2013 Bonnaroo Lineup Rumors

Today is the day that Bonnaroo rumors really kick into full swing with the release (and sell-out minutes later) of 2013 pre-sale tickets starting at 11pm CST.  We had a lot of fun and feedback from our posts last year, and were thrilled to have pretty much nailed the headliners early on.  So, given the season, why not jump right into another batch of Bonnaroo rumors?  Let us know who you would be most excited to see, and if you think we’ve missed anyone!

Unless you have been hiding under a stone for the past couple of months, you’d have to know that The Rolling Stones have released a new compilation album titled Grrr! which includes two new tracks “Doom and Gloom” and “One More Shot”.  This new release has resulted in the announcement of a couple of tour dates so far including a gig at London’s O2 Arena and Brooklyn’s Barclay Center.  It doesn’t sound like the boys from Dartmouth have any intention of slowing it down right now, so what would you say to seeing them as the top bill at The Roo in 2013?  You can check out “Doom and Gloom” below.  That being said, Paul McCartney also has a new record coming out in 2013, and will surely tour the US in support.  I wonder if there might be a stop in Manchester for either of these two British knights.

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What would you say if I told you that U2 has a new record coming out in 2013?  I wonder if Bonnaroo could afford U2 (or the Stones for that matter), but I did have a conversation with some of the founders a couple of years ago who said they just couldn’t support the “claw” for the video set up of their 360 tour.  That being said, I guess anything is possible.  Could you even begin to imagine Mick Jagger on stage with Bono for some sort of epic encore superjam extraordinaire?  I guess I can from the video below.

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDu0NHhq7YE&w=560&h=315]

Lady Gaga will be finishing up her forever long world tour in March (and she’ll be playing in Nashville in the last week of her tour).  I’m not sure that she would be interested in playing the Roo, but I can imagine that Bonnaroo would love that kind of attendance boom.  It’s something to consider.  Not to mention, Alice Cooper did cover Gaga’s “Born This Way” late night last year at The Roo.  That’s when that asshole security guard snatched my flask.

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Trent Reznor has a new side project called How To Destroy Angels.  You know that industrial electro rock sound would certainly warrant a packed What Stage on Saturday night.  No tour plans have been confirmed as of yet, but if you haven’t heard the very NIN sounding new project yet, have a listen to the utterly bad ass “The Space In Between” below. Additionally, Reznor recently hinted at something in the works for Nine Inch Nails proper for 2013, and what more epic a comeback than with a Bonnaroo appearance?

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF6VO4nk1Cs&w=560&h=315]

Sigur Ros is more than just wishful thinking, and there is a bit of speculation that they will make their first return to the farm since 2008.  They have a new EP that is coming out in 2013 to accompany their ongoing Valtari film experiment.  You can check out “Ekki Muck” below starring the Mayor from The Wire and a snail.  As for their tour schedule, it’s open for the Roo.  They are running through North America in the spring, followed by a few dates in Japan in May, and a late June week long festival in Denmark (that sounds like something I should attend).  We’ll have to keep our eyes on this rumor as their tour schedule continues to fill out.

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Wilco are always a fan favorite, and would be a really nice middle of the road dad rock band that could keep the Phish, Dead, String Cheese fans happy on Sunday night.  They are playing their own festival in late June, and it might be just the warm up that they need to get their summer touring started off right.  I was just talking to someone about that time lapse video they shot at The Ryman last year set to “The Art Of Almost”, and I included that below to remind you just how awesome Wilco on Sunday night would be.  Of course, that coveted Sunday night slot could also be the always loved Dave Matthews Band, who are doing a winter tour right now, and may have the summer festival fever.

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qS2M_rK4cI&w=560&h=315]

Beck is reportedly working on a new record.  Well, it is a record that was largely recorded back in 2008, but was never finished or released.  He also is “releasing” the Beck Hansen’s Song Reader in December which includes the lyrics or sheet music for 20 songs that have never been recorded or released by Mr. Hansen.  Regardless of Beck releasing anything truly new before the fest, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t play it.  He came out to play Outside Lands a few months ago for the second time since Modern Guilt was released.  You can check out “Golden Age” from the record that really needs a follow up, Sea Change, below.  If you weren’t there for Beck’s last Bonnaroo performance in 2006, you can check out a snippet complete with puppets here.

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Back to the ethereal electronic sound, Portishead has a new record coming out in 2013.  They had a string of dates in the US last year, and they currently are only slated for a festival in Switzerland in March (that’s another one I should try to attend).  Who knows what will happen with the enigmatic trip-hop legends, but it would be awesome to watch all the people on drugs on a Tennessee farm watching Portishead.  You can check out the video below from their appearance on Fallon last summer.

