Fans arriving at Bonnaroo this weekend should expect to spend a little more time at the festival’s gate. Coffee County officials are warning concertgoers to expect more thorough drug inspections at Bonnaroo’s gates this year. “We'll make more arrests than last time,” Sheriff Steve Graves told The Tennessian. “This year we're going to try and identify the major suppliers of the drugs to see if we can get these dealers out of Bonnaroo,'' said the sheriff.” Last year, 27 fans were arrested onsite with 132 more receiving citations. Graves also said in a memo to the local paper that the death of two concertgoers at last year's festival contributed to this year’s crackdown.
Inside the festival grounds, Bonnaroo’s city-like infrastructure is already intact. Using last year’s setup as its blueprint, Great Northeast Productions has constructed a brand-new city, colored by larger-than-life “heads” and multi-colored lampposts. Still eight hours from show time, stagehands star on the What and Which Stages, piping an eclectic mix of pre-show music through the festival’s PA system. As artists arrive, collaborations are also slowly cementing. Tonight, Les Claypool will back his newest prodigy, Gabby La La, while Jack Johnson fans hope that the platinum star will appear with his summer opening act, ALO, during its hour-long spot. Inflation has also hit Centeroo, with egg and cheese sandwich prices now marked up to $4 (last year the same breakfast treat cost $2).
While fans entering the concert grounds should expect parking lot conditions, local residents are cruising by the festival grounds. A third line of US 41 has been set up to direct fans into the concert grounds. Be sure to check www.relix.com/festivals throughout the weekend for onsite reports directly from Manchester, TN.
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