Bonnaroo 2024 Artist Spotlight: Militarie Gun

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 2024 lineup. After roaring back to life in 2022, after two years off due to Covid and weather, and feeling fully like its old self again with a great fest last summer, this year marks Bonnaroo’s 21st installment (and 23rd anniversary), boasting not only another great and varied lineup, but also a continuation of some of the big changes and improvements rolled out over the last couple of years, with more flexibility in ticketing and camping, a reimagined “Outeroo” campground area, new activations, and further new ways to Roo. Back once again in its usual June 13-16 timeframe, we’re counting down the days until another great weekend on the farm.

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 at the fest!

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

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Los Angeles alt rock and melodic hardcore group Militarie Gun were never supposed to exist. Helmed by singer and Pacific Northwest hardcore scene vet Ian Shelton, Militarie Gun began as a creative outlet during Covid lockdown, arriving at a time Shelton’s Seattle-formed buzzy hardcore group Regional Justice Center were winding down as a burgeoning pursuit in filmmaking began to flourish, directing videos for the likes of Angel Du$t, Drug Church, and Supercrush, and moving to LA to further pursue the medium. However, like many people, Ian’s plans were monumentally altered by the pandemic, and he found himself doubling down on songwriting as his primary creative outlet, crafting Militarie Gun’s 2020 debut EP, My Life Is Over, all by himself. Soon rounding out the band with guitarists Nick Cogan and William Acuña, bassist Max Epstein (later replaced by Waylon Trim), and drummer Vince Nguyen, Militarie Gun were met with instant acclaim for a pair of 2021 EPs, All Roads Lead to the Gun and All Roads Lead to the Gun II, collected together and expanded with more tracks in a deluxe edition- their de facto first full-length- after signing to Loma Vista Recordings. Over the past few years, the rockers have toured relentlessly, and their sound- a sweet spot between an especially melodic and catchy take on hardcore and an aggressive and biting yet immensely catch flavor of pop rock- has set them apart from other acts in the contemporary punk scene, swiftly attracting a passionate following and leading to appearances at increasingly higher-profile shows, including a fests this summer like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Primavera Sound, and many more, in addition to ‘Roo. The band’s debut LP, Life Under the Gun, arrived last summer, and was praised as one of the best albums of 2023, both sharpening Shelton’s deeply personal and self-reflective though often lighthearted lyrics, and perfecting the group’s accessible, lush, hook-laden punk, conjuring greats like Guided By Voices, Fugazi, and The Jesus Lizard. More recently, they released an EP of stripped-down and reworked tracks featuring several guests, including Manchester Orchestra, Mannequin Pussy, and Nashville’s own Bully, and in that sweet Thursday, late evening timeslot, they’re primed to steal the show the first night of Bonnaroo- especially if you’re a punk fan!

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