The What Podcast

Christmas is just around the corner, and The What Podcast is wrapping up the year with a fun and festive episode before taking a holiday break. Barry, Russ, and Bryan kick things off by recapping MAINx24, Chattanooga’s 24-hour block party. From the parade in the bus to chili competitions and Jell-O shots, it’s the ultimate community celebration. Next, the guys dive into the latest Bonnaroo buzz, including Roo Clues, lineup leaks, and what’s shaping up to be an exciting 2025. Plus, they celebrate a fantastic Spotify Wrapped this year and take a moment to thank YOU, the listeners and viewers, for an incredible year of growth. Finally, Barry poses the ultimate holiday music question: What are your top five records for starting a vinyl collection? The hosts share their lists, highlight essential vinyl for any music lover, and offer some great gift-giving tips for the season. Now it’s your turn—share your top 5 vinyl picks in the comments. See you in the new year! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:51) MAINx24 in Chattanooga (00:08:28) Spotify Wrapped (00:18:59) Bonnaroo news (00:24:19) Top 5 vinyl albums (00:54:47) Outro

Would you live in a van and travel the country going to festivals? While it sounds like a dream lifestyle to most of us, our guests this week, Lauren and David, are living it. They started Soundchecks to Stagedives in 2021 and have spent the last two years on the road full-time, covering music festivals and shows. Lauren and David take us inside the EDM community, sharing insights and speculating on who we might see at Bonnaroo 2025. From Tipper’s big plans for next year to the acts they’re most excited about, this episode is a must-listen for festival lovers. Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:15) Roo clue (00:03:30) Alice's Restaurant (00:04:50) Festive Owl (00:06:14) Ticket giveaway (00:07:19) Shaky Knees dates (00:09:34) Interview with Lauren and David (01:08:40) Outro

It's time to get hyped for Bonnaroo 2025! In this episode, we break down major updates, including the confirmation of Tipper on the lineup. Tipper’s inclusion is creating buzz, and we speculate on his placement in the schedule. We also discuss what this means for Bonnaroo’s evolving lineup strategy and its ability to bring legacy acts into the spotlight. We also need to talk about some of the recent policy changes, such as the new re-entry fee if you leave the farm, and new ticket options. Beyond the festival news, Russ talks about the Bonnaroo Takeover, a last-minute meetup in East Nashville hosted by marketing director Cory Smith and the Bonnaroo team. Featuring free Spicy Pie, a DJ set by Sparkle City Disco, and the "Letters to Roo" mailbox project, this event highlights the festival's commitment to the community. Could future Bonnaroo meetups be planned? Finally, we dive into the broader festival scene, from Shaky Knees' move to Piedmont Park and date change to Coachella's 2025 lineup featuring Kraftwerk and Misfits. Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:39) Last Week at The Caverns (00:04:58) Bonnaroo's Nashville takeover (00:24:27) Re-entry fee (00:33:19) GA+ and Insider (00:37:27) Tipper confirmed (00:42:46) Other festival news (00:53:09) Country music at Bonnaroo (01:03:57) Outro

This week on The What Podcast, we take a field trip to The Caverns in Pelham, TN — a music venue like no other. Located just 20 minutes from Bonnaroo's Farm, The Caverns offers an extraordinary experience, hosting shows underground in a breathtaking cave and on a sprawling outdoor amphitheater. We sit down with Todd Mayo, the visionary behind The Caverns, to uncover its remarkable story. From serendipitous beginnings to becoming one of Tennessee’s most captivating entertainment landmarks, Todd shares insights from his journey, including highlights from his new book, Caveman Chronicles. Whether you're a music enthusiast or someone interested in the behind-the-scenes challenges of running an independent venue, don't miss this deep dive episode! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:09:51) Interview with Todd Mayo (01:33:18) Outro

We are still unpacking last week's conversation with Brad and Cory from C3 about what to expect for Bonnaroo 2025. Lots of new information on changes and improvements for next year, and of course we've got to take a guess at who they are hinting at for headliners. In addition to all the Bonnaroo info, we take a look at some of the recent news about When We Were Young Festival, and Chappell Roan's SNL performance. What's got you most excited for Bonnaroo 2025? Leave us a comment below and subscribe to The What Podcast for the latest festival news and info! Join the Discord for early access to episodes! Photo By: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:05:59) Chappell Roan on SNL (00:14:36) When We Were Young (00:19:01) Unpacking last week's episode (00:27:06) Thursday/Sunday headliners (00:32:40) Where in the Woods and EDM (00:35:35) Transition from AC/Superfly to C3 (00:49:00) Final thoughts on changes (00:51:06) Our guesses for headliners (00:57:00) Outro

