went into organizing such an amazing trip. I'll never forget all that you did for us MD! Wanna do Bonnaroo next year? ;););) (for real, I'm kidding!)

YYR, MD did it up! You should definitely think about event planning between this and your Buffett patry experiences. I am thinking about Bonaroo for next year. An RV may be the ticket, Bry. Howzabout that, Lis..A Threadhead Road Trip in an RV to Bonnaroo-WAHOO

[Corona]

YYR, MD did it up! You should definitely think about event planning between this and your Buffett patry experiences. I am thinking about Bonaroo for next year. An RV may be the ticket, Bry. Howzabout that, Lis..A Threadhead Road Trip in an RV to Bonnaroo-WAHOO
oh jesus....the way we party??? We'd never get out alive!!! lmao ;)
The dates are bad though....so close to fest and CFF...gotta think carefully on this one but it is a dream of mine to go...

You in for Voodoo bro?

[ohio]

It's only about 5 1/2 hours from here, interstate driving 99% of the way. Everbody meet in Cincy and drive the RV(s) from here....Each RV is allowed a 'companion vehicle' also.
We can stage from my house...

[Corona]

oh jesus....I think you guys are serious....getting goosebumps now :)

[swampwoman]

oh jesus....I think you guys are serious....getting goosebumps now :)

you should go to Bonnaroo, its quite an experience :D

[mightyradgumbo]

oh jesus....the way we party??? We'd never get out alive!!! lmao ;)
The dates are bad though....so close to fest and CFF...gotta think carefully on this one but it is a dream of mine to go...

You in for Voodoo bro?

I do believe I am. I just saw the lineup and it looks interesting. More of a fan of the NOLA side of things (most people here are right?) than the other side but there are some good bands. 450.00 for a VIP three day ticket? :confused: That bar better be an open one for that price and a whopping $3 donation to charity.

[mightyradgumbo]

oh jesus....I think you guys are serious....getting goosebumps now :)

Oh hell yeah! That would be great, but I agree we may be short a TH or two after that one hehehe Especially if they have the door to door service described in the initial post ;)
The hardest part of the trip is finding the designated drivers. :D

[funkkjunkie]

YYR, mightyradg. I saw some guys post repeatedly on the waka forum last year, begging someone to drive them while they partied.

[grisgris]

Ive never been but a pair of me Teva's went. One of the guys I work with daughters went & had a Large Time.

[Corona]

Oh hell yeah! That would be great, but I agree we may be short a TH or two after that one hehehe Especially if they have the door to door service described in the initial post ;)
The hardest part of the trip is finding the designated drivers. :D
but once you're in you're in right? No driving once you're there? I really wanna check out Bonnaroo! Gris- that's hilarious about your Tevas :)

[Corona]

I do believe I am. I just saw the lineup and it looks interesting. More of a fan of the NOLA side of things (most people here are right?) than the other side but there are some good bands. 450.00 for a VIP three day ticket? :confused: That bar better be an open one for that price and a whopping $3 donation to charity.
hey be nice!! ;) Look at the Big Chief passes for fest.....ya get what?.....a bleacher seat for $650? You don't even get separate bathrooms and bars for drinks right? I thought that it was cool they had a separate donation listed at all....$3 a ticket will add up if there are 80,000 peeps that go right?

I LOVE the nationals list and a Rage reunion is gonna be so cool and I KNOW he's gonna be rippin' on the levels of gov't about the lack of help with the recovery. I think it's gonna be a great set..then kick in Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Harper (wahhhh-friggin-hoooooo!!!), Toots, Black Crowes (who are performing excellent lately) and more...I think the FOMS is gonna be brutal!

[mightyradgumbo]

hey be nice!! ;) Look at the Big Chief passes for fest.....ya get what?.....a bleacher seat for $650? You don't even get separate bathrooms and bars for drinks right? I thought that it was cool they had a separate donation listed at all....$3 a ticket will add up if there are 80,000 peeps that go right?

I LOVE the nationals list and a Rage reunion is gonna be so cool and I KNOW he's gonna be rippin' on the levels of gov't about the lack of help with the recovery. I think it's gonna be a great set..then kick in Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Harper (wahhhh-friggin-hoooooo!!!), Toots, Black Crowes (who are performing excellent lately) and more...I think the FOMS is gonna be brutal!

YYR, in thinking about it that is a lot of dough to raise for charity-I was just thinking that if the 100/ticket was three bucks then the 450 could be an equal pctg. As far as the ticket price this seems more like an overpass with some extra benefits. Given the overpass is 450 for six days with a few amenities and this is 450 for 3 Days with a larger group of amenities I guess it is good price.

Yeah that Rage show is going to be killer, your right this is a great national lineup. I just get so torn when I go to NOLA and there are acts that are either not touring all the time or not touring at all and I can see them but I will definitely be FOMSing at the mouth.

[mightyradgumbo]

but once you're in you're in right? No driving once you're there? I really wanna check out Bonnaroo! Gris- that's hilarious about your Tevas :)

Too Funny, Gris....Lis I was talking about driving there and back LOL With this krewe it is definitely whomever draws the shortest straw type of deal right? I definitely am into this as long as the NOLA school program doesn't get in my way ;) hmmmm, further career goal or fun-just don't think it is a fair fight fun wins most every time it seems :D

[Corona]

amen brother Gumbo..amen!!! :D