How far does the average fan travel to get to Bonnaroo?
According to a census conducted at last year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival, more than half of all visitors, 55 percent, travel over 500 miles to get to Manchester. That includes visitors from 37 countries and all 50 states.
So who are these people? According to the census information, 92 percent are college educated. And it’s almost an even split with 51 percent men and 49 percent women.
It’s also a younger crowd with 86 percent of visitors age 34 or younger. Only 7 percent of all Bonnaroo visitors are over age 45.
Some of the biggest names in music have played Bonnaroo during its 13-year run. That includes Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Metallica, ZZ Top, and Bob Dylan.
This year’s festival is just over a week away, staring next Thursday, June 11. The lineup includes Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Robert Plant, Kendrick Lamar, and a blast from the 1970s in jazz/ funk band Earth, Wind & Fire.
The Southern Standard was granted an interview with Earth, Wind & Fire bass player Verdine White last week as part of pre-Bonnaroo festivities.
White’s brother, Maurice, was the founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire in 1969 and Verdine joined the band in 1970.
Earth, Wind & Fire enjoyed tremendous popularity at a time when disco was king and groups like ABBA and The Bee Gees filled the airwaves. Earth, Wind & Fire charted seven top 10 songs from 1975 to 1981. This includes the No. 1 hit “Shining Star” and other top 10 songs “September,” “Let’s Groove,” and “After the Love Has Gone.”
After a couple decades of obscurity, Earth, Wind & Fire has, well, caught fire and become a popular concert draw. The band is known for its impressive light show and choreographed dance routines.
“The last three years, four years, have been really explosive for us,” said White. “I think what happened is a lot of the new generation caught onto our music. I think we were able to play some really great concerts. You know, the Hollywood Bowl out in Los Angeles with the Philharmonic. We did the Proms in London in Hyde Park for like 50,000 people. And I think they just really just caught onto the music. And now many young people come as much as their parents. So it’s really a very interesting phenomenon to see.”
With so many popular grooves and a big-horn sound coming from Earth, Wind & Fire, White was asked if he ever hears a song on the radio and thinks it may have come from his band. People who have listed Earth, Wind & Fire as musical influences include Prince, Phil Collins, Pharrell Williams, Mary J. Blige, Lenny Kravitz, and will.i.am.
“Everybody’s influenced by everybody,” said White. “And I think when you hear something you might hear a little bit of your song or hear a little bit of your sound in a record. But that’s a compliment too though. That’s a big compliment that people think highly of you that maybe someone put a little of our songs into their songs, you know.”
Over the years, the awards have accumulated for Earth, Wind & Fire. The band has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. White was asked about a special bass guitar he was recently presented as an award and whether he plays it in concert.
“It’s a really good bass. I have it in my trophy room in L.A. at the house,” said White. “I didn’t want to play it because it was an award, you know. I keep it with all my mementos and things like that in my trophy room. I have one room just for trophies now and it’s getting overloaded. I got to get another room now because every week I’m getting an award for something.”
In addition to playing Bonnaroo, Earth, Wind & Fire will be touring with the band Chicago this summer.
Tidbits
• Bonnaroo is North America’s largest camping event.
• It’s North America’s only music festival that operates 24 hours a day without a curfew.
• With a population of over 80,000, Bonnaroo becomes the seventh largest city in Tennessee.
• Bonnaroo is the only music festival whose footprint spans over 375 football fields, complete with its own taxi service, general store, post office, daily newspaper, 24-hour cinema, and its own major highway exit, which is Exit 113 on I-24.
Headliners
Billy Joel
Sunday, June 14
9 to 11:30 p.m.
My Morning Jacket
Saturday, June 13
8 to 10 p.m.
Mumford & Sons
Saturday, June 13
11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Bonnaroo demographics
Under 18 – 1%
Ages 18-20 – 16%
Ages 21-24 – 32%
Ages 25-34 – 37%
Ages 35-44 – 7%
Over 45 – 7%
From where they come
Less than 25 miles – 1%
25-99 miles – 8%
100-249 miles – 13%
250-499 miles – 23%
Over 500 miles – 55%
Of respondents, 24.2% said it was their first visit to Tennessee.
