The What Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Could comedy make a comeback at Bonnaroo in 2025? Expanded camping options, or even a two-weekend event? This week on The What Podcast, we dive deep with Bonnaroo insiders Festival Director Brad Parker and Marketing Manager Cory Smith from C3 Presents. They share exclusive insights into what worked in 2024, what fans loved, and the exciting changes planned for 2025. If you're a Bonnaroovian, you won’t want to miss this one!

And, of course, it wouldn't be Bonnaroo without a diverse lineup. Brad and Cory hint at what fans can expect — from EDM headliners to legacy acts — and talk about the balancing act of booking artists that honor Bonnaroo's roots while offering the "best in the streets" to appeal to any fan, regardless of genre.

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Photo By: Evan Brown

Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details.

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:29) Beat in Nashville
(00:07:08) This week's guests
(00:15:19) Russ in a music video
(00:16:37) Interview with Brad and Cory
(00:18:14) Bonnaroo 2024 feedback
(00:31:15) Grading last year's festival
(00:35:12) Focusing on community
(00:37:42) C3 revolutionized the industry
(00:42:45) Lessons learned
(00:25:53) Tuesday entry
(00:53:09) Lineup talk
(01:08:58) Bonnaroo census
(01:14:47) Teasing things for Bonnaroo 2025
(01:18:39) Chappell Roan
(01:25:51) GWAR
(01:28:14) Brad's tweet
(01:29:35) Changes for Bonnaroo 2025
(01:37:20) Who stage
(01:38:02) Final thoughts
(01:39:37) Outro

It's been five years since Exit 111 took place on our beloved Farm in Manchester, featuring heavy-hitting acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses. Bryan Stone attended with Taco, while Barry made a visit to check it out. The hosts reflect on the festival's surprising gun policy and discuss how things have changed since then. Will Great Stage Park ever host another festival like this?

In more recent news, we explore Sand in My Boots, a new festival headlined by Morgan Wallen in Gulf Shores, AL, which replaces the long-running and beloved Hangout Festival. Hulaween is also on the horizon in Florida.

Find The What Podcast on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Discord!

Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details.

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:05:32) Exit 111
(00:24:43) CaveFest
(00:27:23) Hangout Fest
(00:38:05) Hulaween
(00:43:13) Outro

While Bonnaroo news is light this week, the festival scene up north is buzzing. Lollapalooza lit up Chicago, and Montreal's Osheaga was equally vibrant. The crew is amazed by Chappell Roan's skyrocketing success in the pop world, as she wowed crowds at both festivals alongside artists like Noah Kahan, Green Day, and Reneé Rapp.

Closer to home, Chattanooga is set to host a new Bluegrass festival for the next three years, and Bryan and Barry delve into this exciting development for the city. They also explore Huntsville's South Star and discuss some lineup changes at next month's Bourbon and Beyond. Finally, they look ahead to key dates for Bonnaroo 2025.

Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen.

Talk Bonnaroo and other festivals with us! Join the Discord

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:27) New Albums
(00:13:27) New bluegrass festival coming to Chattanooga
(00:30:39) Lollapalooza
(00:36:59) Osheaga
(00:40:20) Upcoming lineup changes
(00:45:51) South Star
(00:49:00) Bonnaroo Dates
(00:51:34) Outro

Now that we're all recovered (mostly), it's time for The What Podcast to recap Bonnaroo 2022.

After almost three years without one, it was a different kind of Bonnaroo this year on The Farm. Though Brad wasn't on the ground this year, he led Barry and Lord Taco in a discussion of how it went for the them. Throughout the discussion the discuss the good, the challenges, and the "never not great."

Check out the full episode here, or watch The What trio recap Bonnaroo 2022 via YouTube.

It's Bonnaroo week, so The What Podcast welcomed a group of Bonnaroovians onto the show for a live episode. Brad, Barry, and Lord Taco were joined by Tara and Kai, Jake from the RooHamm podcast, Bryan Stone from Camp Nutbutter, and Daniel and Sharia from The Real Roo Bus to discuss what they're excited about, changes to the Farm, and lineup picks.

Listen to the episode here or watch it via YouTube. As you make the annual pilgrimage back to Bonnaroo, make sure to like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Bonnaroo is just a week away, which means it's time to finalize your personal schedule. Barry and Lord Taco, with some help from Brad, offer their picks for which acts they plan to see at The Farm this year.

Plus, find out what other non-music events are can't miss -- including where to see The What hosts recording a live episode -- by listening now. You can also watch the gang make their 2022 Bonnaroo schedule picks via YouTube.

When you've set your lineup, like, review, and subscribe to The What wherever you get your podcasts.

Lineup release day and schedule release day are special occasions for festival fans. Brad, Barry and Lord Taco from The What Podcast offer their thoughts on the Bonnaroo 2022 schedule. What are the highlights and where are the conflicts?

Do us a favor and like, review, and subscribe to The What wherever you get your podcasts.

From camping to showering tips to what to bring and not to bring, Bonnaroo veterans Brad, Barry and Lord Taco from The What Podcast offer some of their Do's and Don'ts for how to do Roo.

Once those are secure, Bonnaroo veterans and The What hosts Brad, Barry, and Lord Taco have plenty of tips. From camping etiquette to showering tips, self-care advice to packing lists, the trio of longtime Camp Nutbutter residents share their knowledge of Roo do's and don'ts

Superfly was just over five years old when co-founder Rick Farman and three of his former college buddies and fellow co-founders decided to create what became Bonnaroo. Farman joins Brad, Barry and Lord Taco of The What Podcast to talk about why they wanted to do it, and why they thought it might work.

In addition to discussing the history -- and future -- of Bonnaroo and other Superfly events, Farman digs into their newest venture: Superf3st. A Web3 community-based experiment, Superf3st aims to build an event from the community up, giving members a chance to make decisions and influence the direction of the festivals itself.

EDM and all of its subgrenres have become a big part of Bonnaroo in recent years, and the guys on The What podcast freely admit it's not their lane. So, Barry and Lord Taco reached out to friend of the show Kyle to learn more and get his thoughts on which acts are not to be missed at this year's Bonnaroo.

Follow Kyle on Instagram at @thekylegonzalez or @thesteelyvan, and listen to his EDM playlists on Spotify here: Bass, House, Pop, and Hiphop.