It’s the end of 2011 and a time to look back at some of my favorite music festival moments from Bonnaroo, All Goodand Pearl Jam Destination Weekend. With the growing list of festivals, next year should add to these lasting memories.
Here’s my Top 10. Offer yours in the comments section.
10 – BONNAROO: Eminem’s impressive full-force headlining set felt as if he pinned you against the wall the moment he stepped onstage and didn’t let up until he left.
9 – ALL GOOD: Finishing off a supremely strong set, Umphrey’s McGee offered a one-two punch of covers – Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough.”
8 – BONNAROO: A strong sampling of breakout artists on the first night that included Deerhunter, Childish Gambino, the Walkmen, Best Coast, Wavves and School of Seven Bells.
7 – BONNAROO: Wondered if ‘60s Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ Buffalo Springfield set would be nothing than a nostalgic visit. Instead, Neil Young, Stephen Still and Richie Furay gave such a strong performance that I hope that it wasn’t the group’s final one.
6 – BONNAROO: Mumford & Sons played to more than 50,000 people, the largest daytime crowd at the Which Stage. Besides playing the quartet’s breakout tune “Little Lion Man” they also debuted new material such as “Beneath My Feet” and were joined by Old Crow Medicine Show and Jerry Douglas for a rousing encore of “Amazing Grace.”
5 – ALL GOOD: Although I won’t miss the uphill trek from my campsite, I will miss the festival’s beautiful site at Marvin’s Mountaintop, and look forward to its new location at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.
4 – ALL GOOD: John Butler Trio’s set was already magnificent but a full moon, and Butler’s acknowledgement of it, made it extra special.
3 – BONNAROO: The hard-earned triumphs of the Black Keys and My Morning Jacket found both playing memorable sets on the main stage at Bonnaroo.
2 – BONNAROO: Four frames into taking photos of Florence and the Machine on Friday afternoon and my brand new camera conks out. Luckily, I brought a spare and was able to shoot My Morning Jacket (see photo), with the pic going on the front page of the Bonnaroo Beacon daily newspaper. Later, the camera came back to life and then went bad again after my final shots of the fest.
1 – PEARL JAM DESTINATION WEEKEND: The camaraderie over the two days saw the members of PJ join artists on the second stages during the day followed by many of those musicians reciprocating by joining the event’s hosts onstage later that night.
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