Bonnaroo 2022 Artist Spotlight: The War on Drugs

Like we’ve been doing for many years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorite acts from Bonnaroo‘s 2022 lineup. And, for the first time in three years, we finally feel confident that there definitely will be a Bonnaroo this year, after a postponement then cancelation in 2020 due to Covid, and an unfortunate rainout of last year’s would-be September event. Returned to its traditional timeframe of June 16-19, this marks Bonnaroo’s 21st summer and 19th installment, and features a largely new lineup for the festival’s much-anticipated return!

As we dig through the entire schedule, we’ll highlight a spread of performers spanning across genres and stages, big and small, new and old, to bring you some of the most interesting, lesser-known, and most highly-recommended among this year’s crop of artists. And as our time at ‘Roo approaches, we’ll also be bringing you some special features and full list-style daily lineup guides, to help you plan your weekend ahead of the fest. While these previews won’t span every artist, and might omit some more obvious must-see acts, we hope they’ll serve as a way to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s gargantuan lineup, and to make the most of your busy weekend on the farm!

Grab your tickets right here if you haven’t already, and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!

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Formed 17 years ago in Philadelphia, eclectic outfit The War on Drugs have been one of indie rock’s biggest success stories of the past decade, since breaking out with masterful 2014 third album Lost in the Dream. Centered around frontman and primary songwriter Adam Granduciel, the project first came together with friend and musical kindred spirit Kurt Vile, who Granduciel bonded with over shared taste upon first moving to Philly. Vile would stay active through the group’s 2008 debut, Wagonwheel Blues, while Adam also toured as part of Vile’s own band, The Violators, before the two songwriters split to pursue their respective musical ambitions shortly thereafter. Though The War on Drugs’ lineup was a bit more of a revolving door early on, through their debut and sophomore effort Slave Ambient, it had settled into its current sextet by Lost in the Dream, the record that would break the band out to vast critical acclaim and make them darlings of the indie scene, also leading to a major label deal with Atlantic. A bit hard to pin down musically, TWOD’s sound is ostensibly indie, but pulls from elements of folk and Americana (Bob Dylan was a big early inspiration, as are Wilco), psych rock and shoegaze a la Sonic Youth, Bruce Springsteen-esque heartland rock, and ’80s inspired synth-pop, a dense and lush convergence of sounds that has only been honed across recent records A Deeper Understanding (which won the band a Grammy for Best Rock Album) and last year’s really lush and grand I Don’t Live Here Anymore. Renowned for their live shows, The War on Drugs have blown us away time and time again over the years, both at some excellent early shows in Nashville and at fests like Bonnaroo, where they last played in 2015. Even if you’re planning to see the group later this month at The Ryman, you should still consider their return to the farm a must-see set!

WATCH | “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” ft. Lucius (Official Music Video)