When the COVID vaccine had finally been distributed and many Americans got it – it meant good news for all of our worlds. People could start going back to work, travel, and we can finally have our concerts back.
Of course, when festivals were posting their lineups, I had to check them out. I knew they’d be stacked with the best artists. I was looking for names like Jack Harlow, Lil Uzi, and Megan thee Stallion, and I was satisfied. But what I was more excited for was who was going to be headlining.
Headliners are usually the people who are most popular at the moment and who everyone wants to see. They are the last performance of the day and usually have the longest set. I noticed a lot of music festivals offer a different variety ranging from rap to rock and roll. The festival that I felt had the most variety with the biggest artist was Bonnaroo.
Some of their headliners include Foo Fighters, Megan thee Stallion, Lizzo, and Tame Impala. And some of these artists are back-to-back. When I saw that I thought, how could someone be in the mood to listen to such a variety of different artists? At the same time, that is the magic of the festival experience. It’s the one of the only chances these different worlds of music get to share one space. Let’s talk about each headlining artist and what they’re going to bring to the table.
Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters are headlining not one, not two, but three festivals this summer. They had to pause their huge 25th-anniversary plans because of the pandemic. With these festivals opening back up, they’re ready to take the stage. The group released their brand new album a few months back, however it was completed before the pandemic began. I think including the Foo Fighters in the list of headliners will bring good vibes with their new album, as well as nostalgia with their old songs.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan didn’t really get her rise to fame until during the pandemic. Her blow up was largely due to when everyone was stuck at home on Tik Tok. It’s finally her time to shine live and she’s taking advantage of it. Her name is on the line up of almost every huge festival. A “Hot Girl Summer” indeed!
Lizzo
Lizzo has always been one of my favorite performers, so it was no surprise to me that she was headlining. She hasn’t dropped any new music since Cuz I Love You in 2019, but she has put out teasers. In January, SZA posted a video on Twitter with the caption “Lizzo really just played me the best song I ever heard in my life”. However, she has made videos about not having a due date for her new music. Hopefully, she’ll be dropping something before Bonnaroo!
Tame Impala
Tame Impala (aka Kevin Parker) is an act that needs no introduction. He is a Bonnaroo vet, performing at the festival for multiple years. Fans have been dying to hear songs from his hit album The Slow Rush, as his tour got cut short in 2020 due to Covid. On top of that, he just released his debut album InnerSpeaker‘s 10 year anniversary with 2020 mixes, unreleased songs, and a short film.
Tyler, the Creator
Tyler, the Creator is a combination of all the artistic sounds of Bonnaroo. He’s a rapper, but he also has chill songs where he gets more personal. He just released his new album Call Me If You Get Lost. His fans are saying this is his best, most theatrical work yet. We’re excited to see what he brings to his live performances.
Lana Del Rey
Lana has released multiple pieces in 2021. She dropped Chemtrails Over the Country Club in March, announced her new album to be released in July, leading with a single called “Blue Banisters”. She’ll have plenty of choices for her setlist with all this new music.
Whether you are into rap, indie, rock or pop Bonnaroo offers a taste for everyone’s musical pallet. I want to praise Bonnaroo for exposing attendees to artists and genres they may not have ever gone to see otherwise. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stumbled upon an act a festival, because “why not”, and later became a massive fan. One thing is for sure, they were chosen as headliners for a reason, and will be sure to put on a show to please anyone in the crowd.
