Nashville’s Independent Radio was inspired to be creative this year with up-and-coming artists showcased at Bonnaroo. WRLT filmed backstage performances with 10 artists that fit the criteria. A very special thanks to our Bonnaroo partners: Music Allies, Corsair Artisan Distillery and Funky Umbrella.
Ben Sollee, a Kentucky based artistwas introduced to us by our friends at Music Allies. Think of the Black Keys with a Cello, and then mix in the vocal stylings of Andrew Bird or Paul Simon. Did you see Ben Sollee perform with My Morning Jacket? Maybe you witnessed one of his four other stage performances at Bonnaroo? Here, Ben performs an impromptu set in Centeroo for some lucky fans. We set up under a tree in front of “Which Stage” amongst festival goers who were attempting to cool off in the shade. Once these fellow Bonnaroovians began hearing Ben perform, they moved closer or at least woke up and started to listen. It was a great to see a huge crowd by the end of the second song! Check out his performance of the song “The Globe” and “Electrify.” Share with your friends!
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Brian Waters
After realizing there wasn’t much time to spend with Band of Heathens before their set, we walked over to the artist compound to find a a quiet area for the band to perform. Sometimes one walks into inspiration; other times, one in a walks into a chain link fence and merely jokes about performing on a wooden Bonnaroo bus. As Band of Heathens found out, everyone should be careful about that which is joked. Walk with us…at least until you see and hear the shout out to the guys on the back of the bus. You may just be inspired. You may just enjoy Band of Heathens, too.
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Jared Rauso
You might have caught this band as they joined Mumford & Sons and Old Crowe Medicine Show on stage for “Amazing Grace.” Lightning 100 has been featuring The Apache Relay since we saw them outside of our office shooting photos for the cover of their self-titled E.P. We approached the band about doing a golf cart performance, Their response was “If you’re serious, hell yeah we’ll do it.”
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Jared Rauso
Hailed as “Nashville’s Most Eclectic Rock Band”, Cheer Up Charlie Daniels won Mercy Lounge’s Road to Bonnaroo contest to secure a spot at Bonnaroo. We went back to their campsite as the band grabbed different instruments from people at campsites on the way. The band has a very similar vibe to Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, but a little bit more nerdy(not a band thing). Check out this performance back at their campsite of the song “Bunsen Burner Baby Blues” and soon to bed edited “Polygamy.”
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Brian Waters
Chancellor Warhol was the first of 3 Road to Bonnaroo artist we did a backstage performance with. Looking forward to some backstage freestyling, Chancellor Warhol performed a new song with Arron Miller at the Lightning 100 campsite. Aaron Miller steals the spotlight with his vocals during the chorus, his voice is comparable to Sondre Lerche.
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Jared Rauso
You know it’s going to be a good performance when the first thing you ask the artists is “Are you afraid of heights?” Lauren Shera was braver than most artist we approached to get on a very squeaky ferris wheel. Lauren performed the song “Story Teller” on the Bonnaroo ferris wheel. We try to do one ferris wheel performance per festival, check out our first video at Hangout Music Fest with Jon Black.
We approached Abigail about doing a video when she visited the Lightning 100 studio for a taping of Music Business Radio. It’s nice having an interview booked 2 months in advance to find out you only have 10 minutes to get everything done at the festival! Abigail was joined by Kia Welch to perform one of the first songs they wrote together entitled “Ballad of Truth.”
Filmed by Brian Waters & Jared Rauso
Edited by Brian Waters
It’s Lightning 100′s Lt. Dan and I wish I could share these videos with the whole world! Well, I kind of am aren’t I? You know what I mean, right? Anyhow, I just discovered three videos from my show that I think will blow you away.
This is a video of Chris Thile’s band, “The Punch Brothers”. They are tremendously talented musicians. I love how the stand up bass sounds in the mix. They brought their own mic’s too, which didn’t work as well for the interview portion, but sound great with the instruments.
This is Abigail Washburn. She is a Nashville based musician (married to Bela Fleck) that has a really interesting story. After a disappointing trip to China, she became inspired to return and soak in the culture. It led her to learn the language and she almost went to law school there. Instead she’s been on a musical adventure and just released her third full length studio effort. It’s her first album without any Chinese lyrics. She worked with former, “Tommy and the Whale” songwriter, Kai Welch. I really enjoyed having them on the show and think the video turned out great.
Here is a video of Nashville based band, “The Apache Relay”. This song is on their forthcoming album, “American Nomad”. These guys are definitely on their way to big things. Their friendship with, “Mumford and Sons”, isn’t going to hurt them either. The album comes out next month and they also have an in-store at Grimey’s in the near future.
Eminem – Arcade Fire – Widespread Panic – The Black Keys
Buffalo Springfield feat Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale
My Morning Jacket - Ray LaMontagne - String Cheese Incident
Robert Plant & Band of Joy - Mumford & Sons - The Strokes
The Decemberists - Lil Wayne - Bassnectar - Iron & Wine - Girl Talk - Primus
Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo - Alison Krauss & Union Station Pretty Lights - Florence + the Machine - SuperJam with Dan Auerbach and Dr. John - Atomsphere Explosions In The Sky - Gogol Bordello - Beirut - Big Boi - Scissor Sisters - Gregg Allman Ratatat - Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz - Robyn - Warren Haynes Band
Deerhunter - Opeth - STS9 - Old Crow Medicine Show - Bootsy Collins & the Funk University Wiz Khalifa - Matt & Kim - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Mavis Staples - Cold War Kids
The Del McCoury Band & the Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Wanda Jackson - The Walkmen
Justin Townes Earle - Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses - Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - !!!
Jovanotti - Bruce Hornsby - Loretta Lynn - Neon Trees - The Drums - Sleigh Bells - Amos Lee
Best Coast - Dãm-Funk & Master Blazter - The Sword - Portugal. The Man- The Black Angels
School of Seven Bells - J. Cole - Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea - Wavves - Chiddy Bang - Junip
Freelance Whales - Deer Tick - Band of Skulls - Sharon Van Etten - Abigail Washburn
Omar Souleyman - Twin Shadow - Kylesa - Man Man - The Low Anthem - Alberta Cross
Railroad Earth - Jessica Lea Mayfield - Smith Westerns - The Head and the Heart - Karen Elson
Beats Antique - 22-20s - Phosphorescent - Clare Maguire - Hayes Carll
The 2011 event marks the 10th year for the legendary festival, which began in 2002 as a remarkable idea to serve a passionate yet underappreciated and overlooked fanbase, and ended up becoming the premier multi-day concert destination of the summer whose dynamic and eclectic programming paved the way for the age of the great American music festival.
