Flying to Bonnaroo this year? Our long‑time campmate and West Coast correspondent Elizabeth Thorpe breaks down exactly how she does it, based on years of flying to Manchester from Maine, Philly, and now Washington State.

We also catch up on Beth’s own “tour,” highlighting the shows she’s been shooting in Seattle and beyond, and what it’s like working deep in the photo pit as a festival and venue photographer. From Jeff Tweedy at the Moore to Color Me Badd at the Clearwater Casino, Beth brings us a side of live music most fans never get to see.

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!

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(00:00) Intro

(03:14) Angine de Poitrine & Math Rock

(07:30) Bonnaroo Updates & Festival Talk

(13:35) Rush "Fifty Something" Tour Plans

(15:19) Flying to Bonnaroo: Packing & Travel Tips

(24:08) Beth's Seattle Shows & Photography Tour

(49:09) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

@ethorpephoto on Instagram

What IS This Band?

Anika Nilles: Who Is Rush's New Drummer?

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Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to do Bonnaroo sober? This week we’re joined by longtime guest Patrick Whelan, founder of Soberoo and Harmonium Inc., the nonprofit that provides community and support for sober and sober‑curious festivalgoers at Bonnaroo and dozens of other events around the country. Whether you’re in recovery, "California sober," or just need a break from a crew that's going a little too hard, Patrick explains how Soberoo creates a safe, welcoming space for anyone who wants to experience the festival with a clear head.

We also take a quick tour through this year’s festival landscape, from Bourbon & Beyond to Shaky Knees to CaveFest, before reacting to Angine de Poitrine, a wildly unique Canadian math‑rock duo that listeners have been sending our way. And make sure you stick around to the end for an exciting announcement!

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

(00:02:01) Our Bonnaroo 2026 Prep

(00:18:15) Talking Soberoo with Patrick

(00:55:12) Bourbon & Beyond

(01:05:06) CaveFest Tickets on Sale

(01:13:18) Angine de Poitrine

(01:18:13) Live Show at Bonnaroo

(01:19:53) Record Store Day

(01:21:24) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

How to Enjoy a Substance-Free Bonnaroo Experience with Soberoo

86 Days to Bonnaroo, Start Your Prep Now

Bonnaroo Changed My Life: The Yearbook Guy's Story

Rick Beato: Please STOP Sending Me This

Angine de Poitrine - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

How Bonnaroo Changed Manchester Forever: Live from Planet Roo

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With 86 days to Bonnaroo, prep season is officially here. In this week's shorter check‑in, Barry and Russ walk through the early steps every Roo camper should be taking now: from pulling out gear, checking tents and fans, and buying non‑perishables a little at a time, to coordinating with your group so nobody shows up without poles, stakes, or the essentials.

We also break down the Live Nation settlement with the DOJ, and how it might (or might not) affect events like Bonnaroo. Plus a little vinyl talk, and some making fun of Bryan.

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

(03:11) 86 days to Bonnaroo, how to start prepping

(09:40) Live Nation Settles with DOJ

(20:21) Our first records/albums

(23:11) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Bonnaroo Changed My Life: The Yearbook Guy's Story

Ultimate Bonnaroo Camp Prep: Packing, Planning, and Survival Tips

Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Breakdown with Cory & Tuba: Early Release, Big Changes, and What to Expect

Bonnaroo 2026: Brad & Cory from C3 Answer Your Questions

When Bonnaroo Breaks Your Heart: Our Reaction to the 2025 Cancellation

How The Caverns Became Tennessee's Premier Music Destination

Save up to 50% off select RTIC Coolers, Drinkware & more!
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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.

Bonnaroo really does change lives, and today's talk with Caleb Arias, aka The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy, proves it once again. From being too nervous to talk to strangers at his first festival to becoming one of the most recognized creators in the festival community, Caleb walks us through the moment everything shifted. He explains how a simple journal turned into the Bonnaroo Yearbook, how that idea exploded across Hulaween and Okeechobee, and how documenting festival culture helped him find confidence, connection, and purpose.

