Podcast

The What Podcast

Music, Music Commentary, Music Interviews

Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make festivals happen. Whether you're a Bonnaroo veteran or a first-timer, subscribe now to stay in the loop on everything that makes music festivals unforgettable.

Episodes
319
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
52 min
On air since
2018
Latest episode
6 days ago

Episodes

319 episodes, newest first

  1. IBMA Red Carpet 2026: Is Bluegrass Getting Younger?

    Season 9, Episode 42

    Show notes

    Is Bluegrass getting younger? We walked the IBMA red carpet in Chattanooga and asked the players who would know: James Kee of East Nash Grass, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Molly Tuttle, and Sierra Hull. The same theme kept coming up: a new generation is stepping in, and the people who came up before them are passing the torch.

    Barry Courter, Bryan Stone and Russ also look back at last week's Billy Strings reopening of the Tivoli and what it says about where the music is headed.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro: IBMA in Chattanooga

    (05:01) Live from the Red Carpet

    (14:06) James Kee, East Nash Grass

    (20:12) Darin & Brooke Aldridge

    (23:34) Molly Tuttle

    (26:50) Sierra Hull

    (32:19) Wrap-up

    (35:46) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    CaveFest 2026 Recap: Live From The Caverns

    Billy Strings Reopens Chattanooga's Restored Tivoli Theatre

    Billy Strings 10/20/26 Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, TN

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    36 min
  2. Billy Strings Reopens Chattanooga's Restored Tivoli Theatre

    Season 9, Episode 41

    Show notes

    Billy Strings is reopening the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, a 105-year-old landmark that just finished a $75 million restoration. We sat down with Nick Wilkinson of the Tivoli Foundation to find out how it happened, why a city spends that kind of money on a theater, and how the live music business really works.

    Billy plays two nights at the Tivoli (Oct. 20 and 21) in a room of about 1,600 seats, during IBMA week. Nick explains how the reopening came together, how the ticket lottery works, why tickets can't be transferred, and how the free block party outside works, with the show projected on giant LED screens outside the venue.

    Then we get into the bigger picture: why it took so long, who paid for it, why touring is now how artists make a living, the "no runny eggs" rule that keeps big acts coming back, how Live Nation and Ticketmaster fit in, where ticket fees actually go, and what's next for concerts in Chattanooga.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (03:07) Interview: Nick Wilkinson, Tivoli Foundation

    (04:12) Billy Strings and the Tivoli reopening

    (11:28) Why the renovation took so long

    (23:52) The music industry, no runny eggs and Live Nation

    (44:44) Takeaways and festival news

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    CaveFest 2026 Recap: Live From The Caverns

    Tivoli Theatre Foundation

    Saving Moon River: How the Festival Overcame a Sunday Rainout

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
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    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    56 min
  3. CaveFest 2026 Recap: Live From The Caverns

    Season 9, Episode 40

    Show notes

    Live from The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, we recap CaveFest 2026 with our ticket winner, plus the venue, the music, and the camping.

    Barry and Russ are joined by Bryan, back on the show after a couple of months, our bicoastal correspondent Elizabeth Thorpe, who flew in from Washington State for her third CaveFest, and Abby, the fan who won our ticket giveaway and is at her very first CaveFest!

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Hurricane Weekend at CaveFest

    (03:37) Our Ticket Winner's First CaveFest

    (06:03) The Caverns: Storm, Grounds & Vibe

    (15:21) The Music, the Crowd & Camp Spirit

    (23:00) Up Next: IBMA World of Bluegrass & Wrap-Up

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    How The Caverns Became Tennessee's Premier Music Destination

    Instagram: @ethorpephoto

    The Musician Who Plays Mushrooms

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    30 min
  4. Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Recap From Two Festival Veterans

    Season 9, Episode 39

    Show notes

    Two festival veterans break down Bourbon & Beyond 2026 in Louisville: the crowd, the hotels, the VIP setup, the beer prices, and the weather.

