Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the Long-Term Vision for The Farm
Bonnaroo is taking 2027 off, and we wanted to dig into what's next. This week we're joined by David Bruce (I Am Bonnaroo) and Ryan French, a Manchester city councilman and tourism official with a front-row seat to what a fallow year actually means for the town Bonnaroo calls home. We get into the economic ripple through Manchester, why Bonnaroo is the "bell cow" for festivals far beyond itself, what a year off does to the local businesses and community that depend on it, and why our guests are hopeful about 2028 and beyond.
Plus, Barry reflects on a full-circle moment: covering Bonnaroo in 2002 as a skeptical newspaper reporter, and getting quoted in Rolling Stone about its future 24 years later.
Get tickets to CaveFest here! Oct 10-11, 2026 at The Caverns
Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!
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(00:00:00) The News, One Week Later and a Rolling Stone Shoutout
(00:03:19) How We Got Here: From a 2002 "Hippie Fest" to Rolling Stone
(00:20:54) David Bruce & Ryan French Join
(00:27:41) Bonnaroo the "Bell Cow" and What It Means for Other Festivals
(00:35:14) What a Year Off Costs Manchester
(00:49:50) The Community Response and Keeping Bonnaroo Alive
(01:01:08) Looking Forward and Moving Ahead
(01:09:08) Reflecting on Past Cancellations
(01:13:07) Mini-Roos and 2027 Events
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Rolling Stone: Bonnaroo Taking ‘Much-Needed Year Off’ in 2027
Force Majeure with Jeff Becker
What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast
Bonnaroo Cancels 2027: Our Live Reaction
Catching Up with I am Bonnaroo Creator David Bruce
How Bonnaroo Changed Manchester Forever: Live from Planet Roo
Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith
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CaveFest at The Caverns, Oct 10-11, 2026 | Get Tickets Here!
$20 off Hulaween 2026 GA 4-day passes with code THEWHATPODCAST
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