Bonnaroo Artist | Hot Mulligan
Bonnaroo History | Newbie
Stage & Time | Saturday | That Tent | 4:15-5:00pm
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 2025 lineup. A festival that feels like it’s ever evolving (especially with some big tweaks and improvements in the past few summers post-pandemic), this year marks Bonnaroo’s 22nd installment (and 24th anniversary), boasting not only another great and varied lineup, but also some exciting additions like the brand new, high-tech Infinity Stage, billed as “the world’s largest 360-degree, immersive sound experience” and unlike anything that’s ever been showcased in North America. Back once again in its usual June 12-15 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!
We’re told tickets are very low and on track to sell out, so grab those right here if you haven’t already (and don’t forget the camping or parking pass), and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!
LEARN
Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, emo and pop punk outfit Hot Mulligan have become one of the scene’s most essential and versatile acts over the last decade, self-proclaiming themselves the “best new band” upon their arrival, as well as the originators of “post-emo” (you’ll find that they’re pretty adept at sarcastic shit-posting, but also pretty good at manifesting the things they joke about). Lead singer Nathan “Tades” Sanville and guitarist and vocalist Chris Freeman are the longest-running members, and came up playing together in bands in rural Michigan, with several other members cycling through in the early days, as Hot Mulligan released some promising EPs on logutcal Save Your Generation Records. After relocating to Lansing, and inking a deal with popular punk label No Sleep Records, the pair recruited guitarist Ryan “Spicy” Malicsi and drummer Brandon Blakeley, ahead of their buzzy 2016 EP Opportunities and well-received debut full-length, Pilot, in 2018 (current bassist Jonah “Fantasy Camp” Kramer joined in 2022 as a touring member, and became a full-time member last year). Inspired by emo great of the aughts like Taking Back Sunday and The Wonder Years, Hot Mulligan are markedly more earnest, vulnerable, and sharp in their writing style than their more lighthearted, very online, jokester outward persona (that’s not to say all of their songs are serious- they have a popular single about sunglasses, and have name-checked famous artists like Mark Hoppus in titles in a bid for their attention). 2020 sophomore LP You’ll Be Fine was an impressive sonic leap forward, cementing them as one of modern emo punk’s best bands, and helping them reach a wider audience, though, unfortunately, it dropped just as Covid lockdowns began, limiting the band’s ability to capitalize on its buzz on the road. Instead, they focused on making more music, resulting in 2021 EP I Won’t Reach Out to You, which felt very much in conversation with Fine, and refined their confessional, resonant writing style even further. The last few years have seen the band only continue to grow in popularity, and share the stage with some legends of pop punk, with third album Why Would I Watch dropping on new label home Wax Bodega in 2023. A record which leans more into the group’s propulsive pop punk tendencies, though still emotionally resonant and more confident and refined than ever, Hot Mulligan have, so far, produced one of the best and most consistent discographies of the last decade, and through countless performances on stages of all sizes, they’ve refined a really stellar, fun, and powerful live show to match. We were hoping after last year’s emo SuperJam, that Bonnaroo’s emo side would be supersized this year, but if we’re going for quality over quantity, Hot Mulligan are a must-see!
WATCH | “Shhhh! Golf Is On” (Official Video)
LISTEN | “BCKYRD”