Could comedy make a comeback at Bonnaroo in 2025? Expanded camping options, or even a two-weekend event? This week on The What Podcast, we dive deep with Bonnaroo insiders Festival Director Brad Parker and Marketing Manager Cory Smith from C3 Presents. They share exclusive insights into what worked in 2024, what fans loved, and the exciting changes planned for 2025. If you're a Bonnaroovian, you won’t want to miss this one! And, of course, it wouldn't be Bonnaroo without a diverse lineup. Brad and Cory hint at what fans can expect — from EDM headliners to legacy acts — and talk about the balancing act of booking artists that honor Bonnaroo's roots while offering the "best in the streets" to appeal to any fan, regardless of genre. Join the Discord for early access to episodes! Photo By: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:29) Beat in Nashville (00:07:08) This week's guests (00:15:19) Russ in a music video (00:16:37) Interview with Brad and Cory (00:18:14) Bonnaroo 2024 feedback (00:31:15) Grading last year's festival (00:35:12) Focusing on community (00:37:42) C3 revolutionized the industry (00:42:45) Lessons learned (00:25:53) Tuesday entry (00:53:09) Lineup talk (01:08:58) Bonnaroo census (01:14:47) Teasing things for Bonnaroo 2025 (01:18:39) Chappell Roan (01:25:51) GWAR (01:28:14) Brad's tweet (01:29:35) Changes for Bonnaroo 2025 (01:37:20) Who stage (01:38:02) Final thoughts (01:39:37) Outro

It's been five years since Exit 111 took place on our beloved Farm in Manchester, featuring heavy-hitting acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses. Bryan Stone attended with Taco, while Barry made a visit to check it out. The hosts reflect on the festival's surprising gun policy and discuss how things have changed since then. Will Great Stage Park ever host another festival like this? In more recent news, we explore Sand in My Boots, a new festival headlined by Morgan Wallen in Gulf Shores, AL, which replaces the long-running and beloved Hangout Festival. Hulaween is also on the horizon in Florida. Find The What Podcast on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Discord! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:05:32) Exit 111 (00:24:43) CaveFest (00:27:23) Hangout Fest (00:38:05) Hulaween (00:43:13) Outro

We conclude our coverage of South Star 2024 this week with an exclusive peek behind the curtain into how the festival came together in such a short period of time, and the long-term vision the city has for it. Despite the hurricane weather and Sunday's cancellation, the event was a huge success for the city. Matt Mandrella is Huntsville's Music Officer, quite possibly the first person in the country to hold a municipal position dedicated to developing and improving the musical culture for a city. "Huntsville is working to develop its music infrastructure, including attracting industry professionals and improving music education in schools," Matt tells us. Matt also explains the reasons why Huntsville wanted to host a regional music festival, what commitments the city made when working with C3 Presents to bring the event to life, and the shockingly short timeline they had to complete it when the decision was made to move it up a year from 2025 to 2024. Beyond South Star though, Huntsville believes that music is a critical component to the city's growth and quality of life. Matt takes us on a deeper dive into the plans Huntsville has to bring in more artistic talent, including grants and incentives bands can receive for touring and creating music. It's a fascinating conversation behind the scenes you won't want to miss! Donate to Hurricane Helene relief efforts here Photo by: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:11:54) Interview with Matt Mandrella (01:09:26) Outro

We continue the South Star Festival conversation this week with Jim Striker, who ran bars and clubs in Chattanooga for over 20 years before getting into music promotion. Jim was there with his wife on Saturday for South Star, and shares his experience rocking out to Tom Morello despite the muddy and rainy weather. Elsewhere in the episode, Bryan Stone tries to get Oasis tickets and we discuss the latest news about Chappell Roan cancelling some of her upcoming festival appearances and concerts amid her rising success. Donate to Hurricane Helene relief efforts here Photo by: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:56) Recapping South Star (00:15:08) Bryan's Oasis tickets (00:19:11) Chappell Roan cancelling shows (00:21:46) Interview with Jim Striker (01:04:33) Outro

Hurricane Helene has made a big impact on the Southeast, and while we're all grateful to be safe, our weekend took an unexpected turn. The inaugural South Star Festival in Huntsville, AL came and went, but it was shorter and muddier than we had planned. Despite the setbacks, was it worth the trip? After Sunday's cancellation, we sat down with Daniel and Sharla, Evan Bonnaroo, Chloe, and Shaina to chat about 'Couch Star,' and reflect on how we felt lucky to have even one day of the festival—and even luckier to experience a mid-year Bonnaroo reunion. Photo by: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:10:46) Interview (00:49:29) Outro

