Springsteen, Phish, NIN Headline Bonnaroo

Posted on Feb 3rd 2009 11:00AM by Benjy Eisen
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On the heels of Coachella's delayed line-up announcement, Bonnaroo has announced its 2009 lineup, confirming the long-held rumor that Phish would anchor the festival, and that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would close it out. Both acts have said that Bonnaroo, which takes place June 11-14 in Manchester, TN, will be their only festival appearance this year. Such appearances are rare in general for Springsteen, and Phish, well, Phish is used to putting on their own festivals -- events that have drawn larger audiences than Bonnaroo while featuring Phish as the one and only main attraction.

A statement from Bonnaroo's organizers acknowledges this: "Phish's own festivals were notably one of the major inspirations for Bonnaroo's creation and operational strategies," it reads. Additionally, many of the people working behind the scenes at Phish's fests were brought on board for Bonnaroo from its beginning stages. And, indeed, all four members of that band have repeatedly performed at Bonnaroo with their various respective projects.

So the reunited Phish may be coming "home," in a way, but they'll have a tough time stealing the show --Bonnaroo's 2009 lineup continues its tradition of featuring desired acts from all walks of the musical landscape. Other featured performers include: Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne and Wilco. The 'Roo continues its love affair with indie rock's honor roll this year with MGMT, Animal Collective, Band of Horses, the Decemberists, Elvis Perkins in Dearland and -- of special mention -- a rare solo set by Elvis Costello. The new-school of post-folk troubadours get their due via Andrew Bird, Brett Dennen and Todd Snider. Bonnaroo continues its integration of electronic-dance acts in the live music arena (or, in this case, tents) with international DJ superstar Paul Oakenfold making his first Bonnaroo appearance, joining Santogold, the Ting Tings and Girl Talk on that front. And while the festival may have learned some kind of lesson last year from inviting Kanye West, the lessen was personal; world-class rap and hip-hop is more than welcomed back in the hands of Snoop Dogg and the aforementioned Beastie Boys.

Acoustic virtuosity is still a virtue at the festival in the able care of Rodrigo y Gabriela, Kaki King, Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabate, and David Grisman (whose extraordinary skill on the mandolin was first exposed by his collaborator, Jerry Garcia). And so on and so forth: Al Green, Ben Harper and the Relentless7, the Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Merle Haggard, Galactic, Lucinda Williams, Jenny Lewis, Raphael Saadiq -- stop, deep breath -- Gov't Mule, Of Montreal, Coheed and Cambria, Neko Case ... you can read the entire list at Bonnaroo's website.

In addition to the million and one (we say that with only slight exaggeration) other acts on the bill, Bonnaroo will continue with all the extra aspects that make it perhaps the most talked about festival in America. Count on the comedy schedule being posted soon enough, as well as additional activities in the cinema tent, an on-site jazz heritage nightclub, a silent disco, a video arcade (with live DJs) and muddy new-gen flower children dousing themselves in the Bonnaroo fountain.

Given the hard knocks of the current economic climate, when tickets go on sale this Saturday Feb. 7, fans will have the option to purchase them via a payment plan involving scheduled payments of $50 from March through May, following an initial $90.90 down payment (face value ranges from $224.50 to $249.50, depending on how soon you buy them). Or, of course, if you're still looking for a Valentine's Day gift, VIP tickets are only $1,349.50 per pair. Get 'em while they're hot.