The What Podcast

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 ______ 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 ______ 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 ______ 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. ______ 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

As soon as Piya, Nya, and Sabrina of Say She She stepped onto The Farm for Bonnaroo 2024, they instantly saw what made the festival so special. After performing to an enthusiastic crowd on Thursday, the trio sat down with Barry, Bryan, and Lord Taco to talk about their performance, their Talking Heads cover, and how they were welcomed to their first Bonnaroo. "I had so many friends tell me their beautiful stories about Bonnaroo and being proud of us that we're finally doing it," says Piya Malik, originally from the UK and she instantly saw the parallels to Glastonbury. "We're a new band. No one knows who we are. But the crowd that was there, the support of this, the energy, they welcomed us to their 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. Thumbnail Photo By: David Bruce ______ CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro (04:47) Responding to Reddit comments (22:36) Introducing this week's interview (31:05) Say She She (52:46) Outro

Bonnaroo 2024 is officially in the rearview mirror, and for most people, it was an incredible re-affirmation of what makes the festival so special. This week on The What Podcast, the crew recaps their time on The Farm, giving their thoughts on this year's event. Surprise, surprise... Barry, Lord Taco, and Bryan had an absolutely magic time at Bonnaroo 2024. In fact, they're already making plans for 2025. Before they get ahead of themselves, however, they recap why 2024 felt like such a special year on The Farm. 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. Photo Credit: Evan Brown

Bonnaroo 2024 has finally arrived!! Many of you might already be on The Farm, while others are just about to head down to Tennessee. This week on The What Podcast, the crew offers some last minute advice for everyone planning on attending. Picking up where they left off (check out part one and part two), Barry, Lord Taco, and Bryan provide advice that'll help you ensure you have a fun, safe, good-vibes-filled weekend at Bonnaroo 2024. Plus, they listen to a few more voicemails from seasoned Roovians. Listen to 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.

Last week on The What Podcast, the crew offered some crucial advice to those attending Bonnaroo 2024 with a little help from veteran roovians and seasoned listeners. Now, they're back to continue offering wisdom with even more tips and tricks. Listen to the crew go through their Bonnaroo Do's and Don'ts. With Bonnaroo 2024 only a week away, Barry, Lord Taco, and Bryan run through important reminders, from the importance of hydration to embracing the positivity of The Farm. As you pack and get ready to head to Tennessee, follow along with The What crew as they offer some last minute nuggets of advice. If you missed part 1, go back and pick it up here. Listen to 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.

Bonnaroo 2024 is nearly here, and for even the most experienced of Roovians, the excitement can sometimes come with a healthy heaping of nerves. Luckily, The What Podcast is here to help! Listen to the crew go through their Bonnaroo Do's and Don'ts. From what to pack and arrival plans to set up and navigation tactics, The What lays out everything Bonnaroo attendees need to know. The hosts even look beyond themselves for wisdom, as fans and Farm-goers call in to offer their own tips and tricks. Be sure to subscribe for Part 2 next week with even more tips and tricks! Listen to The What Podcast or watch it on Youtube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen.

This week on The What Podcast, Barry shares which acts are on his Bonnaroo 2024 don’t-miss list and which will be “walk bys.” He also explains why the Beer Exchange on Friday is at the top of his list of things to do. The guys go old school, really old school, as Barry shares photos of a 1916 Victrola he's refurbishing, while Lord Taco talks about an old iPod he's brought back to life. Bryan and Lord Taco also weigh in on news that Fred Again.. played in Las Vegas and the just-announced Outeroo schedule. Don't forget, the latest competition from The What Podcast is still on, and gang wants to hear from you! Give a call to The What Podcast official voicemail line at (423) 667-7877 and share your best Bonnaroo tips, tell a favorite Bonnaroo memory, or ask a question. They'll then select one winner to receive a prize package of Bonnaroo memorabilia from Barry's basement! Listen to The What Podcast chat about Barry's Bonnaroo 2024 schedule or watch it on Youtube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen.

Music festival season has officially begun, and The What Podcast is here to drink it all up. On this episode, the hosts talk with special guest Kevin Barnes about the official beer collaboration between Camp Reddaroo and Common John Brewery and look ahead to their time on The Farm for Bonnaroo 2024. The What crew kick off by chatting with Barnes about the Camp Reddaroo beer, which will of course be available during the Friday Beer Exchange. Barnes also drops some very special news about the beer collab and previews the Easter eggs hidden in its design. Then, they give the floor to Lord Taco, who charts out his ideal itinerary for Bonnaroo 2024. Don't forget, the latest competition from The What Podcast is still on, and gang wants to hear from you! Give a call to The What Podcast official voicemail line at (423) 667-7877 and share your best Bonnaroo tips, tell a favorite Bonnaroo memory, or ask a question. They'll then select one winner to receive a prize package of Bonnaroo memorabilia from Barry's basement! Listen to The What Podcast chat about Lord Taco's perfect Bonnaroo 2024 schedule or watch it on Youtube. Do us a solid and also like, review, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you listen.