Police @ Bannaroo?

[sockii]

This was posted on the Police mailing list today:

Sources close to the Manchester Times have received confirmation that
The Police, Bob Dylan, and Pearl Jam have been confirmed to headline the 2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival.

The lineup also includes Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Umphrey's McGee, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, The Black Crowes, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, Keller Williams Band, Hot Chip, America, TV on the Radio, Fountains of Wayne, Modest Mouse, Les Claypool, The Shins, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Toots and the Maytals, The Roots, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, Cat Power, Ozomatli, Perpetual Groove, Band of Horses, John Butler Trio, Nickel Creek, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lily Allen, Neko Case, Keiren Hedben (Four Tet) & Steve Reid, The Hold Steady, Earl Scuggs, Charlie Louvin, Man Man, Grizzly Bear, Konono #1, The Slip, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Uncle Earl, Annuals, Beirut, M. Ward, Cold War Kids, and Girl Talk.

Superfly Productions plans to officially announce the lineup on January 31st.

[Mister Gradenko]

Wow.. that's a long wait for official confirmation isn't it!

[Mrs. Gradenko]

Maybe there isn't really a tour, and this is the real 30th anivarsary thing?

[conroy]

Any idea about when the tickets might go on sale?

[blueseattle]

If this is the case... I'M GOING TO TENNESSEE!

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Police mailing list...? How does one join such an animal?

Hmmm...I admit I have heard some gossip about this locally in the last day or two, but nothing confirmed. If it's true, gee, I guess I'll wish I had a whole bunch of guestrooms, since I'd love to meet folks from the forum...but since I don't, I'll have to settle for playing tourguide for folks arriving hereabouts. (Of course we'll organize a get-together and maybe even a convoy to the concert, depending on what people want to do.)

I'm going to go ahead and post a few details on the festival, since I suspect folks will start making plans the minute this is confirmed, if it is confirmed. If not, you'll have it anyway, and there are always some bands worth seeing at this festival. The organizers bought the farm (ha!) this year, specifically the land that houses the venue, so they could put in permanent plumbing and other fixtures. I guess it's here to stay.

First thing you should know is that Bonnaroo is a huge outdoor festival (40,000+ people) and you can either buy a package including a hotel room, or bring a tent and camp. The tent/camp option is the most affordable, at about $150 per head (this is for three days of music, and some phenomenal artists). You can also bring in an RV, but there are no electricity or water hookups and once you're in, you're in - there's no leaving the site and coming back unless you're in a car or on foot.

A word of caution: If this rumor's true, there will be more people on that venue site than you can imagine. Seriously. Last year, the headliners were Beck and Radiohead. Hub and I set up camp out in the main field about five hours ahead of time, and it was just a no-go...there were so many people you couldn't even see the Jumbotron, much less get through the crowd to go buy a beer or use the restroom. They have really, really oversold this festival in the last couple of years.

There is this thing called a VIP pass, which is several times the cost of a regular ticket, but might be worth buying just to cut through some of the line/crowd/seating hassle (and various other hassles). I'm sure they'll have all the details on that at Bonnaroo.com shortly.

The nearest airport to the Bonnaroo site is Nashville, about an hour and a half to two hours away. It is served by the fabulous Southwest Airlines, which would undoubtedly be the most economic option for many of you. We're also on the Greyhound lines, but there's no train service here to speak of.

There are shuttles run from the airport by the Bonnaroo people, and you can also rent a car and day park. [The first few years Bonnaroo traffic was just unspeakable, but they've really improved the traffic flow, so don't be swayed by traffic horror stories on the Net. Really, truly, you can get in there if you're driving your own car and you will find a place to park. Do be prepared for a mile or so walk into the mail festival grounds, though. Also - it will be HOT. Tennessee is in the southern United States, and temperatures in June can hit into the 90s - that's about 30C. So bring a canteen and be prepared to carry lots of water.]

If you're coming from far away, do realize that the only hotels in Manchester Bonnaroo week will be locked down by the festival organizers for purchase by folks purchasing a 'Roo/hotel package. You could commute from Nashville or Murfreesboro, but it would be a bit of hassle. The concerts go on into the night - I believe Dr. John started last year at 1 AM - but there isn't anyone onstage much before noon, usually, so you would have time to drive back and forth if you left before the final show of the evening.

I do know other details - you're permitted to bring a backpack but be prepared to be searched; you can bring low-slung lawnchairs - and can play tourguide for anyone who needs info.

I'll also let you all know *immediately* if I hear anything about other local shows by Stewart or anyone related to our guys. A lot of times artists play in-stores at the three or so indie record stores in Nashville the week of Bonnaroo or play concerts at other venues. (I can't imagine any record store [even my favorite at grimeys.com] could handle the massive crowd that would attend a Police instore, but there may be some chance they'll play - Jesus, someone help me, I may swoon - the Ryman Auditorium [www.ryman.com], which is an historic venue saved from the wrecking ball back in the 90s by Emmylou Harris and which has been graced by the likes of the Pixies, the Pretenders, Wilco, and Elvis Costello in the past few years. It was quite literally the home of roots music, having served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry back in the 1940s and having had its stage lights kicked out by Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, etc.)

