Enough Rumors, Bonnaroo Lineup is Here!

...and it's a good one

(my picks are marked)

2009 Headliners:

*Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

The year is off to a bang for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. On January 27, they released their 16th studio album, "Working On A Dream." They're fresh off a performance at this year's Super Bowl. A massive world tour is in the works. Don't expect their Bonnaroo performance to be as cheesy as their Halftime Show was.

*Phish (2 shows)

One of the most successful touring bands of all-time is coming out of hibernation in 2009, along with their rabid, massive following. Phish heads everywhere are likely to be following their band all over the country, throughout the course of the year. However, for myself and an unknown number of others, 2009 will mark our first chances to see the band in action. It's been a long five years, but Phish is back, so I so bring on the mayhem that is their live show.

Beastie Boys

Favored by Bonnaroo fans across the internet, we're calling for a Beastie Boys latenight show this year on the main stage, a la Kanye West in 2008 - as long as the Beasties show up on time. The young, white punk-rappers, who rose to fame some twenty years ago, have paved the way for many of today's hardcore, hip-hop acts. No matter what time slot the Beasties play this year, their show will be diverse in both song selection and audience.

*Nine Inch Nails

Coming off tour in 2008, Nine Inch Nails are said to have been one of the year's best stage shows, with their psychedelic light show. Trent Reznor is said to have some big plans up his sleeves, as to how they may top their light show this year. Rumor has it that he wants to do something on the level of a Pink Floyd "The Wall" show.

*Wilco

The past few years has seen Wilco rising to the highest point of their careers, and the alternative country rockers are currently riding a huge wave of success because of studio albums and live shows, which are getting better with every show. Wilco is making a quick return to Bonnaroo, and though I don't know how they'll top their 2007 performance, I have confidence that Jeff Tweedy and company will follow up rather nicely.

The Rest of the Lineup:

*David Byrne

The iconic musician, actor, director and producer, is more commonly and importantly known as the the co-founder of the Talking Heads, one of New Wave's most successful and influential bands. Aside from the music of the Talking Heads, Byrne has a number of solo records out, some of them including a number of guests including Brian Eno, Cyndi Lauper and Tori Amos. His 2009 release, "Here Lies Love", is a collaborational, concept album that Byrne is working on with Fatboy Slim. Wouldn't it be great if Fatboy Slim was added to the lineup, making room for a possible onstage collaboration with Byrne? Expect many Talking Heads classics in his Bonnaroo performance this year, as well as a lot of new and solo material.

Al Green
Snoop Dogg
*Elvis Costello (Solo)
Erykah Badu
*Paul Oakenfold
*Ben Harper and Relentless7
*The Mars Volta
*TV on the Radio
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
*Gov't Mule
*Andrew Bird
*Band of Horses
Merle Haggard
*MGMT
moe.
*The Decemberists
*Girl Talk
*Bon Iver
Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate
*Rodrigo y Gabriela
*Galactic
The Del McCoury Band
*of Montreal
Allen Toussaint
Coheed & Cambria
Booker T & the Drive-By Truckers
David Grisman Quintet
Lucinda Williams
*Animal Collective
*Gomez
Neko Case
Down
Jenny Lewis
Santogold
Robert Earl Keen
Citizen Cope
*Femi Kuti and the Positive Force
The Ting Tings
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3
Kaki King
*Grizzly Bear
King Sunny Ade
*Okkervil River
St. Vincent
Zac Brown Band
Raphael Saadiq
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Crystal Castles
Tift Merritt
*Brett Dennen
*Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue
Toubab Krewe
People Under the Stairs
Alejandro Escovedo
Vieux Farka Toure
*Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Cherryholmes
Yeasayer
Todd Snider
Chairlift
*Portugal. the Man
The SteelDrivers
Midnite
The Knux
The Low Anthem
Delta Spirit
*AA Bondy
The Lovell Sisters
Alberta Cross

Stay tuned as I prepare for my first ever preview guide of the festival, which will include in-depth looks at these bands, along with some personal notes on the ones I've seen in concert, as well as one of the artists playing that I've even met.

But for even more important information, check out http://www.bonnaroo.com/