Someone in a music thread laid out a neat case for why this year’s Bonnaroo lineup is way stronger than the headlines make it look — and honestly, they’re not wrong. If you dig across genres and care about memorable sets (not just the names on top of the poster), there’s a ton here that could turn into must-see moments.
Highlights called out by the original poster:
- Skrillex — their Shanghai Boiler Room set got name-checked as a reason to be hyped. Big electronic headline energy.
- DJ Lazer — crowd-pleasing dancefloor hits that land with all ages.
- Griz (and a nod to Subtronics) — the kind of bass-heavy, live-electronic set that becomes a communal moment.
- Zach Fox — comedy and surprise energy; expected to be hilarious and kinetic on stage.
- Trixie Mattel — drag performance that’ll be equal parts camp and pop spectacle.
- Vince Staples — sharp, funny, and theatrical rap that translates great to festival stages.
- Kesha — pop-meets-anthem energy that people still get wildly excited about.
- Notion — credited with a major summer remix that grabbed attention.
- Yungblud and Lil Jon — different flavors of high-energy performance that will move crowds.
- Rainbow Kitten Surprise — the kind of emotionally grand live show that makes people cry and dance in the same set.
- Rüfüs du Sol — understated, huge-climax dance sets that fit perfectly into late-night festival slots.
The thread also captured the usual festival split: some attendees miss legacy headliners, others are excited by the depth of the undercard. One user summed it up: “Headliners aren’t as strong as past lineups, BUT holy moly the undercard!!!!” Another reminded readers that festival lineups age with the crowd — if you follow new stuff across genres, this one rewards digging.
Practical takeaway: if you’re only scanning for familiar headliners, you’ll probably miss the best parts of the weekend. For fans who love discovery and cross-genre runs, this poster could produce the most unexpectedly great sets of the year.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/bonnaroo/comments/1pdl4ev/i_kinda_love_the_lineup/