    Barry and Russ are joined by our senior and junior correspondents, Trevin Bernarding and David Champion, who go to several festivals every year. They review the festival from the gate to the stage, then compare it with the rest of the circuit and look ahead to 2027.

    In this episode:

    - What Bourbon & Beyond is like: an older crowd, lots of guitars, no DJ sets

    - The hotel rule that surprised them, plus VIP and general admission

    - The amusement park, festival beer prices, and "And Beyond" branding

    - How cancellations, evacuations, and weather shape their festival plans

    - Their best tips for first-timers and how they find new bands

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (03:12) Bourbon & Beyond 2026 Recap

    (18:51) Hotels, VIP & Festival Comforts

    (26:48) Planning 2027 & the State of Festivals

    (38:20) Best Tips & Festival Discoveries

    (46:01) Outro

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    46 min
  5. The Musician Who Plays Mushrooms

    Season 9, Episode 38

    Show notes

    How do you play a mushroom? This week we're joined by Tarun Nayar of Modern Biology, a Vancouver-based musician who uses bioelectric signals from mushrooms, plants, and other living organisms to create music. Using custom-built devices and synthesizers, Tarun translates biological activity into musical information, creating performances that blend science, technology, improvisation, and art.

    We talk about how he discovered plant and mushroom sonification during the pandemic, the history of bioelectric music, Brian Eno and Robert Fripp's influence on generative music, and what we can expect when he performs in a cave at CaveFest next month. (get tickets here!)

    Plus we catch up with Abby, the winner of our CaveFest ticket giveaway: a recent festival-goer who has several Bonnaroos and Shaky Knees under her belt, and will now be a first-time CaveFest camper! Abby shares her festival journey and why she's excited for her next adventure at The Caverns.

    Finally, we preview some upcoming festival coverage in the coming weeks, and try to get to the bottom of why so many festivals this year are getting cancelled or disrupted because of weather.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Music made from mushrooms?

    (04:08) Modern Biology's Tarun Nayar

    (24:22) Abby's Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees & CaveFest journey

    (36:50) Bourbon & Beyond and CaveFest preview

    (38:15) Why festivals keep getting cancelled

    (40:04) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Modern Biology LIVE @ Indian Summer Festival

    @modernbiology101 on Instagram

    Get Tickets to CaveFest Here

    Fripp & Eno - A Radical Representative Of Pinsnip - Paris (1975)

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    40 min
  6. We Got Evacuated at Shaky Knees 2026

    Season 9, Episode 37

    Show notes

    The rain and heat at Shaky Knees 2026 did not stop Russ from having a good time in Atlanta! We catch up live from the hotel on Saturday morning and then the full recap in this episode: the heat, the lineup, and the Saturday storm and evacuation.

    Hear about notable performances from Turnstile, Fontaines D.C., Geese, LCD Soundsystem, and Gorillaz who closed the fest out Sunday night, plus what it was like riding out the evacuation in downtown Atlanta.

    Then we're joined by Scott Miller, one of the artists performing next month in October (get tickets here!) for a great conversation about songwriting, his history with The Caverns, and cows.

    Headed to Hulaween? Use code THEWHATPODCAST for $20 off a four-day pass. https://thewhat.co/hulaween

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    Thumbnail photo: Roger Ho for Shaky Knees 2026

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (10:19) Shaky Knees Day 1: Checking In From Atlanta

    (22:36) Full Shaky Knees 2026 Recap: Heat, Rain & the Lineup

    (26:33) Scott Miller Talks Songwriting and Cows

    (43:37) Outro

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    45 min
  7. Inside Bumbershoot: Where Music Meets DIY Art (and Wrestling)

    Season 9, Episode 36

    Show notes

    Our bicoastal correspondent Elizabeth Thorpe is back, and this time she's breaking down Bumbershoot, the Seattle festival where music meets DIY art, animation, a fashion district, roller derby, and yes, actual wrestling.

