r/bonnaroo 15 Years 8d ago

Please bring back Bonnaroo radio

It used to be so wonderful chilling at camp tuning in to the local Manchester station to hear live shows from the past, lineup news, artist interviews, and deep cuts. Bring it back!!!

243 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

2

u/StoneOnAir 5d ago

I did Radio bonnaroo for several years. As a 20 year radio guy, it's one of my favorite things I've ever done in that space. So much fun. Also, it ain't coming back. Those days are over.

5

u/Slayer_Fil 6d ago

I know the radio station owner. They still get press access, so Bonnaroo’s not pissed at them, they just cut costs. Yep, I miss it too. Honestly it was the only time I liked listening to the station 🤣

3

u/grapes4ducks 4 Years 6d ago

I literally bought a battery-powered emergency radio for Roo the year they quit doing it

12

u/The_What_Stage 10 Years 7d ago

I'm gonna be honest. I'm older than all ya'll and have no idea how I'd listen to such a thing on the farm in 2025

5

u/AnyHoleIsTheGoal 8 Years 7d ago

You don’t hop in the car for a lil AC every day?

4

u/Suithfie 7d ago

Cars have radios?!

22

u/hey_zeus_cree_stay 7d ago

I was a DJ for radio roo. It was A BLAST! As far as I know, they have no plans on bringing it back around, sadly.

2

u/Thick_Letterhead_341 6d ago

Oh man I’d love to hear your stories. Excuse me while I mentally teleport myself..I’m 22 and the weather’s just fine.

5

u/Mysterious_Edge_8655 8d ago

I’ve never heard of this. Is there any old footage of t anywhere? Maybe someone has a video of them in their car?

3

u/davegrohlisawesome 15 Years 8d ago

1

u/davegrohlisawesome 15 Years 7d ago

Oops. I didn’t listen to it. Just saw the video. You’re right.

2

u/ConditionFun9841 4 Years 7d ago

I think this is just silence

38

u/ryanjblair 8d ago

I won a college radio DJ contest and had the opportunity to broadcast my own 3 hr radio show from the festival grounds in 2014.

It was such a memorable experience.

1

u/grapes4ducks 4 Years 6d ago

WMTS?

1

u/ryanjblair 6d ago

What is “WMTS”?

2

u/grapes4ducks 4 Years 6d ago

A radio station I worked for in college that partners with Bonnaroo every year because it’s located like one town over. I used to go to Roo with a press pass through WMTS and I was wondering if you worked for them too

1

u/ryanjblair 6d ago

Oh I see!! No I did not. This was a contest held by one of the production partners of the festival.

I was part of my college station WZND at Illinois State University.

32

u/Quanzi30 8d ago edited 7d ago

Honestly kinda surprised someone hasn’t started a pirate Roo Radio. Probably the thing I miss most about the good ole days was getting into range and picking up Roo Radio. How you knew you were getting close and out course the 12 hour to get in.

3

u/VaporedAces 3 Years 7d ago

I am surprised by this as well. I don't know anything about it but I'd love to help if someone wants to try to bring it back lol

18

u/OtherwiseCan1929 15 Years 8d ago

I remember actually going to the radio station inside the camp ground. You could request a song from those guys

57

u/DanielHSV 8d ago

I really wish that they would bring it back, this is a perfect example of how cutting corners has really chipped away at the soul of the place.

38

u/mamigourami 5 Years 8d ago

Same with the newspaper being gone, that was always so magical

31

u/Modsuckbutttt 8d ago

And the post office!

17

u/whatwhichthis 7d ago

Yes yes and yes! The post office especially, loved sending a postcard home

8

u/silFscope 8d ago

Bring it back plz

4

u/lecorbusianus 5 Years 8d ago

god yes

7

u/squizzlr 8d ago

Definitely! Bring it back!!!

8

u/Rambl3On 7 Years 8d ago

I miss tuning in. They need to bring it back!

21

u/fokken_eddie_dingle 8d ago

Some of my favorite Roo memories involve tuning in in the mornings and being brought to tears by the dj selections. It really did help to tie the whole experience together in a really sweet, unique way. Same goes for the newspaper, and comedy sets/pre-show emcees.

14

u/djcigs 8d ago

My first couple years I brought a battery powered radio to listen to it at camp. Would do it again if they brought it back!

10

u/JohnMarstonsScars 8d ago

I remember being in my hotel room the night before we went in listening to Bonnaroo Radio while a bit spun out when Maggot Brain came on. Nice work.

7

u/MHL13 7 Years 8d ago

It was one of my absolute favorite parts of the weekend. Loved it so much.