Since we’re dispensing road-trip ideas in this issue, here’s another one to consider: Manchester, Tennessee. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is back, running from Thursday, June 15th to Sunday, June 18th, and, for those days anyway, Manchester isn’t just the place to be in all of Tennessee but, for music lovers, the place to be in all of North America.
The festival’s music lineup is impressive, ranging from headliners Radiohead and Beck (pictured) to Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band (who recorded at Memphis’ Ardent Studios last year), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, My Morning Jacket, and even Brazilian Seu Jorge (who sang Bowie songs in Portuguese in The Life Aquatic).
If you O.D. on music, you can always head over to the “air-conditioned cinema tent” to catch films like The Shining, This is Spinal Tap, and Real Genius or watch sporting events such as the NBA Finals and the World Cup. You can also see comedians Lewis Black and Patton Oswalt at the comedy tent, or visit the Solar Stage, which will feature everything from buskers to break dancers to speakers on global warming.
There’s a campsite, so take your sleeping bags and tents (or RV if you have one). Just gauge your threshold for a weekend’s cohabitation with 90,000 grubby folks, and if you can stomach it, you could do a lot worse than spending your weekend in Manchester.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, June 15th to June 18th. Tickets are $184.50. www.bonnaroo.com