    Beth walks us through all of Bumbershoot: the lineup (Death Cab for Cutie, Turnstile, De La Soul, Bikini Kill, Orville Peck), what makes a city festival different from a camping one, and the outsider-arts culture that Bumbershoot still preserves, the same DIY spirit that gave rise to grunge. Plus, a look ahead to CaveFest (camping tips and what's new), a Shaky Knees preview, Hulaween, and some Chattanooga artists who just landed an NPR Tiny Desk concert.

    We're giving away two tickets to CaveFest at The Caverns (October 10โ€“11, camping included)! Details: https://thewhat.co/giveaway

    If you don't win, get tickets to CaveFest here!

    Headed to Hulaween? Use code THEWHATPODCAST for $20 off a four-day pass. https://thewhat.co/hulaween

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Beth's Back

    (01:09) Win 2 Tickets to CaveFest

    (02:18) Inside Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival

    (26:54) Shaky Knees Preview

    (29:04) CaveFest: Camping, Cold Weather & What's New

    (46:11) Save $20 on Hulaween Tickets

    (47:03) Chattanooga Artists on NPR's Tiny Desk

    (48:37) Wrap-Up

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Two Festivals We're Hitting This Fall: Shaky Knees & CaveFest

    CaveFest 2026 Ticket Giveaway: How to Enter

    @ethorpephoto on Instagram

    Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the Long-Term Vision for The Farm

    How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

    After Bonnaroo: How to Choose Your Next Festival

    Get $20 off Hulaween tickets with code THEWHATPODCAST

    Mon Rovรฎa: Tiny Desk Concert

    Isaiah Rashad: Tiny Desk Concert

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    49 min
  8. Two Festivals We're Hitting This Fall: Shaky Knees & CaveFest

    Season 9, Episode 35

    Show notes

    Bonnaroo may be taking 2027 off, but festival season isn't over. This week Barry and Russ break down the two festivals they're hitting this fall, Shaky Knees in Atlanta and CaveFest at The Caverns, and share their tips for doing each one right.

    One's a city festival, one's a camping festival, and they're very different experiences. We get into the Shaky Knees lineup (The Strokes, Turnstile, Fontaines D.C., Twenty One Pilots and more), how to handle a city fest (hotels, getting around, the stages), and what makes CaveFest special โ€” the cave stage, the amphitheater, camping in October, and the lineup up at Pelham. Plus festival news, the Good Friends Music Festival in Manchester, and how we're all still keeping Manchester in our plans.

    We're also giving away two tickets to CaveFest at The Caverns (October 10-11, camping included). Details in the episode and at https://thewhat.co/giveaway.

    If you don't win, get tickets to CaveFest here! Oct 10-11, 2026 at The Caverns

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Catching Up + Festival News

    (04:04) Good Friends Fest & Manchester

    (07:21) CaveFest Ticket Giveaway: How to Win

    (09:00) Shaky Knees: The City Festival Guide

    (16:43) CaveFest: The Camping Festival Guide

    (33:00) What's Coming Up

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the Long-Term Vision for The Farm

    Good Friends Music Fest

    CaveFest 2026 Ticket Giveaway: How to Enter

    How The Caverns Became Tennessee's Premier Music Destination

    Get CaveFest Tickets Here

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    35 min
  9. After Bonnaroo: How to Choose Your Next Festival

    Season 9, Episode 34

    Show notes

    No Bonnaroo in 2027? Here's how to figure out where to go instead. With Bonnaroo taking a fallow year, a lot of us are asking the same question: what festival do we go to now? So we brought in long-time friend of the show Liesl (@rockstarsweat), a festival superfan who's been to Bonnaroo, Pickathon, Glastonbury, Solid Sound and just about everywhere in between, to talk through how she actually chooses which festivals to attend.