Actually, on second thought, I'll let you know if I hear anything about this at all. I'm on a million local email lists and message boards and I know people who know people, if you know what I mean. I have no idea if this is the real deal, but I'll let you know ANYTHING I find out.

DotD

[sockii]

Thanks for all the details, DotD.

I'm *really* hoping that if all this tour/reunion talk is true, the guys do more than play just these big multi-band festivals...because as much as I love 'em, those kinds of crowds and that kind of hassle (and expense)...all for likely barely getting to see them...just isn't for me. I'd have to wait for the DVD.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I have really mixed feelings about 'Roo. I went in '04, and had a terrific experience - Hub and I went last year and things didn't go so smoothly, thanks largely to the fact that the organizers sold, like, twice the tickets of the '04 show. (They claim they actually sold fewer tickets last year than '05, but I don't believe it for a minute.)

You couldn't really get close to any stages, even the small ones (which is a bummer because it's really hot in the summer in TN and we couldn't get close enough to the stages to get under the roofs that cover them. Also, all the stages were so packed with people you literally had to fight to get out to use the bathroom - and forget getting back in).

Hub actually wrote a review of it:

http://thehighhat.com/PopsClicks/007/bo ... ilson.html

That said, the performances are always just stellar and the lineup is usually outtasite. You can't get that close to the stage, but you can still hear, for the most part. Tennessee gets a lot of rock and even alternative concerts, but we rarely see electronica or world music. Thanks to Bonnaroo I've now attended concerts by Femi Kuti, Ozomatli, Seu Jorge, Amadou & Miriam, Bill Laswell, and the mighty Swedish band Dungen - which would have never come to Tennessee otherwise.

There was a giant mob for Oysterhead and I still enjoyed it thoroughly, even though I had to jealously guard my 'turf' the entire time from tall guys who kept trying to stand directly in front of me (I'm only 5'5", so the tall-rude-guy-at-concert phenomenon is always something I'm dealing with...although many people simply don't realize they're blocking the view of people behind them and are surprisingly accommodating if approached politely.)

Do we actually think the Police might play some venue that wouldn't be 50,000 people? It'd be ironic if I wind up buying a plane ticket to see them, given that (if the rumor is true) they'll be playing not even two hours from my house...

What I wouldn't give to have been old enough to have seen the late 70s show at the Exit/In here in Nashville. That club fits maybe 1000 and is still going strong...[Sting wears a t-shirt from it in one of the shots on the back of Zenyatta, which I've undoubtedly bored everyone to death mentioning]

[conroy]

Thanks for all the wonderful info, DMotD. I'm with Sockii, I hope they don't limit it to those huge outdoor festivals, cuz i'll just wait for the DVD or watch the live internet stream on my High Def TV.

[blueseattle]

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]I have really mixed feelings about 'Roo. I went in '04, and had a terrific experience - Hub and I went last year and things didn't go so smoothly, thanks largely to the fact that the organizers sold, like, twice the tickets of the '04 show. (They claim they actually sold fewer tickets last year than '05, but I don't believe it for a minute.)

You couldn't really get close to any stages, even the small ones (which is a bummer because it's really hot in the summer in TN and we couldn't get close enough to the stages to get under the roofs that cover them. Also, all the stages were so packed with people you literally had to fight to get out to use the bathroom - and forget getting back in).

Hub actually wrote a review of it:

http://thehighhat.com/PopsClicks/007/bo ... ilson.html

That said, the performances are always just stellar and the lineup is usually outtasite. You can't get that close to the stage, but you can still hear, for the most part. Tennessee gets a lot of rock and even alternative concerts, but we rarely see electronica or world music. Thanks to Bonnaroo I've now attended concerts by Femi Kuti, Ozomatli, Seu Jorge, Amadou & Miriam, Bill Laswell, and the mighty Swedish band Dungen - which would have never come to Tennessee otherwise.

There was a giant mob for Oysterhead and I still enjoyed it thoroughly, even though I had to jealously guard my 'turf' the entire time from tall guys who kept trying to stand directly in front of me (I'm only 5'5", so the tall-rude-guy-at-concert phenomenon is always something I'm dealing with...although many people simply don't realize they're blocking the view of people behind them and are surprisingly accommodating if approached politely.)

Do we actually think the Police might play some venue that wouldn't be 50,000 people? It'd be ironic if I wind up buying a plane ticket to see them, given that (if the rumor is true) they'll be playing not even two hours from my house...

What I wouldn't give to have been old enough to have seen the late 70s show at the Exit/In here in Nashville. That club fits maybe 1000 and is still going strong...[Sting wears a t-shirt from it in one of the shots on the back of Zenyatta, which I've undoubtedly bored everyone to death mentioning] [/quote]

Yeah, Bonnaroo doesn't sound appealing to me. Lollapalooza sounds more appealing. I've been there twice in a row now, 2005 and 2006, and it's such a cool atmosphere in the middle of the city.