We also dive into the massive growth of the Yearbook project, the behind‑the‑scenes work that goes into each book, the emotional fallout of Bonnaroo 2025, what we're looking forward to at Bonnaroo 2026, and Caleb's new collaboration with the festival itself. Finally, Caleb sticks around for a little bit of vinyl talk, where we show off some of our most valuable records from our collections.

Get your very own copy of The Bonnaroo Yearbook at 50% using coupon code THEWHATPODCAST: bonnarooyearbook.com

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

(00:01:17) Caleb the Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy joins

(00:19:22) Origin story

(00:32:54) Thoughts on this year's lineup

(00:36:09) How to get a yearbook

(00:47:30) Bonnaroo adds 2-day ticket options

(01:06:25) Our most valuable vinyl records

(01:21:31) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories

bonnarooyearbook.com

Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

Bonnaroo 2026: Brad & Cory from C3 Answer Your Questions

Catching Up with I am Bonnaroo Creator David Bruce

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The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
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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.

Bonnaroo adds sunrise sets to the 2026 lineup, but first, Barry has to eat a little crow. We go down a rabbit hole of music history before shifting gears to talk Bonnaroo news, plus other festivals like Shaky Knees who just released their lineup. Finally we talk a little bit about this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees!

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

(02:16) Barry's Confession and Repentance

(09:57) History of Grateful Dead and CBGB

(15:00) Bonnaroo Update: Sunrise Sets and Festival 'Shrinkflation'

(23:35) Shaky Knees: Worth the Slog?

(30:41) Other festival news

(42:34) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

(52:11) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Why Bourbon & Beyond Might Have the Best Lineup of 2026

Danny Clinch: Still Moving on Amazon

A History of the Grateful Dead in 10 Songs

A History of CBGB in 10 Songs

Bonnaroo's 2024 Outeroo Lineup and Television's Richard Lloyd Reflects on Marquee Moon

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

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

How to Enjoy a Substance-Free Bonnaroo Experience with Soberoo

Save up to 50% off select RTIC Coolers, Drinkware & more!
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Bonnaroo 2026's EDM lineup feels different, and the move to the new Where Stage is at the center of it. In this episode, Russ, Barry, and guest John break down why this year's late‑night energy has shifted, what the community is reacting to, and how the new location changes the vibe of sunrise sets, crowd flow, and the festival’s overall identity. From longtime Roo veterans feeling uncertain to the Saturday lineup pulling people "right back in," we dig into the reasons this year stands out.

If you'd like to be a part of our Discord community like John, it's free to join! https://thewhat.co/discord

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

(00:04:08) Lineup Discussion and Where Stage with John

(00:39:25) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Church Boners React to Bonnaroo Ticket Contest Entries

______
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Geese’s performance on SNL last week sparked such a huge debate that we decided to walk it back and revisit the whole thing. Find out how we feel now about the band, what changed after a deeper listen, and whether they've made our list of must‑see sets for Bonnaroo 2026. We also dig into the latest Bonnaroo news, including a tragic update on Lil Jon's missing son and a look at how many Bonnaroo artists showed up at this year's Grammy Awards.

We also get into CaveFest now that the 2026 dates are official, plus some speculation about CaveJam's future and other performances we're excited about at The Caverns. And we wrap things up with a look at the Record Store Day 2026 releases we’re most excited about, from Tony Bennett's MTV Unplugged to Billy Strings' Tiny Desk to a mountain of Rolling Stones exclusives. All this week on The What Podcast!

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

(05:20) A special gift from Dale Green

(08:48) Revisiting our Geese Take

(17:33) Lil Jon's Son Found Dead

(19:28) CaveFest 2026 Dates Announced

(26:05) Record Store Day 2026 List Released

(35:21) Bonnaroo Artists on the Grammys

(36:58) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Most People Aren't Physically Ready for Bonnaroo... Are You?

Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Breakdown with Cory & Tuba: Early Release, Big Changes, and What to Expect

Geese: Trinidad (Live) - SNL

The Les Claypool Interview: Primus, South Park, And The Art Of Weird Bass

Record Store Day 2026

Billy Strings: Tiny Desk Concert

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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.