The What Podcast - Bonnaroo, Festival News, and More

Latest Episode

The Bonnaroo 2025 Bandana Debate: What Fans Are Saying

Season 8, Episode 20 May 14, 2025 1h 6m Video

In a surprise move for 2025, Bonnaroo is not including a bandana or gift in its wristband shipments - and fans have strong opinions. Barry and Lord Taco reunite with Bryan Stone to unpack the "gift-gate" controversy, why the missing bandana matters to so many, and what it says about the evolution of the festival. It's a deep dive into Bonnaroo tradition, fan culture, and how communication from organizers plays a role in festival loyalty.

Bryan also catches us up on what he's been doing these past few weeks, and the crew runs through the latest Bonnaroo 2025 news as we hit the 30-day countdown to the Farm. Also, be sure and join The What Podcast for a special meetup live episode on The How Stage inside Planet Roo at 4:00 PM on Thursday during Bonnaroo!

Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here, or watch it on YouTube. We'd love to hear your thoughts as well, leave a comment on YouTube or Spotify! Be sure and like and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts.

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Previous Episodes

Planning Your Perfect Bonnaroo Week: Packing Tips, Schedule Strategies & Survival Guide

S08E19 May 7, 2025 1h 27m Video

It's time to start planning your Bonnaroo week! Bryan Stone is out, so we get Evan Bonnaroo to fill in as guest host and share his picks for what shows and activities he has laid out. We are also joined by EDM Kyle to round out the discussion. The group covers everything from travel routines and pre-festival meetups at local hotspots (like Common John Brewing and the Manchester Walmart) to the importance of having a well-organized Bonnaroo packing list. Read More

Inside Hinterland: Sam Summers on Festival Challenges and the 90-Degree Guarantee

S08E18 May 1, 2025 59m Video

In this episode of The What Podcast, the hosts sit down with Sam Summers, the founder of Iowa's Hinterland Festival, for a deep dive into the art (and chaos) of modern festival production. From booking Fall Out Boy in college to launching Hinterland in 2015, Sam walks us through his journey from DIY club shows to managing a 20,000-attendee outdoor event that has weathered literal floods and the fury of the internet. Read More

Ultimate Bonnaroo 2025 Camp Prep: Packing, Planning, and Survival Tips

S08E17 Apr 30, 2025 1h 36m Video

In this episode of The What Podcast, hosts Barry, Russ, and Bryan are joined by special guests Beth and Abbey to dive deep into Bonnaroo 2025 prep and camp setup essentials. With less than 46 days until we are back on The Farm, the crew discusses smart strategies for getting ready now - from vehicle maintenance and camping gear organization to planning group logistics and must-have supplies. Read More

Bonnaroo 2025 Schedule Breakdown: Highlights, Conflicts & Surprises

S08E16 Apr 23, 2025 1h 10m Video

The Bonnaroo 2025 schedule is finally here! Barry, Bryan, and Taco break it down day-by-day and explore the surprises, conflicts, and can't-miss sets on this year's lineup. From the historic addition of three What Stage acts on Thursday-Luke Combs, Marcus King, and Wilderado-to Friday's major scheduling conflicts like Goose and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, the crew delivers their initial thoughts and reactions. Read More

Dogs in a Pile Talk Bonnaroo 2025 Debut, Jam Band Roots, and Songwriting with Tom Marshall

S08E15 Apr 16, 2025 1h 7m Video

In this episode of The What Podcast, Barry and Bryan sit down with Brian Murray and Jeremy Kaplan from Dogs in a Pile, the fast-rising jam band making their Bonnaroo debut in 2025. From their early days playing Grateful Dead covers on the Jersey Shore to developing a genre-bending sound influenced by Zappa, Coltrane, and Miles Davis, the band shares their journey and what fans can expect when they hit the stage in Manchester this June. Read More

