So far things have been going smoothly. Ani Difranco just stopped by our backstage studios. We are about one third done with the bands today. The first band Delta Spirit canceled on us. I posted about that on Twitter and had a funny response from someone who said, “Doesn’t everything on Delta get delayed or canceled?”
The first band through is called Everest. They are on Neil Youngs label Vapor Records. He caught them at the Sundance Festival and became a big fan of the band. In their interview they discussed Neil Young, playing bigger arena size venues, touring with Neil, Wilco, and Death Cab For Cutie, and how the ended up with Eliot Smiths old studio. That part of the interview was really interesting to me.
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/EverestInterview.mp3
At noon a band called Low Anthem stopped by our studios to perform and do an interview. They talked about their new album, their obsession with evolution, and how they managed to set fire to a WW1 pump organ while making some Mac & Cheese…
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/LowAnthemInterview.mp3
Evan Watson stopped by the backstage studios to perform and do an interview around 1pm today. He told us that not only was it his first time playing Bonnaroo, it was his first time playing a show outside of New York City! The former football player also explained his love for electronics, how building things makes him feel empowered, and about rebuilding his 79 strat.
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/EvanWatsonInterview.mp3
Ani Difranco came by to perform and chat with us backstage around 2pm. She discussed moving to New Orleans, Getting interviewed by CNN about Burma and their struggle for democracy, and being a part of Pete Segers 90th birthday celebration.
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/AniDifrancoInterview.mp3
Amadou et Mariam came by around 3pm and were the first band to need a translator for their interview. They are based out of Mali on the west coast of Africa.
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/AmadouetMariamInterview.mp3
Tift Merrit came through at 4pm and chatted with us after a quick performance. She discussed her love for indie record stores, writing music in Paris, and getting to interview EmmyLou Harris on her radio program The Spark.
http://ftp.wrlt.com/production/BonnarooINT/Friday/TiftMerritInterview.mp3
Gov’t Mule is performing right now. There should be a few more this evening as well…