The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival returned to Manchester, TN is located on a 700+ acre farm providing attendees one of the most unique experiences in the country allowing four plus days of live non-stop music across many large stages. In addition to all the fun offered in Centaroo, the festival has taken great strides each year to build "Outeroo" a camping area accommodating many thousands of people feature packed with uniquely themed plazas, smaller stages for exclusive and intimate performances,

Thursday's headliners included Zed's Dead and Liquid Stranger, along with many artists performing across multiple stages. WFMC Jams was onsite for its fifth year providing coverage, interviews, and photography of independent artists. A brief pause in music occurred in the afternoon with the threat of a severe thunderstorm moving into the area, but mostly dodged the farm allowing music to resume quickly again. With a slightly delayed time from the threat of storms, Briscoe performed at This Tent and shortly after headed over to the media to talk with us about their music experiences. Full interview with Briscoe can be found here

MANCHESTER, Tenn. - Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton met when they were teenagers at a summer camp in west Texas and Thursday they brought their brand of bluegrass tinged Americana to This Tent at the 2023 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.  It was the first time the five-piece band played the south's premier music festival.

Henitzelman and Lupton were drawn together by their similar tastes in music.  Lupton started Briscoe as a senior in high school and invited Heintzelman to join while they were both students at the University of Texas.  Even though they're both in their early 20s, their musical tastes date back to the “golden age” of the late 60s and 70s and artists like The Beatles Paul Simon, John Prine, Willie Nelson and The Grateful Dead.  They're also fans of modern artists including The Avett Brothers, Mount Joy and Jason Isbell.

Lupton and Heintzelman each write songs and handle vocal duties on the songs they wrote.  Occasionally they'll bounce ideas off each other, but are now seeking input from the three other band members.  They're also planning on co-writing some tracks in the future.  They describe their music is more lyric driven like some of the artists that influence them.  Briscoe has recently completed their 10-track debut album with Grammy nominated producer Brad Cook. The album should be released the fall.  Lupton said they gather influence for their songs in nature and life experiences.  When they were in summer camp, a mile-long low water bridge became flooded, but it provided the basis of a song about the flooded canyon that prevented anyone from entering or leaving.  “We're going to start campaigning for it,” Lupton said.

The next step will be a headlining tour.  While they've played other music festivals, this was their first time to play one the size of Bonnaroo.  Before playing the This Tent, they performed a set Wednesday in one of the Outeroo plazas set up in the general admission campground.  They were blown away by the energy in the crowd who arrived at the festival early to set up their campsites.  “The energy was insane,” Heintzelman said.  Unfortunately, the band had to leave the fest for a show Friday in Indianapolis, then Chicago.  Briscoe will continue their North America through the summer and into fall hitting many popular cities across the U.S.

Unlike many artists who struggled to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, Briscoe was still in its embryonic stage and not at the point of touring heavily. Heintzelman was finishing up high school and Lupton was a freshman at the University of Texas.  Once the pandemic began to ebb they started playing some backyard shows and focused songwriting,  “The timing worked out for us,” Truett said.

 For additional tour information and details on their upcoming album in the future, be sure to check out Briscoe's official website and follow their social media.

On May 27th, thousands attended the Fourth Annual May Day Music Festival at its new location at the McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama.  The May Day music festival initially started out as a response to help for the North Alabama communities that were devastated by the floods back in February of 2019. The name "May Day" was chosen for the inaugural fundraising event due to being held in the month of May and was hosted at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.  Due to the success of the first event, May Day has continued its tradition of helping various people and organizations in need.

This year the Restoration Ranch for substance abuse treatment located in Tuscumbia, Alabama was chosen for this year's fundraising. The Restoration Ranch is an 8 to 10 month Christian discipleship program for those both male and female struggling with drug alcohol and emotional problems of the ages 18 and up. People experiencing these issues are welcome to seek help from the ranch, even if they don't have insurance as the services are provided free. As a result, the Restoration Ranch relies on funding for its operations. This year the May Day festival was able to raise $6,000 thanks to the generous contributions from the Florence community and beyond that attended this year's event.

WFMC Jams and Alabama Jams were both in attendance for this event providing a live stream all day Saturday for those who could not attend and to spread awareness for the Restoration Ranch. The event featured many activities including a car show, a bike run, a variety of vendors including merchandise and food, activities for kids such as bouncing castles, and live music by many artists who contributed their time to help make this event a success.  

Plans for 2024 May Day festival are already underway for next year, and the event organizers have announced that they have chosen McFarland Park again for next year's event expanding to a two day affair on Friday and Saturday preceding the Memorial Day Holiday.

2023 Fourth Annual May Day Fest - WFMC Jams YouTube Channel

Just a little over a month away, the 2023 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will once again raise the bar bringing festival-goers a unique experience with many enhancements and options making this the MUST ATTEND festival of the summer!

With a killer lineup including KENDRICK LAMAR, FOO FIGHTERS, ODESZA, PARAMORE, LIL NAS X, BABY KEEM, TYLER CHILDERS, VULFPECK, MARCUS MUMFORD, MY MORNING JACKET, GRIZ, RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE, PORTUGAL. THE MAN, KORN, and over 100 more artists.  There's music for everyone to enjoy at the farm over four days from June 15th to 18th in Manchester Tennessee!

Listening to feedback from its patrons, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is taking a different approach for this year by opening up many brand new ticket options that have never been offered previously.  The options are designed to give complete flexibility to the user experience in both price and accessibility of the festival.  Festival-goers are now able to indvidually customize their Centeroo Experience while separately picking an experience with Parking and Camping known as "Outeroo".  Of the camping options, many new themed areas across the 700+ acre farm have been created with various options ranging from primitive car camping to glamping, a variety of tents, and more.  View the many new ticket options on the official Bonnaroo site.  With Bonnaroo being right around the corner some ticket options may be sold out, so don't wait!

Outeroo - The Campgrounds at Bonnaroo Bonnaroo - Bonnaroo YouTube Channel

As of this writing, tickets are still available but limited and could sell out!  Head over to the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival site today and secure your tickets to experience a memorable summer on the farm with your friends.

"Welcome Home" - Bonnaroo Bonnaroo - Bonnaroo YouTube Channel