2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival

The 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was held June 12–15. Aside from the festival's opening year (2002), attendance at the 2008 event, at approximately 70,000, was the smallest in Bonnaroo's history.

Cancellations and rescheduling

Bonnaroo had many cancellations and reschedules by artists both before and during the event. Cancellations included Black Kids, who appeared on the initial line-up but were later removed. Two months prior, due to health issues, The Allman Brothers Band cancelled their slot at the festival. Their cancellation led to the replacement band Widespread Panic being announced as the festival closer.[1] Due to a schedule conflict, David Cross also had to cancel his appearance and was replaced by Louis C.K. in the Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre.[1]

During the festival

The surprise SuperJam was composed of Les Claypool on bass/vocals, Eugene Hutz (guitar/vocals), Sergei Ryabtsev (violin), Oren Kaplan (guitar), and Yuri Lemeshev (accordion) of Gogol Bordello, and Claypool's touring drummer (and Cake member) Paulo Baldi on drums. They were later joined by Kirk Hammett of Metallica on guitar for three numbers. Hammett was introduced by Claypool as "some guy that used to sell me weed back in high school." The set consisted of eleven Tom Waits covers ("Russian Dance" was performed twice, the second time as an encore), along with a single Claypool song, "D's Diner".

Chris Rock's main stage set was billed as being "one of the largest ever for a comedy show".[2]

Kidz Jam, a non-profit organization out of Dayton, Ohio provided free entertainment, water, earplugs and safety information for the families which attended Bonnaroo in 2008.

Kanye West's Saturday night set, having been moved back and forth between stages by Bonnaroo promoters, eventually ran on the main stage. West was not on time due to a scheduling conflict. This, in addition to Pearl Jam playing over an hour longer than scheduled and taking a long time to remove their equipment, and the complex stage set-up for West's performance, meant the show started at 5:00 am.[3]

Line-up

Somethin' Else- New Orleans:

Porter – Batiste – Stoltz Dirty Dozen Brass Band Big Sam's Funky Nation Morning 40 Federation

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk Walter "Wolfman" Washington Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Harrybu McCage

Henry Butler and the Game Band Anders Osborne Soul Rebels Brass Band New Orleans Superjam led by George Porter, Jr.

Bonnaroo Comedy:

Chris Rock Louis C.K. Janeane Garofalo Reggie Watts

Zach Galifianakis Jim Norton Brian Posehn Joe DeRosa

Mike Birbiglia John Mulaney Michelle Buteau Leo Allen

Cafe Acts

Alana Grace Amy LaVere Bear in Heaven Bombadil Carney Colour Revolt Cornmeal De Novo Dahl Dead Confederate Electric Touch Erick Baker Extra Golden

Howlin Rain Jake Shimabukuro Jessie Baylin Jypsi K'naan Lord T & Eloise Mike Farris featuring Roseland Rhythm Revue The Nikhil Korula Band Nomo Person L Phonograph The Postelles Rotary Downs

Royal Bangs Scissormen Sometymes Why stephaniesid Tennessee Schmaltz The Afromotive The American Plague The Big Sleep The Duhks the Everybodyfields The Greencards Weather Underground Your Vegas

Cinema Tent

Heavy Metal in Baghdad

References

1. "News | Bonnaroo 2015". Bonnaroo.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
2. "News | Bonnaroo 2015". Bonnaroo.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
3. "Kanye West's Bonnaroo Debacle | Music News". Spin. June 15, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
4. "2008 Line-up". Bonnaroo.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.