    Barry, Russ, and Liesl get into the real decision-making: lineup vs. community vs. cost, how the Glastonbury ticket lottery actually works, the difference between city and camping festivals, and why the fallow year might just open a door to something new. Plus, we open the show remembering Dolly Parton, and why she belonged at Bonnaroo.

    Get tickets to CaveFest here! Oct 10-11, 2026 at The Caverns

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Welcome Back, Liesl

    (02:41) Remembering Dolly Parton

    (13:12) Bonnaroo's Fallow Year

    (16:46) Beyond Bonnaroo: Pickathon, Glastonbury & More

    (21:05) How Do You Choose a Festival?

    (23:31) How Glastonbury Tickets Actually Work

    (27:36) What Bonnaroo's Year Off Means for Fans

    (31:07) City Festivals vs. Camping Festivals

    (36:40) Festival Bucket Lists

    (38:00) CaveFest

    (42:17) Festivals We're Hitting Next

    (41:23) Going to Festivals Solo

    (45:51) Wrap-Up

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    @rockstarsweat on Instagram

    Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the Long-Term Vision for The Farm

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    47 min
  10. Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the Long-Term Vision for The Farm

    Season 9, Episode 33

    Show notes

    Bonnaroo is taking 2027 off, and we wanted to dig into what's next. This week we're joined by David Bruce (I Am Bonnaroo) and Ryan French, a Manchester city councilman and tourism official with a front-row seat to what a fallow year actually means for the town Bonnaroo calls home. We get into the economic ripple through Manchester, why Bonnaroo is the "bell cow" for festivals far beyond itself, what a year off does to the local businesses and community that depend on it, and why our guests are hopeful about 2028 and beyond.

    Plus, Barry reflects on a full-circle moment: covering Bonnaroo in 2002 as a skeptical newspaper reporter, and getting quoted in Rolling Stone about its future 24 years later.

    Get tickets to CaveFest here! Oct 10-11, 2026 at The Caverns

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) The News, One Week Later and a Rolling Stone Shoutout

    (00:03:19) How We Got Here: From a 2002 "Hippie Fest" to Rolling Stone

    (00:20:54) David Bruce & Ryan French Join

    (00:27:41) Bonnaroo the "Bell Cow" and What It Means for Other Festivals

    (00:35:14) What a Year Off Costs Manchester

    (00:49:50) The Community Response and Keeping Bonnaroo Alive

    (01:01:08) Looking Forward and Moving Ahead

    (01:09:08) Reflecting on Past Cancellations

    (01:13:07) Mini-Roos and 2027 Events

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Rolling Stone: Bonnaroo Taking โ€˜Much-Needed Year Offโ€™ in 2027

    Ashley Capps

    Force Majeure with Jeff Becker

    What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

    Bonnaroo Cancels 2027: Our Live Reaction

    Catching Up with I am Bonnaroo Creator David Bruce

    Instagram: @iambonnaroo

    How Bonnaroo Changed Manchester Forever: Live from Planet Roo

    https://totemfnd.org/

    Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    1 hr 15 min
  11. Bonnaroo Cancels 2027: Our Live Reaction Bonus

    Show notes

    We officially have confirmation on Bonnaroo's 2027 cancellation. We got together to share our initial reaction, and Barry literally pulled over on the side of the road to record this. As far as The What Podcast goes, we're still here every week and we'll have a deeper dive into this news next week.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    22 min
  12. Is Hulaween Everything Bonnaroo Used to Be?

    Season 9, Episode 32

    Show notes

    Is Hulaween everything Bonnaroo used to be? We put the question to John, our EDM and jam-scene correspondent, and his answer says a lot about how both festivals have changed.

    John makes the case for Hulaween, String Cheese Incident's own festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, where the daily lineups just dropped. We get into what makes it different from Bonnaroo: the jam-forward lineup with an electronic edge, the six-hour String Cheese / My Morning Jacket / STS9 runs, and the secret sets where anyone might sit in: Goose turning up to play with Cheese, that kind of unplanned magic. It leads to a real conversation about whether Bonnaroo's special moments have started to feel scheduled instead of spontaneous, and John doesn't hold back, including some honest thoughts on this year's very EDM-heavy Thursday.

    Plus: John recaps his own Bonnaroo 2026 (great, but different, and quieter than years past), we looks ahead to ShoalsFest October 3-4 in Alabama, CaveFest at The Caverns October 10โ€“11 (get tickets here!), and take a look at the surprisingly free EDM lineup at our own River Games in Chattanooga.

    Need Hulaween tickets? Save $20 on GA 4-day passes with code THEWHATPODCAST!

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    00:00:00) Intro

    (00:01:24) Festival updates: CaveFest, 420 Fest, ShoalsFest, River Games

    (00:09:22) EDM Correspondent John Joins the Show

    (00:16:50) Hulaween Drops its Daily Linueps

    (00:26:43) Comparing Hulaween to Bonnaroo

    (00:35:44) John's Bonnaroo 2026: Great, But Different

    (01:02:12) What's Next for The What Podcast

    (01:09:01) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

    Kyle Hollingsworth Interview: String Cheese Incident, New Music & Craft Beer

    Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    1 hr 10 min
  13. How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

    Season 9, Episode 31

    Show notes

    How has Bonnaroo changed over the years? We asked someone with a rare vantage point โ€” Elizabeth Thorpe, festival photographer and our West Coast correspondent, who's been going to Bonnaroo since 2004 and now shoots it from inside the photo pit.

    Beth walks us through what the festival experience is really like from behind the lens: the "first three songs only" rule, why the pit is her happy place, and how Bonnaroo has evolved from a freewheeling field party into something bigger, busier, and more produced.

    We also get into her recent run of festivals beyond Bonnaroo: Wilco's Solid Sound in Massachusetts (with a Mermaid Avenue set featuring Billy Bragg and a surprise Natalie Merchant appearance) and Pickathon out in the Oregon woods. Beth covered both for The What Podcast, and shares her photography throughout.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:01:48) 20 Years at Bonnaroo, From Superfan to the Photo Pit

    (00:28:08) Solid Sound: Wilco's Own Festival in Massachusetts

    (00:42:52) Pickathon: Eight Stages in the Oregon Woods

    (01:06:54) Still No Dates for Bonnaroo 2027?

    (01:08:57) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

    Flying to Bonnaroo: What You Actually Need to Bring

    Bonnaroo 2026: Thursday Headliner Confirmed + Our Corona Capital 2025 Breakdown

    Instagram: @ethorpephoto

    Instagram: @circles_of_sound

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    1 hr 10 min
  14. What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

    Season 9, Episode 30

    Show notes

    What do Bonnaroo fans actually want from a podcast? We surveyed our listeners โ€” and 89% agreed on the answer. In this episode of The What Podcast, Barry, Bryan, and Russ break down the results of our listener survey: where you're really listening (YouTube is running away with it), how you found the show, and what content you want more of.

    We also catch up on a busy stretch of festival season: the rain that hammered Lollapalooza and Hinterland, the pull of Pickathon out in Oregon, and a remembrance of Glen Hansard. Plus: which festivals YOU want us to cover next (Shaky Knees, Bourbon & Beyond, and a few surprises made the list), and a look at the flood of vintage Bonnaroo photo galleries taking over Reddit.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (01:08) Keith Richards & Our Bonnaroo Radio Takeover

    (08:29) Jesse Welles in Asheville

    (14:49) Lollapalooza, Hinterland, and Pickathon

    (23:41) Remembering Glen Hansard

    (27:40) The Survey: We Asked Why You Listen

    (28:30) Where Do Bonnaroo Fans Actually Listen?

    (30:41) 89% of Our Listeners Want This

    (35:45) How You Actually Found Us

    (40:53) Which Festivals Should We Cover Next?

    (43:31) Your Comments

    (50:52) The Bonnaroo Photos Reddit Loves

    (55:56) Wrap-Up & Camp Nutbutter Memories

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards

    Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese Incident & More

    Traveling to Bonnaroo: A Patreon Chat

    It's Bonnaroo Week! Hype, Stories & Last-Minute Tips

    St. Paul and The Broken Bones' Paul Janeway Got Peed on at Bonnaroo

    Instagram: @ethorpephoto

    Instagram: @rockstarsweat

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    56 min
  15. Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese Incident & More Bonus

    Show notes

    The What Podcast took over Bonnaroo Radio in 2026! We present a two-hour special that aired during the festival, bringing together Noah Kahan, RรœFรœS DU SOL, String Cheese Incident's Kyle Hollingsworth, and the people who built and shaped Bonnaroo. Produced and packaged by Bryan Stone, and now collected here in full.

    Spanning six years of interviews from 2019 through 2025, it's a cross-section of the show's history and how it's evolved โ€” from Noah Kahan on songwriting to the origin story of how Bonnaroo launched, a conversation about sobriety at the festival, the wild backstory of Dancing Man Chris, and Kyle Hollingsworth on String Cheese Incident and his new solo record. Originally aired on Bonnaroo Radio, WFTZ 101.5 FM The Rooster.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:00:34) Noah Kahan on songwriting as therapy

    (00:11:14) RรœFรœS DU SOL on how the pandemic rebuilt the band

    (00:20:32) Tim "Tuba" Smith on running the festival & the Squarch saga

    (00:48:33) Ken Weinstein tells Bonnaroo's origin story

    (01:00:17) Patrick Whelan on Soberoo and finding support

    (01:20:18) The surprising story behind Chris "The Dancing Man"

    (01:39:45) Kyle Hollingsworth on String Cheese Incident and wild artist collabs

    (01:59:18) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Noah Kahan on Mental Health and Allowing Himself to Be Honest

    Trading Whiskey Shots for Ginger Shots: RรœFรœS DU SOL Joins The What Podcast

    Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith

    Ken Weinstein

    Mapping Out the Highlights and Conflicts of the Bonnaroo 2024 Schedule

    Lord Taco's Bonnaroo 2025 Picks and an Encounter with "The Dancing Man"

    Kyle Hollingsworth Interview: String Cheese Incident, New Music & Craft Beer

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    2 hr
  16. Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards

    Season 9, Episode 29

    Show notes

    We had the chance to sit down with Keith Richards this week. Not that Keith Richards โ€” let's get that out of the way early. Our actual guest is the newly-named Head of Festivals at Ground Control Touring, an independent booking agency representing artists from Waxahatchee to Japanese Breakfast to Manchester Orchestra. He was named to the role this past January, Ground Control's first-ever Head of Festivals, and he joined us to pull back the curtain on how a festival lineup actually comes together.

    We get into the questions we've always wanted answered: do artists really make more money at festivals versus arena tours? Is there a "cookie-cutter lineup" problem, or is that a myth? Why is developing a true headliner one of the hardest jobs in the industry right now? Keith also walks us through what it was like being on-site at Bonnaroo 2026 during the storm evacuation, riding it out alongside Bonnaroo's own team, and drops a list of up-and-coming artists he thinks are worth watching heading into next year.

    Listen to this week's episode with Keith Richards here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (02:24) Meet Keith Richards (Not That One)

    (07:06) How Booking Actually Works

    (24:26) Keith's History with the Booking Industry

    (30:16) Cookie-Cutter Lineups & the State of the Industry

    (40:20) Bonnaroo Hasn't Gotten Old, You Have

    (42:10) Artists to Watch: Who's Next?

