It's time to get hyped for Bonnaroo 2025! In this episode, we break down major updates, including the confirmation of Tipper on the lineup. Tipper’s inclusion is creating buzz, and we speculate on his placement in the schedule. We also discuss what this means for Bonnaroo’s evolving lineup strategy and its ability to bring legacy acts into the spotlight. We also need to talk about some of the recent policy changes, such as the new re-entry fee if you leave the farm, and new ticket options.

Beyond the festival news, Russ talks about the Bonnaroo Takeover, a last-minute meetup in East Nashville hosted by marketing director Cory Smith and the Bonnaroo team. Featuring free Spicy Pie, a DJ set by Sparkle City Disco, and the "Letters to Roo" mailbox project, this event highlights the festival's commitment to the community. Could future Bonnaroo meetups be planned?

Finally, we dive into the broader festival scene, from Shaky Knees' move to Piedmont Park and date change to Coachella's 2025 lineup featuring Kraftwerk and Misfits.

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:39) Last Week at The Caverns
(00:04:58) Bonnaroo's Nashville takeover
(00:24:27) Re-entry fee
(00:33:19) GA+ and Insider
(00:37:27) Tipper confirmed
(00:42:46) Other festival news
(00:53:09) Country music at Bonnaroo
(01:03:57) Outro

Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details.

This week on The What Podcast, we take a field trip to The Caverns in Pelham, TN — a music venue like no other. Located just 20 minutes from Bonnaroo's Farm, The Caverns offers an extraordinary experience, hosting shows underground in a breathtaking cave and on a sprawling outdoor amphitheater.

We sit down with Todd Mayo, the visionary behind The Caverns, to uncover its remarkable story. From serendipitous beginnings to becoming one of Tennessee’s most captivating entertainment landmarks, Todd shares insights from his journey, including highlights from his new book, Caveman Chronicles. Whether you're a music enthusiast or someone interested in the behind-the-scenes challenges of running an independent venue, don't miss this deep dive episode!

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:09:51) Interview with Todd Mayo
(01:33:18) Outro

We are still unpacking last week's conversation with Brad and Cory from C3 about what to expect for Bonnaroo 2025. Lots of new information on changes and improvements for next year, and of course we've got to take a guess at who they are hinting at for headliners.

In addition to all the Bonnaroo info, we take a look at some of the recent news about When We Were Young Festival, and Chappell Roan's SNL performance. What's got you most excited for Bonnaroo 2025? Leave us a comment below and subscribe to The What Podcast for the latest festival news and info!

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Photo By: Evan Brown

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CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:05:59) Chappell Roan on SNL
(00:14:36) When We Were Young
(00:19:01) Unpacking last week's episode
(00:27:06) Thursday/Sunday headliners
(00:32:40) Where in the Woods and EDM
(00:35:35) Transition from AC/Superfly to C3
(00:49:00) Final thoughts on changes
(00:51:06) Our guesses for headliners
(00:57:00) Outro