Bonnaroo Gets Closer & 1st  Time Headliners Prepare

Hear One of the Bands Kicking Off This Year's Roo Here First @ Relix.com 

  Carney - "Testify" mp3

As Bonnaroo inches closer every day, the excitement starts building around the country as plans start fleshing out and cars start getting packed for the annual pilgrimage to Manchester, TN.

Each year there are surprise bands at Bonnaroo, and this year is no different. Pearl Jam, Metallica and  Kayne West are just a few of the diverse musical acts at the country's premier music festival.  Pearl Jam's Mike McCready and Metallica's Lars Ulrich are just as excited for their respective first Bonnaroos as fans are for them to headline.  "I’d like Pearl Jam to bring a really hot, good set to the experience," says McCready. "We want to  bring our music to some new people, too, and to fans that we’ve had in the past.  I want us to bring our A game, and we’re going to rehearse with that in mind. We want to do a good job.  I know it’s very important to all of us to play a great set, and I would like us to bring our best set that we can do that night... and some surprises."

            Bonnaroo fits with Pearl Jam's do-it-yourself style, McCready added.  Bonnaroo promoter Ashley Capps adds, "Bonnaroo is a 24/7 experience.  And none of us are going to tell Pearl Jam to quit playing."

Metallica's Lars Ulrich is excited to finally be playing at a large festival atmosphere in the U.S., as opposed to Europe.

"What I’m super psyched about is just... there hasn’t really been an experience like that in America, you know, where fucking 80,000 people show up and fucking bring their tents, but that’s been going on in Europe for 20 years, you know, and I’m just psyched to experience that in America."

    Along with stellar headlining acts, the great thing about Bonnaroo is discovering new music at every turn, and this year will be no different.  One of the bands kicking off this year’s Bonnaroo will be Carney, a quartet from Los Angeles. Give them a listen and get ready for another Bonnaroo that promises to be memorable.