    (49:18) Not That Keith Richards (The Full Story)

    (51:29) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Shaky Knees 2025 vs. IBMA Chattanooga: Live from the Red Carpet + Bilmuri Interview

    Ground Control hires Keith Richards as head of festivals & Joy Hubbard as festival coordinator

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    52 min
  17. We Filled Out Bonnaroo's 2027 Music Census

    Season 9, Episode 28

    Show notes

    Bonnaroo puts out an official music census every year asking fans what they want to see next โ€” so this year, we sat down together to answer every single question. We walk through it all: genres, headliners, comedy acts, late-night programming, the future of That Tent's new location, Bonnaroo Radio, and more. What do we agree on? What do we disagree on?

    Before the census, we catch up on recent local trips, and break down the newly finalized Hulaween lineup. Plus: Billy Strings opens Chattanooga's newly renovated Tivoli Theater, and Reddit's already buzzing about 2027 Bonnaroo mock lineups.

    NOW TAKING OUR OWN LISTENER SURVEY!

    How did you find the show? What do you listen to us on? What do you want to hear more of? Take 2 minutes and help shape what we cover next: https://thewhat.co/survey

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:00:36) Catching Up: Recent Trips

    (00:05:04) RIP Rick Williams: A Chattanooga Music Legacy

    (00:06:43) Bryan's Sphere Anniversary & The Caverns

    (00:10:25) Hulaween 2026 Lineup Reactions

    (00:13:30) Billy Strings Opens the Tivoli Theater

    (00:15:21) Bonnaroo 2027 Mock Lineups

    (00:19:23) Bonnaroo's Official 2027 Survey Begins

    (00:23:33) What Genre Do We Listen to Most?

    (00:24:46) What Genre Needs More Presence at Bonnaroo?

    (00:33:07) Should Bonnaroo Bring Back Comedy Acts?

    (00:39:58) Headliners vs. Undercard: What Matters More?

    (00:45:56) Does Bonnaroo Help You Discover New Music?

    (00:50:18) Late Night Sets & Time Between Shows

    (00:53:46) Bonnaroo in June vs. September

    (00:54:10) How Important Is the SuperJam?

    (00:54:57) Should Thursday Have More Stages?

    (00:55:30) That Tent's New Location: Was It a Success?

    (00:59:43) Grading Bonnaroo Radio

    (01:03:09) Did Anyone Watch the Where Stage?

    (01:05:16) Bonnie Roo's: The Farm's New Hangout Spot

    (01:08:05) Who We Want at Bonnaroo Next Year

    (01:08:59) Take Our Own Listener Survey

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Dead & Co. at the Sphere and Happy Landing at Bonnaroo 2024

    Camping at Bonnaroo: Must-Know Updates and New Amenities for 2025

    Church Boners React to Bonnaroo Ticket Contest Entries

    The What Podcast Audience Survey

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
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    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    1 hr 10 min
  18. The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Is Now Bonnaroo Famous

    Season 9, Episode 27

    Show notes

    Meet the man who's become a Bonnaroo legend, one signature at a time. Caleb Arias, creator of the Bonnaroo Yearbook, joins us for the third time to break down how his passion project exploded this year. What started as pitching strangers to sign a notebook is now three-hour lines, sold-out printed editions, and fans hand-crafting custom trinkets just for him.

    Grab your own copy of the Bonnaroo Yearbook at https://bonnarooyearbook.com and use code THEWHATPODCAST for 50% off!

    We get into the wristband smuggling caper, the moment Caleb revealed Bryan might have the most beautiful signature in the entire book (calligraphy pen and all), and what it's really like becoming a recognizable figure at a large music festival: including the sacrifices, the boundaries he's had to set, and why he stayed sober the entire weekend just to protect the project. Plus: a sneak peek at a possible Bonnaroo children's book starring his bearded dragon, Trogdor.

