Bonnaroo means a lot of things to a lot of people. Some go for the music, some go for the party, some go for the experience and some go for all of the above.
To this writer, artist and musician, Bonnaroo feels like a completely different world. A place where there’s more love, more freedom and music everywhere.
Personally, I have been to Bonnaroo 12 years in a row and have seen an incredible list of artists and shows. Once I discovered the magic of Bonnaroo, I was hooked. Each year, I felt like I couldn’t miss it since there was all that music, magic and inspiration just a few miles down the road from Murfreesboro. Every year is an adventure, a test of endurance, a test of will and wallet, and a psychedelic paradise for music lovers and camping fanatics. There’s nothing like it.
One of Bonnaroo’s 2018 headliners was Nashville’s own Moon Taxi. Their show was one of the highlights of the entire festival and they drew a very impressively sized crowd with many in attendance loving every minute of the phenomenal musicianship and energy.
My old band, The Last Straw, played multiple shows and clubs with Moon Taxi a decade ago, and it’s been cool to watch the guys in that band build their artistry into a substantial career. It has also been cool to watch them work their way up from the small stages at Bonnaroo to becoming a headliner.
Moon Taxi at Bonnaroo 2018. Photos by Josh Rish
The Pulse asked Moon Taxi’s drummer Tyler Ritter about his Bonnaroo experiences.
Pulse: Did the Road to Roo contest change things for you as a band?
Ritter: So when we did Road to Roo, it was the very first year that it was a thing, and we didn’t win. It was a bummer, but it also stoked the fire under our butts and got us even more motivated to try and get there on our own.
What does Bonnaroo mean to you?
It holds a special place in my heart, for sure. I went for the first time when I was 18 and fresh out of high school, so the nostalgia that comes with being in Manchester is very strong. If it means anything to me, it’s the camaraderie and freedom that comes with experiencing a concert with so many people in such an isolated place. Those first few years I went it was always a religious-type experience, as well as a fueling event to help motivate my aspirations in music.
What’s your experience been like working your way up from the small to big stages?
When we first performed in 2012, we had a decent following going into that show. We were able to turn a lot of heads that year, and since then it’s been a very gradual ascent with each of our other appearances there.
People from all over go to music festivals, but I feel like Bonnaroo still has this mythical status that attracts folks from all over the world. Getting to play a “big stage” this year in a “big kid” time slot was surreal.
Check out more images of Bonnaroo 2018:
