The lineup for the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is extremely promising, with a number of big-name musicians from a wide array of genres slated to grace the stages. Despite the roughly 80 musical acts on the bill, festival goers are still hoping that the “more artists to be announced soon” will include some of their favorites. While this may be wishful thinking, I will continuously list prospective artists until Bonnaroo listens up.
Amy Winehouse:
Amy Winehouse performs at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis in 2007.
The Grammy-winning, British jazz-pop phenom Amy Winehouse has been holed up in St. Lucia for the past few months, attempting to break free from drugs and her soon-to-be-ex, Blake Civil-Fielder. Undeniably talented, quick-witted and lyrically-gifted, Winehouse has the kind of name recognition that would draw humongous crowds (if not just to see if she falls over or punches another fan). Plus, a comeback appearance on this year’s Coachella bill leaves me wondering just one thing: why not Bonnaroo, Amy? (Photo courtesy of Stacy Sandstrom on Flickr)
The Dead:
Phil Lesh, of The Dead, performs in California in 2008.
When I told my parents that I was going to Bonnaroo this year, they had two simple questions, “can we come?” and “is The Dead playing?” Needless to say, without the late, great Jerry Garcia, The Dead is just a shadow of the legendary band that my parents brought me up listening to. Still, with a 2009 tour on the agenda, their headline appearances at Bonnaroo in 2003 and 2004 and Phil Lesh’s subsequent performances with his band in 2006 an 2008, I ask: where’s The Dead? (Photo courtesy of Scott Beale/Laughing Squid)
Joanna Newsom:
Joanna Newsom performs at the Latitude Festival in 2008.
The minuscule-voiced harpist hailing from Nevada City, California graced the Bonnaroo stage in 2005 right after her debut album, “The Milk-Eyed Mender,” was first released. Since then, Joanna Newsom has reinvented her sound, released the epic “Y’s” and re-worked EP “Joanna Newsom and the Y’s Street Band,” and has been seen touring with a small, folk band. Her lyrics tell grandiose stories, and her new-found tendency to lead her band in lengthy jam sessions seems to fit the Bonnaroo line-up like a glove. (Photo courtesy of Mario Menti on Flickr)