World of Bluegrass comes to Chattanooga and the Latest Bonnaroo 2025 News

S08E14 Apr 9, 2025 1h 14m Video

This week on The What Podcast, we're diving into Bonnaroo and the World of Bluegrass! In an exclusive interview, we chat with Ken White, Executive Director of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), and Randy Steele, a local bluegrass musician, about moving the World of Bluegrass event from Raleigh to Chattanooga in 2025. Read More

Bonnaroo 2025 Countdown: Ticket Sales Update & Our Lineup Deep Dive

S08E13 Apr 2, 2025 1h 12m Video

The countdown to Bonnaroo 2025 is officially on! In this episode, we dive into the buzz surrounding ticket sales-could this be a rare sellout year? We also explore the lineup with fan-suggested artists you won't want to miss and build the ultimate festival playlist. Plus, we discuss exciting updates like Bonnaroo's new disc golf announcement, the World of Bluegrass coming to Chattanooga, and shakeups in Goose that could impact their set. Read More

And the Bonnaroo 2025 Ticket Winner is...

S08E12 Mar 26, 2025 1h 2m Video

Spring has finally sprung, and that means two things: less than 80 days to Bonnaroo 2025, and it's time to reveal our contest winners! After twelve weeks and countless entries, The What Podcast crew selects the winner of two GA wristbands plus a camping pass, a print from I Am Bonnaroo photographer David Bruce, and a Bonnaroo Yearbook! We also start our deep dive into the Bonnaroo 2025 lineup, starting with your suggestions and Bryan shares his Bonnaroo playlist to kick things off. Read More

5 Years After COVID: How Bonnaroo Survived & Came Back Stronger

S08E11 Mar 19, 2025 50m Video

It's been five years since COVID-19 shut down the world, bringing live music and festivals like Bonnaroo to a halt. In this episode of The What Podcast, we reflect on how the pandemic impacted the festival industry, from the mass cancellations of 2020 to Bonnaroo's remarkable post-COVID comeback. Barry even records while battling COVID for the first time, making this anniversary discussion all the more surreal. Read More

Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith

S08E10 Mar 12, 2025 1h 21m Video

In Bonnaroo's 20+ year history, few controversies stung fans more than the fiery demise of its iconic arch in 2019-replaced by a giant LED monolith nicknamed "The Squarch". In a rare interview with The What Podcast, Tim "Tuba" Smith-C3 Presents' Director of Festivals and Strategic Initiatives-finally tells us the full story. Read More

Bonnaroo Community Spotlight: How Church Boners Became a Festival Family

S08E09 Mar 5, 2025 1h 42m Video

Ever wonder how some Bonnaroo veterans claim the same prime camping spot every year? In this jam-packed episode of The What Podcast, we continue diving into the Bonnaroo camping experience with the legendary Church Boners crew. From their humble beginnings in 2007 to becoming one of the most recognizable and welcoming camps on The Farm, Rick, Chad, Sean, Nicholas, Justin, and Caroline share hilarious stories, pro camping tips, and the magic of building a Bonnaroo family. Read More

Camping at Bonnaroo: Must-Know Updates and New Amenities for 2025

S08E08 Feb 26, 2025 1h 26m Video

Bonnaroo isn't just about the music - camping is a huge part of the experience, and that's the focus of this week's episode of The What Podcast. Listeners recently submitted their top camping questions on our Discord server, and we brought in Brad Parker, Festival Director for C3 Presents, to get the answers straight from the source. Read More

Reviews for The What Podcast

Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts

"I never feel compelled to write a review but these guys do great job offering insight and access to the festival. Helps me stay true to roo all year long!"

Hutch154

"Great content to keep me amped for upcoming Bonnaroo! Love that the topics have evolved to discuss more than Roo."

marianoballon

"Lots of knowledge and insight from years of going from these guys. They know the festival very well and I'd recommend to any Bonnaroovian!"

Bparkinson12345

"This podcast truly gets me pumped for Roo. I learn new artists, there's great banter, and I feel like they're all my friends!"

Cassiosassio

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