After several weeks of speculation, and a few false leaks, Bonnaroo has confirmed its initial artist lineup. As previously reported, The Police will headline the sixth annual music festival as part of its 30^th anniversary reunion tour. Tool and Widespread Panic will fill out the festival’s other main stage headlining spots. While last year’s initial lineup strayed from Bonnaroo’s jam-rock past, the multi-stage festival has crept back to its roots, while maintaining its eclectic edge. The White Stripes have scored a featured spot, as well as Bonnaroo veterans Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Flaming Lips, and Wilco. Bonnaroo will also welcome back The String Cheese Incident and Ween for the first time since 2004 in addition to Bob Weir & Ratdog and Gov’t Mule who made appearances two years ago. Other returning artists include Galactic, The Roots, Kings of Leon, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Keller Williams, STS9, Tortoise, The Slip, Dr. Dog, Mute Math, The Black Keys, North Mississippi Allstars, Tea Leaf Green, Damien Rice, and John Butler Trio, among others. Williams will bring along his new band, the W.M.Ds, which features Jeff Sipe and the String Cheese Incident’s Keith Mosley.

As expected a number of current “indie” darlings will also showcase their live show, including Manu Chao, Franz Ferdinand, Wolfmother, Regina Spektor, Lily Allen and Fountains of Wayne. After making a surprise appearance with Bright Eyes last year, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are officially billed. The festival, which is known for breaking bands ranging from My Morning Jacket to Umphrey’s McGee, has also booked some rising club acts, including The Hold Steady, Cold War Kids, Annuals, Sam Roberts Band, Elvis Perkins, Apollo Sunshine, Uncle Earl, The National and The Little Ones.

Other artists scheduled to appear include Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers, The Decemberists, DJ Shadow, Spoon, Sasha & Digweed, Old Crow Medicine Show, Feist, Hot Chip, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Aesop Rock, The Richard Thompson Band, Xavier Rudd, T-Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Clutch, Paolo Nutini, RX Bandits, Railroad Earth, Martha Wainright, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Charlie Louven, Sonya Kitchell, and Ryan Shaw.

The festival’s comedy tent will feature Lewis Black, Dave Attell, and David Cross, among others.

While the festival will likely add a number of additional artists, Bonnaroo’s initial lineup is missing both Les Claypool and Robert Randolph, the only artists to appear at the festival every year. Also missing from the list of usual suspects are Phil Lesh, Umphrey’s McGee, My Morning Jacket, and a representative from the Phish camp. Bonnaroo will take place from June 14-17 in Manchester, TN.

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