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Bonnaroo inspires a fervorfew other major music festivals can match.
Thats also what keeps people like Amy Kalas and Derek Brovold coming back.
The Chicago couple has been attending since the festivals beginnings in 2002.
From there, it just made sense, he says.
What made you want to go to the first Bonnaroo in 2002?
Amy Kalas:We were dating.
He had an RV to go down to this camping festival.
We got onboard a little later.
Derek Brovold:We were on the fence.
Summers are busy here; theres lots to do.
As we heard about the festival, Im like,Man, thats a really strong lineup.
What were some highlights of that first year?
AK:Well, I have to preface my highlights by the lowlight of the traffic coming in.
DB:It was overnight.
AK:Youre napping in your car, waking up like,Oh, okay.
We got to move a couple cars ahead.Then youd almost fall back asleep.
Everybody was so cool and trying to help everyone.
There was beer and wine they made for Bonnaroo.
It was already different.
It felt more like old-school Dead shows.
I had not been around something like that in forever.
And then we got in and within an hour, we just forgot about the traffic.
DB:And man, then the show took over.
That was a phenomenal lineup that year.
I mean, Trey Anastasio.
AK:Phil Lesh & Friends.
DB:Yeah, the names rolled on and on.
It was clearly something different.
And being on the farm, you didnt have curfew time constraints, and that continues today.
So after midnight, you could have a lineup that most fests would take as their headliners all weekend.
AK:It was definitely more jam-bandy that year, but we liked that.
This is crazy.I did a drum circle.
I think I built a djembe drum that year.
So from there, how did it become an every-year thing?
DB:I dont think there was much discussion about whether we would go back.
It was like, Yeah, lets start planning.
That helped solidify it as an annual trip.
Tell me more about the proposal.
Ended up there right around dawn.
AK:I was sleeping.
Then I led her around and played the song and popped the question.
And she said yes.
AK:It was quite the start to our entrance to Bonnaroo to set up camp.
So that was awesome.
DB:We did not get married at Bonnaroo.
I know thats an option these days.
You were talking about the festival getting less jammy over the years.
Do you remember when you realized Bonnaroo was changing?
But honestly, that helped friends start coming with us more because not all our friends are as jam-bandy.
A lot of people either love or hate jam bands.
Theres a stigma that everyone is completely strung out.
AK:And the campgrounds, too.
Weve discovered artists in the campground that started playing on the big stages later.
Just set up tables by their campsite.
Lets talk more about the camping.
How has the feel of the campground changed over the years?
AK:For general admission, there are definitely less incidences of rain and flooding.
Before, it would just be mud.
You basically lose your shoes if you attempt to walk through the mud.
Theyve fixed some of that.
The facilities for bathrooms and things are better.
It started off with porta-potties.
Now you have a mix of that and actual bathrooms, nicer showers.
DB:People deck out their campsite.
AK:Some people do crafts.
You could go make bracelets at someones site.
You could do something to draw people to your site, like music.
I love exploring all that.
Have you noticed the demographic of the crowd changing as the festival expanded?
AK:I think we were older than some of the folks when we first went to the fest.
I always felt like there was a mix of ages, just due to the mass number of people.
Even with the introduction of a lot of the EDM, thats shifted alittlebit over the years.
I dont feel like the punch in of people going or anything is that different.
Theyre still people that will be willing to camp for four days on a farm.
As far as the lineup goes, what was the best year of Bonnaroo?
AK:Damn, that is hard.
I dont know if I can even fathom that.
2006, 2007, those were some years I remember really big moments from.
It was one of those midnight sets that was mind-blowing.
2015 was a good one and 16.
This is hard for me.
DB:The 15th anniversary, in 2016, had a real strong lineup.
Honestly, its not impervious to the lineup, but you have a good time regardless.
AK:I just have moments.
I saw Phoenix in 2009.
Seeing Florence + the Machine in 2015, that specific show was one of the best Ive ever seen.
The comedy lineups are what I miss.
That was one of my favorite things about Bonnaroo hint hint, if anyones listening.
We saw Flight of the Conchords, Conan OBrien.
We had Bob Saget.
Whats the worst set youve seen at Bonnaroo?
I dont think it was the sound or anything.
Ive seen them before.
And I dont know why.
Oh, and Kanye.
Im going to say Kanye in 2008.
DB:Oh, Kanye.
AK:There is F Kanye written everywhere, every year, to this day.
He just didnt show up for six hours or something.
AK:We saw like five other bands, and they just sat there.
DB:We said, Okay, well, were going to go watch whoever.
Check in with you in an hour.
And Kanye still hasnt gone on.
I feel like he went on at what, the wee hours of the morning?
So that was probably the worst set ever.
DB:Yeah, it lives on in Bonnaroo lore.
AK:Our friends were really mad.
It was pretty funny.
Who are you excited for this year?
AK:Im kind of pumped for some of the EDM.
Oddly, the 50-year-old likes EDM.
DB:Lets look at Friday.
You got King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard with a midnight set.
That right there is unprecedented.
AK:I like Bleachers.
DB:Japanese Breakfast is on the list that day.
AK:I love Japanese Breakfast.
DB:I havent seen Lord Huron yet.
I want to check Lord Huron out.
AK:Im excited for Ship Wrek.
I like Chvrches, Mt.
Joy, Billy Strings.
Weve seen him a lot this year, but Billy Strings is pretty sweet.
DB:Hell play probably an all-time set.
Not that hes known for not doing that, but the festival will bring it out, I think.
AK:Oh, I love Fletcher.
We just saw Fletcher at Hangout.
I want to meet her.
COIN, awesome band, excited about that.
DB:I didnt realize until right before this call that Herbie Hancocks on the schedule.
So, absolutely, Herbie closing out Sunday night before Stevie Nicks.
What have you missed about Bonnaroo?
DB:We had the car packed up and ready to go in 21.
AK:We had a bad taste in our mouth after that.
But then by this year, like the traffic jam, were just forgetting about that.
They took it out of Hangout this year, and people were not happy.
What would stop you from going to Bonnaroo at this point?
DB:Well, we had a pandemic and then we had flooding.
We plan to keep going.
AK:Them not doing it, I guess.
Really, if theyre doing it, well probably go.
DB:I guess one year we might look around and say, Were too old for this stuff.
AK:But then theres the Bonnaroo grannies who are in their 80s that come every year.
So if they can be at Bonnaroo, I can be at Bonnaroo.
And if Kenny Rogers, right before he passed away, did Bonnaroo, I can go to Bonnaroo.