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The Flaming Lips did a bunch of Dark Side Of The Moon when I went to my first Roo in 2003.  They later released a cover version of Dark Side of The Moon and played Bonnaroo again in support of that release in 2010.  This year, they are working up a new take on King Crimson’s In The Court Of The Crimson King, which has to be awesome.  They also have their 15th LP The Terror that was slated for release this autumn, but will likely be released in early 2013.  I’m sure all of this means that these festival stalwarts will be considered a shoe-in for another Roo appearance.

You know the Roo is going to spotlight some hip-hop.  Always does, and always will.  There was all the talk about the Ghost of 2Pac, Snoop, Dre set from Coachella last year.  Dre has a new record, Detox, that is probably coming out sometime in the next year.  Eminem could also be on the bill with these cats, and he fuggin crushed it last time he took the main stage at Bonnaroo.  The chances of seeing 2Pac might be slim though, since the hologram company recently filed for bankruptcy.  Since you may not see it again, relive the magic from Coachella in the video below.  I guess we can’t leave Kanye or Jay-Z out of this list.  Kanye has a new record coming out in 2013, and hasn’t toured the US in a couple of years… namely his last Bonnaroo appearance. ‘Ye and Jay also allegedly have Watch the Throne 2 in the works, so there’s always a chance of them performing together as The Throne. Lil’ Wayne is also going to be dropping a new record in 2013 which could mean another appearance for him at The Roo.  I just had another thought, what about a late night set from the Wu-Tang Clan?  GZA did that insane late night set of Liquid Swords last year, and a late night reunion this year wouldn’t be completely unimaginable.

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbrFmPBV0Y&w=420&h=315]

Kids that are high (on life) need late night dance beats, and the Roo abides.  A couple of years ago, there was serious talk on behalf of the event planners to finally bring Daft Punk to the farm.  I’m not sure how much cash it would take to bring the elusive french robots out of hiding, but it sure would sell a lot of tickets.  I think my ears are still ringing from seeing them at Coachella in 2006.  Other possibilities could include a James Murphy appearance (as, or not as, LCD Soundsystem), Diplo, Hot Chip (It’s been 6 years, so this should happen), Deadmau5, or Flying Lotus.  However, you could also throw Atoms For Peace in here.  Both Thom Yorke and Flea did perform at the fest last year as part of their day jobs, but we all know that Atoms For Peace is going to be promoting the shit out of their debut full-length AMOK upon it’s release next year.  You can check out the first single “Default” below.

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxWBd840E9g&w=560&h=315]

We could roll through some flashback type acts, and include Bon Jovi, Guns n’ Roses, Soundgarden, Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, & Alice In Chains.  Each of these guys have new records that have recently, or will soon be, released.  You know that any of these guys would be a significant draw for the sometimes lacking mid-thirties age group.

What if we went way back and tried to duplicate some of the magic of The Beach Boys performance last year, and included some solid old schoolers like The Who (playing Nashville next week), AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Elton John (I would love to see that), Or what if that hologram company actually went bankrupt creating Duane Allman or Jerry Garcia holograms to complete some dream lineups just for this year’s Bonnaroo?

Update 12.4.12: It’s starting to look like safe money is on Fleetwood Mac reunion show headlining at the farm based on the just announced tour that skips all around TN to have its finale in… Detroit. Yeah, right, guys. Jessika’s already breaking out her shawls, scarves, and witchy regalia in celebration of this 35th anniversary of their landmark record, “Rumours.” Relive the magic below:

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How did I get this far through this post without covering any of the headliners of Lollapalooza in Brazil in February?  I mean, The Killers or The Black Keys are certainly worthy of a pretty notable slot in the lineup, but I guess I am thinking bigger than big.  We never even took a moment to discuss the likes of: No Doubt are knocking the dust off on a 6 night stand in LA right now; Jack White played a bunch of festivals last year, has lots of experience with the Roo through his other projects, and lives right up the road; Prince has been rumored to play too many times to count over the years; Arcade Fire last headlined the Roo in 2011, and they have a new record in the works; Mumford & Sons are bigger than ever right now; Fun. packed a tent last year and are ever growing in popularity; Queens Of The Stone Age are prepping a 2013 comeback album, and Dave Grohl is back on drums [update 12/6/12: QOTA will be in Europe that weekend]; Weezer last played the ‘Roo in 2010, and could be ready to get back on the road this summer; Roger Waters (with or without David Gilmour) would provide that old school buzz to keep the crazies around on Sunday; and Philip just tossed me the idea that David Bowie could make an appearance, though, I think we both tend to agree that this would be more likely to happen at Coachella.

We can also start scratching folks off the list as well.  Kings of Leon, for instance, have already announced a date in “Austira” that weekend.  Elvis Costello, Muse, and Depeche Mode will also be touring Europe the second week of June 2013.

There are a ton of other artists that I think will be there, but just aren’t headliners yet.  Think of Animal Collective, Bjork, Fiona Apple, Grizzly Bear, Tame Impala just to name a few.  Things will start to hash out with the announcement of summer concerts, and we’ll keep updating this post as more information is available.  In the meantime, get your summer plans going, and get ready for the ‘Roo!