Bonnaroo Music Festival - 2007
Tickets - $240 - $600
Beer - $5
Frozen Lemonade - $4
WOMEN ON STILTS - PRICELESS

It's June, a time when summer is rapidly
approaching and now noted by the annual pilgrimage
to Manchester, Tennessee and the renewal of North
America's most organized music festival.
They come from across the land,i.e., Dead Heads,
hippies, yuppies,Bohemians from yesteryear and just
fans of particular bands,and all nestled in a
temporary clandestine city amidst the rolling hills
of Coffee County. These are the migrational hordes
that descend on a festival of given magnitude to try
and rekindle the spirit that was exuded during the
embryonic years of Monterey and Woodstock so long
ago. The music is diverse, neoteric bands of contemporary
"rock n'roll"(Wolfmother), classic musicians with a
noted past (The Police)and legendary
icons (Hot Tuna, Richard Thompson), who can still
captivate and entertain to the 80,000 fans of this
transient city. The absense of rain, the mirrored
image of past Bonnaroo events left the area a tinder
box with soaring heat and a mriad of sun burns but
neither of these elements would defray the
thousands in attendance from forging their own
memories while mulling around under the references
of anniversaries for Monterey, Summer Of Love, release
of Sgt. Pepper, and The Doors eponymous album,
inclusive of Light My Fire. As in all events of given
magnitude, some disparity/uniqueness would be obvious,i.e.,
Warren Haynes & Govt Mule with special guest Jack
Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, Bob Weir, Jim Dickinson and
John Paul Jones. This three plus hour was "the
magic" that defines all events of monolithic
proportions,and for most, was worth the price of
admission just to see this once in a lifetime
assembly of rock n' roll royalty. Others of note were Uncle
Earl, an all woman five piece bluegrass band that
has started to make animpact on the music scene
and their newest release will be produced by the
legendary bassman from Led Zeppelin, John Paul
Jones. Richard Thompson continues to amaze although few
were aware of his historic ground breaking effort
with Fairport Convention in the sixties. His uncanny
ability to improvise rather than rely on known
melodies has always been intriguing and mystical.
Hot Tunawas on fire, Jack Casady doing antics of long
ago Jefferson Airplane with leaps across the stage and
the characteristic eyebrow movement.It becomes
impossible to incompass all the bands,interviews,
commaraderie, press conferences and several sets
dedicated to Habitat For Humanity. it seemed as if
Wednesday was now Sunday and the anticipation,
anxiety and euphoria of the week were now replaced by the
return to reality. Campgrounds were now recognized
by the remaining embers of fire,the traffic backed up
for miles as the pilgrimage back to 9-5 was now put into
motion and as we disbanded our
provisional city for yet another year,like leaves
blown to the four directions of this planet, we have
already started the thought process for who will be
playing next year while the countdown begins for
2008. Kudos to AC Entertainment (Ashley Capps)and Supefly
Productions and to Big Hassle Media (Ken Weinstein,
Steven Trachtenbroit, Kate Cafalo and Sophie Smith)
for yet another prolific event and their uncanny
knack of making all feel comfortable and welcome on
an annual basis. This is not an event to compare, those
hallowed days of identity search
and defiance are memories that endrue for a
lifetime, if not for perpetuity and Bonnaroo is that rare
event where new memories are made. It is always best to
remember all that was good so long ago but even
better to manufacture new footsteps that now leave their
mark in the sands of time.

Keep the faith,
Cheers
Don Aters - 2007 - Haight Street Music News