It's the week of South Star Music Festival, and Barry and Bryan are gearing up to head to Huntsville, while Russ, unfortunately, has to miss out due to a wedding. To make matters worse, the news that Tom Morello is replacing Jane's Addiction only deepens his FOMO. Thanks to The What Podcast's roving correspondent Trevin, the trio also gets some insight into the Bourbon and Beyond festival, which took place this past weekend in Louisville, KY. Finally, the episode dives into the heart of the discussion: how algorithms are reshaping the festival experience. Are festivalgoers still discovering new music at large events like Bonnaroo, or are they just attending for their favorite headliners? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:19) South Star updates (00:14:16) Bourbon and Beyond (00:26:53) Algorithms are hurting music festivals (00:52:06) Outro

The What Podcast is back after taking a couple of weeks off! What have we been up to? Find out how Bryan's trip to NYC to see Pearl Jam went, and why Barry is wearing those ridiculous sunglasses. We also take the time to make our picks for South Star Festival, coming up soon in Huntsville, AL. Note that we recorded this before the news broke that Jane's Addiction was cancelling the rest of their tour. At this point, a replacement has not been announced yet. Finally, we look ahead to some upcoming events and the start of the Bonnaroo 2025 rumor season! Join the Discord, follow Lord Taco on Twitch, and subscribe to the StoneOnAir Podcast! ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:06:11) What Russ has been up to (00:10:59) South Star picks (00:22:55) Warped Tour coming back (00:24:18) Happy Birthday Barry (00:26:21) Bryan's trip to NYC (00:37:47) Bryan's trip to the caverns (00:39:59) Wrapping up and looking ahead (00:42:18) Outro

It's "last call" before The What Podcast takes a short break, so the crew gathers to tie up a few loose ends. No special guests, no topics, just Bryan, Barry, and Russ. But first, Barry has a little news to break about the first confirmed booking for Bonnaroo 2025. It's still too early for rumors and speculation, but Childish Gambino is making the rounds as a potential headliner. We don't think that's likely, despite what other people are reporting. What are our other thoughts on the Bonnaroo lineup for 2025? We then shift gears and look at the rise of EDM in the festival scene, as jam bands are on the decline. Plus, destination concerts and cruises are here. Would you consider going on a cruise to see your favorite artist perform? Finally, we look ahead at other events like South Star in Huntsville, and Burning Man in Nevada, happening as we speak. And Bryan leaves for NYC soon to see Pearl Jam again. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:16) Breaking Bonnaroo 2025 News (00:09:46) Speculating on Bonnaroo 2025 (00:19:20) EDM is up, jam is down (00:23:18) Future show plans (00:24:50) Childish Gambino (00:27:39) Cruise events (00:38:25) Burning Man (00:41:44) Bryan headed to NYC (00:44:52) Outro

We take a short break from Bonnaroo this week and finally dive into the upcoming South Star Festival in Huntsville, featuring an exclusive interview with Cory Smith, the marketing manager at C3 Presents. Cory, who has experience working on major festivals like Bonnaroo and Railbird, shares his insights on the challenges and excitement of organizing a new festival. Cory discusses everything from site selection to ensuring a top-notch fan experience, including amenities like flushable toilets and the walkability of the festival grounds. In addition to South Star, we also talk about his band, Boot Scootin' Boogie Nights, that played Bonnaroo this year. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Talk Bonnaroo and other festivals with us! Join the Discord ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:06:08) Interview with Cory Smith (00:43:11) Outro

Imagine preparing for your first trip to Bonnaroo, only to have your wristband stolen before it arrives. That’s exactly what happened to our guest this week, Abbey Sugrue. Rather than letting this setback ruin her festival experience, Abbey turned to the Reddit community for help and reached out to The What Podcast for additional advice and we awarded her a package of Bonnaroo memorabilia from Barry's basement. Not only was Abbey's first Bonnaroo a success, it gave her a new perspective on life, making it more than just a music festival. Hear her story and her tips for first-timers that will help you max out your experience as well. Plus, Barry, Bryan, and Taco kick things off with the latest festival updates, including the recent soggy experience at Elements Festival in Pennsylvania and what's happening at Outside Lands in California. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Talk Bonnaroo and other festivals with us! Join the Discord ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:14) Elements Festival (00:12:14) Friends in a band (00:17:54) Outside Lands (00:19:10) Pod Business (00:21:18) Interview with Abbey (01:04:37) Outro