    Listen to this week's episode with Caleb here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:00:32) Caleb, the Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Returns

    (00:02:14) The Wristband Heist & Getting to the Farm

    (00:12:24) How the Yearbook Project Began

    (00:15:47) Bryan's Calligraphy Pen & Inside the Book

    (00:24:14) Becoming "Bonnaroo Famous"

    (00:33:18) From Passion Project to Real Money

    (00:36:09) Trogdor, the Children's Book & Music Highlights

    (00:42:04) Chasing Sunrise Sets & Planning for Next Year

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories

    @bonnarooyearbook on Instagram

    How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    56 min
  19. How Bonnaroo 2026 Survived the Storm (And Became Unforgettable)

    Season 9, Episode 26

    Show notes

    Bonnaroo 2026 might have been the best one yet, and we are here to break down the entire weekend for you! We recap a festival full of serendipity: a surprise wedding in The Grove, an unforgettable run-in with singer-songwriter Jesse Welles on Shakedown Street, Bryan's first-ever Roo Run, and the Noah Kahan set and fireworks that closed it all out.

    Looking behind the scenes, we also go deep on how Bonnaroo pulled it all off. After the rain, the mud, and a Thursday-night power outage, we've got details on all the improvements. 2,700 yards of mulch, new French drains, sump pumps and generators, and more! Plus a music rundown covering Wet Leg, Geese, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, GRiZ, Mount Joy, The Strokes, The Chats, and Blues Traveler, and a moment to remember Oliver Tree.

    Thumbnail photo by Evan Brown

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) The Best Bonnaroo Ever? Our 2026 Recap Begins

    (00:00:44) 300 Episodes! How We Got Here

    (00:01:46) The Bonnaroo Moments We'll Never Forget

    (00:07:03) Ranking Bonnaroo 2026 Against 20+ Years

    (00:14:00) Getting to the Farm: Setup, Common John & Jiffy Burger

    (00:19:28) Thursday at Bonnaroo 2026

    (00:25:15) The Thursday Night Power Outage

    (00:29:54) Behind the Scenes: Dale Green's Bonnaroo Infrastructure Tour

    (00:37:00) Did Moving the Stage to The What Field Work?

    (00:40:45) What Bonnaroo Is Fixing for Next Year

    (00:42:54) The Which Stage's Big Comeback

    (00:44:29) Surviving Sunday: The Storm That Almost Won

    (00:51:11) A Surprise Wedding in the Grove

    (01:01:15) Bryan's Best Day Ever at Bonnaroo

    (01:20:29) What's Next + Looking Ahead

    (01:22:56) Remembering Oliver Tree

    (01:26:50) Send Us Your Bonnaroo Pics!

    (01:29:56) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    It's Called: Freefall (GRiZ Remix)

    Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

    How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

    Instagram: @ethorpephoto

    Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses

    ______

    ๐ŸŽง LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com/
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    ๐Ÿ“ฑ SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
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    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    1 hr 30 min
  20. How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

    Season 9, Episode 25

    Show notes

    We're back from The Farm! First, Barry and Russ give a quick recap of an unforgettable Bonnaroo 2026 (our full deep-dive recap is coming soon!). Then we bring you our live panel from the Planet Roo stage, where we sat down with the nonprofits behind Bonnaroo's charitable mission: Kelsey Dewald (Planet Roo / Bonnaroo Works Fund), David Conover (Grundy County Food Bank), Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity), Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral), and Nancy Tarr & Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation). From a $100,000 grant for local school mental health to rescuing 25,000 pounds of food a year โ€” here's how Bonnaroo gives back, and how your ticket does so much more than get you through the gate.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:01:54) Quick Bonnaroo 2026 Recap

    (00:17:18) Live from Planet Roo at Bonnaroo 2026

    (00:24:43) Kelsey Dewald (Bonnaroo Works Fund)

    (00:33:42) David Conover (Bonnaroo Food Sustainability)

    (00:40:18) Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity)

    (00:45:48) Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral)

    (00:58:26) Nancy Tarr and Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation)

    (01:08:40) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard

    Bonnaroo 2026: Meet the podcasters who talk โ€˜Roo year-round

    Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026

    Instagram: @ethorpephoto

    Bonnaroo 2026 Recap: Roodemption!

    Reel: I Am Bonnaroo

    ______

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    1 hr 9 min