A recent Reddit thread from Bonnaroo regulars reignited the age-old festival argument: is the lineup too young, too old, or just right? One longtime attendee opened with, “I’ve been to 20 Roo’s and this lineup is the worst one so far,” and the thread quickly split between nostalgia-fueled complaints and reminders that the bill still leans heavily on acts Millennial fans grew up with.
Critics in the thread called out perceived mismatched headliners, while other posters pushed back — pointing out that the roster is packed with legacy and comeback acts and plenty of millennial favorites. Highlights mentioned by fans included Skrillex, Alabama Shakes, Kesha, Blues Traveler, The Neighbourhood, Lil Jon, Adventure Club, Passion Pit, and Boys Noize, plus scene favorites like Hot Mulligan, Turnstile, Modest Mouse, Mt. Joy, The Strokes, Blood Orange, and Wolfmother.
Several commenters framed the dust-up as a generational shakeout. One poster noted the festival’s gradual demographic shift from Gen X/Millennial toward Millennial/Gen Z tastes — a slow pivot that makes former legacy headliners feel less prominent and turns the 2000s–2010s catalog into the new “classic” for younger attendees.
Others admitted the inevitable truth of festival life: your taste changes or the scene does, and sometimes both. Some responses were blunt — reminding older fans that the presence of long-running favorites and recent comeback acts means there’s still plenty to be excited about if you’re willing to look beyond the headliners.
Bottom line: the Reddit thread is equal parts gatekeeping, good-natured ribbing, and genuine hot takes — the sort of conversation that bubbles up every lineup drop. Whether you see the bill as a lame nostalgia trip or a solid party depends mostly on how old your playlist is and how badly you want to relive specific eras.
For now, Bonnaroo remains a festival in transition — and the debate over who it’s for will keep the community talking until the gates open.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/bonnaroo/comments/1pd7ols/ive_been_to_20_roos_and_this_lineup_is_the_worst/