While Bonnaroo news is light this week, the festival scene up north is buzzing. Lollapalooza lit up Chicago, and Montreal's Osheaga was equally vibrant. The crew is amazed by Chappell Roan's skyrocketing success in the pop world, as she wowed crowds at both festivals alongside artists like Noah Kahan, Green Day, and Reneé Rapp. Closer to home, Chattanooga is set to host a new Bluegrass festival for the next three years, and Bryan and Barry delve into this exciting development for the city. They also explore Huntsville's South Star and discuss some lineup changes at next month's Bourbon and Beyond. Finally, they look ahead to key dates for Bonnaroo 2025. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Talk Bonnaroo and other festivals with us! Join the Discord ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:27) New Albums (00:13:27) New bluegrass festival coming to Chattanooga (00:30:39) Lollapalooza (00:36:59) Osheaga (00:40:20) Upcoming lineup changes (00:45:51) South Star (00:49:00) Bonnaroo Dates (00:51:34) Outro

There's no band like GWAR and they did Bonnaroo right. From crew sacrifices to tea parties, these intergalactic warriors partied hard and put on an amazing late-night show, complete with their trademark blood. In this episode we debut our interview with their new guitarist Grodius Maximus. Also joining us is our campmate Elizabeth Thorpe, a photographer who got to shoot some amazing sets at Bonnaroo 2024, including GWAR while wearing our Never Not Great t-shirt! Later in the episode, Beth and Bryan reminisce about Woodstock '99 since they both attended 25 years ago. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Thumbnail photo: Elizabeth Thorpe ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:14) GWAR at Bonnaroo (00:06:20) Interview with Grodius Maximus (00:11:19) Beth at GWAR (00:25:02) Beth's Bonnaroo story (00:42:09) Bryan and Beth (00:47:40) Woodstock '99 (01:15:34) Favorite Shows (01:22:49) Outro

The Camp Reddaroo Beer Exchange was one of our most anticipated events for Bonnaroo 2024, and this week we are featuring a conversation we had on the Roo Bus about it featuring some guests you are probably familiar with. Daniel, Evan Bonnaroo, Mitchell, Kevin, and EDM Kyle. Also joining us was Romy Bayhack, who works for the festival. With Taco out of town this week, Barry and Bryan also talk about what's in store for the future of The What Podcast, and also look back at how the Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival has evolved in its 22-year history from being jam band heavy to what it has become today. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Thumbnail photo: Evan Brown ______ CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro (05:08) Bryan reflecting on Dead & Co. (11:42) Taco's weekend (14:05) Looking at future episodes (14:23) Bonnaroo's history of adapting (27:09) Setting up this week's interview (37:54) Beer Exchange (49:09) Outro

On today's episode of The What Podcast, we take a slight detour from Bonnaroo 2024 discussion and recap recent events. Russ went camping (again), and Bryan Stone flew out to Las Vegas to catch three nights of Dead & Company at The Sphere, plus the Hoover Dam. Bringing things back to Bonnaroo though, we also feature our interview with Happy Landing, who performed on the Who Stage Thursday at Bonnaroo 2024. Andrew, Wilson, Jacob, Keegan, and Matty from the band sat down with us and talked about doing their first Bonnaroo. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:12) Contest Update (00:04:55) Upcoming shows (00:07:55) Russ went camping again (00:11:05) Dead & Co. at The Sphere (00:49:06) Setting up this week's interview (00:53:49) Happy Landing at Bonnaroo (01:08:37) Outro

It's been almost a month, and we are still talking about Bonnaroo 2024. This week, we take a closer look at Post Malone's performance, talk about Russ' camping trip to The Other Farm, and start making plans for next year. This week's guest is Jason Singer of Michigander, who might be the nicest guy in the world. We talked about his first Bonnaroo, writing songs the Nashville way, and more. Listen to this episode of The What Podcast here or watch it on YouTube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen. Thumbnail Photo By: Scott Hotaling ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:57) Russ went camping (00:11:11) Post Malone show (00:20:01) Steve-O's tattoo (00:23:51) Reflecting on Bonnaroo (00:37:25) Bryan wants a shirt (00:40:45) Introducing this week's guest (00:47:02) Interview with Michigander (00:55:50) Responding to Reddit comments pt. 2 (01:00:33) Planning for next year (01:02:41) Upcoming shows and events (01:08:29) Outro