The dust has cleared on the 2016 Bonnaroo lineup. Initial reactions were tepid at best. The week early leak didn't help anything, it only lead to speculation that there was more to come. This speculation created disappointment when we received the identical lineup accompanied with a few comedic surprises including Judd Apatow and Workaholic's Adam Devine.
Part of the problem is Bonnaroo seemingly build up the 15th installment of the festival to be extra special because of the year significance. At first glance the lineup displays possibly the most disappointing showing in the five year YOTHT has hit the Farm. After a deeper dig, the lineup is quite deep with quality lower tier pulls like Daughter, Vulfpeck, Waxahatchee, Beach Fossils, Jarryd James, GIVERS, Natalie Prass, The Internet, and Andra Day. After starting with quality headliners Pearl Jam return, Dead & Company's two sets (probably close to a $3 million price tag), and the reunited LCD Soundsystem, the second line is where most people's qualms come from. J. Cole had one of the highest regarded albums of 2014 with his follow up to "Born Sinner", "2014 Forest Hills Drive". Cole can be described as a mix between Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar, though he falls slightly short on both comparisons. He still remains talented and held in high respects with live performances, the lack of name recognition across genres is what hurts his placement as fourth on the lineup. Ellie Goulding has routinely garnered her level of placement on the lineup. Whether you like her or not she's got the following and stage presence. The 'meh of mehs' is Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis in the sixth spot (past few years 6th spot ::: Robert Plant, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The Shins). There's no doubt they can own a stage, but with basically one album and two other songs, trift shop 2 and a garbage song, come on Roo the rap game is too strong to push Live Nations agenda here.
From there the line up pumps fire with Tame Impala (late night), Chvrches, Big Grams, Band of Horses, Leon Bridges, Purity Ring, Blood Orange, Lord Huron, RL Grime, Lucius, Borns, Keys N Krates. The main negatives of the lineup at the lack of non-trap EDM, lack of any semblance of a top level EDM act and the overall low level rap acts (that Tyler the Creator set doe!).
Overall when the dust settles and you explore the acts you don't know of could know better, you'll be happy with the lineup. All and all being on the Farm in June.... #Blessed.
Explore the lineup in our spotify playlist below, grow to love the 2016 edition of heaven on earth!
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