Bonnaroo 2011 Lineup Announced, and It’s Fantastic

The Bonnaroo lineup was announced on Tuesday and we must say that it’s the most solid roster of musical talent we’ve seen so far this festival season. (Sorry, Coachella). Bonnaroo was founded on an on earthy, crunchy jam-band aesthetic, but the festival, now in its tenth year, has expanded its musical horizons in the past years to include genres from rock, rap, roots and electronic to country. Headliners in the past years have included Metallica, Kanye West and Bruce Springsteen, who thrilled a crowd of 90,000 in 2009 by playing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in the 85 degree heat. Keep the eclectic coming, we say!

This year’s lineup is just as diverse, and headliners Eminem, Arcade Fire, the Black Keys and Widespread Panic will play take to the main stage during this four-day party, which goes down on a 400 acre farm in rural Manchester, Tennessee. Most everyone in the 100,000 person crowd camps out on the farmland, creating a weekend long alternate universe of music, dancing, food, art and epic people watching.

Bonnaroo 2011 runs from June 9-12, and tickets are on sale now. Of the 80+ playing, these are the artists we’re most excited to see: 1. Deerhunter: This Atlanta-based band’s 2010 release Halcyon Digest was near the top of the list of our favorite albums of the year, and their recently released live album proves that they more than pull off their atmospheric prog rock in front of an audience. Watch: “Helicopter” 2. My Morning Jacket: Arguably one of the best live rock and roll acts on the road, MMJ has been playing Bonnaroo since the festival’s early years. The band is back after a two year hiatus to tear through classic jams in the southern summer heat. Watch: “One Big Holiday” 3. The Decemberists: Check out Vitamin String Quartet’s upcoming release tributing The Decemberists coming this March before seeing them live at the festival. Watch: “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” 4. Florence + the Machine: One of our favorite recent new singers will do her powerful pop ballads at Bonnaroo in what will likely be a huge sing along show. Vitamin Sting Quartet recently covered Florence’s “The Dog Days Are Over” on their recent Modern Rock Hits: 2010 release. Watch: “You’ve Got the Love” 5. Arcade Fire: In a surprise upset that made indie music lovers happy worldwide, Arcade Fire won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The Canadian group is flying high on the huge success of their latest release The Suburbs and will take the woods of Tennessee to sing songs about growing up in urban sprawl. Consider us excited. Watch: “Ready to Start” Be sure to check out: Vitamin String Quartet Performs Arcade Fire: Available now at iTunes and Amazon VSQ: Tribute to Modern Rock Hits 2010 Available now at iTunes and Amazon