The dust begins to settle.  Volunteers wearing tie-dye t-shirts and bandanna masks clean up after a long night.  The time is 9:00am and over a hundred people gather for a massive yoga session to clean the air and get ready for another twisted day at the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

            Bonnaroo, or as many lovingly call it, “The Roo”, is a four day long piece of artistic heaven on a 700 acre horse farm.  It’s filled with music, theatre, visual art and film.  During its four day life cycle, Bonnaroo caters to upwards of 80,000 fans, 80 plus bands, a handful of stand-up comics and film makers from around the globe.  In other words, it’s a 96 hour long wet dream for anybody interested in being swallowed up by activism, culture, counter-culture and, the unconditional love only the hippy spirit can bring.

            Bonnaroo is very very eco-friendly.  Recycling bins are everywhere, venders run on bio-diesel, and an entire stage powered by solar energy houses musical performances.  So for you environmentalists out there, Bonnaroo takes the environment seriously.  In 2005 Clean Vibes, a environmentalist group, recycled 56 percent of the waste from Bonnaroo.  For the rest of you, try not to spray copious amounts of aerosols into the air during your stay, it’s rude.

            As an attendee of the event, I can tell you from experience this is one weekend nobody should miss.  This year’s line-up includes: Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Chris Rock, Robert Plant with Allison Krauss, Willie Nelson, B.B King, Sigur Ros and, The Raconteurs.  To say it’s exciting is a disgusting understatement.  Bonnaroo is freaking awesome.  Bonnaroo is what the world would be like if John Lennon had his way.  I swear, I have had a mental hard on for weeks.

            Now, lets talk about the festival.  Expect a long line to get in, I’m talking two hours of waiting in a river of cars watching monks, hippies, deadheads, and vagabonds walk on by with backpacks full of who knows what.  Tip: If anybody tries to sell you baked goods, they (the goods) will be intoxicating. Buyer digression advised.

            After passing through the car inspection (no glass, fireworks, illegal substances, or weapons allowed) a totally “cool” looking fellow handed me a guidebook, a wristband, and two trash bags for recycling.  After my induction, I found a campground.  Setting up camp was easy.  Tip: remember a mallet; the Tennessee ground can be stubborn. I had all the freedom in the world.  Think freshman year in a campground with a constant supply of live music and 80,000 neighbors.  It was overwhelming at first. By day three, I was riding a free-spirited wave of groovy, rainbow colored love.

            I walked to “Centeroo” when my feet felt like it.  The walk can get long but it’s worth it.  That’s where the music and the art happens on eleven stages.  Yes, I said eleven stages.  That doesn’t include the countless number of buskers.  Everywhere I turned; there was an outward display of the human spirit.  The main acts are nice but I spent a lot my time paying homage to the guitarists, dancers, drummers and, mimes that pepper the festival.

Always expect to see unexpected things.  Naked parades of musicians and dancers are common.  At Bonnaroo being different is encouraged.  Forget Hollister shirts and Pacific Sun shorts and, designer sunglasses.  Wear costumes!  Paint your face!  Get naked!  I promise it will be ok.  Nobody will judge you.  Nobody cares!  Cut loose and get in touch with your primal side.  It feels good.  It’s liberating.  It’s sublime.  It’s nirvana.  It’s ecstasy

The music started at noon and didn’t stop until four in the morning.  Unfortunately, most of the artists played condensed sets.  Play lists lasted an hour and a half at most.  I wasn’t surprised when my favorite band didn’t have a trippy light show, it was all about the music.  The light shows were for main acts and the late night performances.  Most of my favorite bands played during the day in scorching hot temperatures.  I found nice spots under trees, sat back and listened to any band I wanted to.  A new band played every 45 minutes.  I saw many impromptu jam sessions.  Nothing was more satisfying than Ben Harper playing Dazed and Confused with John Paul Jones.  It was great hearing the signature bass line rocked by the bassist himself.  Between sets, I took my time browsing the shops and talking to anybody who looked interesting.  I also showered in the infamous mushroom fountain.  It was beautiful in all its phallic glory.

Let me take a moment here to address an important issue.  Drugs.  Bonnaroo does not condone or allow any illegal substances at the event.  Period.  But believe me, drugs are there.  Feel free to experience the festival any way you feel fit.  Pick your poison but be responsible.  The last thing anybody wants is to be in the midst of a drug-induced freak-out during the biggest concert of the weekend.  Trust me.  I know.  I’m still recovering.

Bonnaroo after dark was crawling with topless fairies, jesters, fire dancers, glow-stickers, x-fiends and, fifty man drum circles worshiping the gods of music.  The night is a circus.  I couldn’t count how many bizarre things passed in front of my eyes.  I couldn’t count how many people had their souls rattled by the silent disco or the Ferris wheel that seemed to touch the clouds.  Bonnaroo really came to life at night.  We were all at a party with a guest list of 80,000 and everybody knew it.  The night made me realize how big Bonnaroo really is.  During The Police I turned around and saw a sea of people a quarter mile deep.  Rolling Stone Magazine named it, “one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock and roll.”  Rolling Stone wasn’t kidding.

The ticket price ($250) becomes irrelevant after experiencing the festival.  Social norms and stereotypes become irrelevant.  The fact that your roommate doesn’t do dishes becomes irrelevant.  Bonnaroo changes people for the better.  It gives a warming sense of community.  It truly is a beautiful thing to experience.  Bonnaroo makes people aware of a global community that strives for peace and equality.  Bonnaroo is a catalyst for political and social change.  Bonnaroo is activism.  Bonnaroo is about coming together for four days a year to encourage the rest of the world to come together 365 days a year.  Bonnaroo is Mecca.  So make a pilgrimage to Manchester, Tennessee on June 12^th.  I hope to see you there.  Coming Soon:  The Music Festival Survival Guide.