If they play only Bonnaroo and England... I'm buying a ticket on Virgin Airlines and gettin' out of the US to see Stewart.

I thought about it and came to the conclusion that IS your experience. I've seen the pictures of sun stroke, I've seen the congested highways, and as much as I'd pay millions to see The Police... I would absolutely hate to go all through that to watch from miles away and be absolutely miserable.

Absolutely. Haha. Let's use that word again Mike. Jeez.

[blueseattle]

[quote="Divemistress of the Dark"]Police mailing list...? How does one join such an animal?

Hmmm...I admit I have heard some gossip about this locally in the last day or two, but nothing confirmed. If it's true, gee, I guess I'll wish I had a whole bunch of guestrooms, since I'd love to meet folks from the forum...but since I don't, I'll have to settle for playing tourguide for folks arriving hereabouts. (Of course we'll organize a get-together and maybe even a convoy to the concert, depending on what people want to do.)

I'm going to go ahead and post a few details on the festival, since I suspect folks will start making plans the minute this is confirmed, if it is confirmed. If not, you'll have it anyway, and there are always some bands worth seeing at this festival. The organizers bought the farm (ha!) this year, specifically the land that houses the venue, so they could put in permanent plumbing and other fixtures. I guess it's here to stay.

First thing you should know is that Bonnaroo is a huge outdoor festival (40,000+ people) and you can either buy a package including a hotel room, or bring a tent and camp. The tent/camp option is the most affordable, at about $150 per head (this is for three days of music, and some phenomenal artists). You can also bring in an RV, but there are no electricity or water hookups and once you're in, you're in - there's no leaving the site and coming back unless you're in a car or on foot.

A word of caution: If this rumor's true, there will be more people on that venue site than you can imagine. Seriously. Last year, the headliners were Beck and Radiohead. Hub and I set up camp out in the main field about five hours ahead of time, and it was just a no-go...there were so many people you couldn't even see the Jumbotron, much less get through the crowd to go buy a beer or use the restroom. They have really, really oversold this festival in the last couple of years.

There is this thing called a VIP pass, which is several times the cost of a regular ticket, but might be worth buying just to cut through some of the line/crowd/seating hassle (and various other hassles). I'm sure they'll have all the details on that at Bonnaroo.com shortly.

The nearest airport to the Bonnaroo site is Nashville, about an hour and a half to two hours away. It is served by the fabulous Southwest Airlines, which would undoubtedly be the most economic option for many of you. We're also on the Greyhound lines, but there's no train service here to speak of.

There are shuttles run from the airport by the Bonnaroo people, and you can also rent a car and day park. [The first few years Bonnaroo traffic was just unspeakable, but they've really improved the traffic flow, so don't be swayed by traffic horror stories on the Net. Really, truly, you can get in there if you're driving your own car and you will find a place to park. Do be prepared for a mile or so walk into the mail festival grounds, though. Also - it will be HOT. Tennessee is in the southern United States, and temperatures in June can hit into the 90s - that's about 30C. So bring a canteen and be prepared to carry lots of water.]

If you're coming from far away, do realize that the only hotels in Manchester Bonnaroo week will be locked down by the festival organizers for purchase by folks purchasing a 'Roo/hotel package. You could commute from Nashville or Murfreesboro, but it would be a bit of hassle. The concerts go on into the night - I believe Dr. John started last year at 1 AM - but there isn't anyone onstage much before noon, usually, so you would have time to drive back and forth if you left before the final show of the evening.

I do know other details - you're permitted to bring a backpack but be prepared to be searched; you can bring low-slung lawnchairs - and can play tourguide for anyone who needs info.

I'll also let you all know *immediately* if I hear anything about other local shows by Stewart or anyone related to our guys. A lot of times artists play in-stores at the three or so indie record stores in Nashville the week of Bonnaroo or play concerts at other venues. (I can't imagine any record store [even my favorite at grimeys.com] could handle the massive crowd that would attend a Police instore, but there may be some chance they'll play - Jesus, someone help me, I may swoon - the Ryman Auditorium [www.ryman.com], which is an historic venue saved from the wrecking ball back in the 90s by Emmylou Harris and which has been graced by the likes of the Pixies, the Pretenders, Wilco, and Elvis Costello in the past few years. It was quite literally the home of roots music, having served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry back in the 1940s and having had its stage lights kicked out by Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, etc.)

Actually, on second thought, I'll let you know if I hear anything about this at all. I'm on a million local email lists and message boards and I know people who know people, if you know what I mean. I have no idea if this is the real deal, but I'll let you know ANYTHING I find out.

DotD[/quote]



By the way... that was MOST helpful and I thank you big time!

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I would end up in the back, wouldn't be able to see much at all... and as always... a drunk person would fall on me.

It would be awesome to see, but I really hope this isn't the suprise.

[blueseattle]

[quote="Mrs. Gradenko"]I would end up in the back, wouldn't be able to see much at all... and as always... a drunk person would fall on me.

It would be awesome to see, but I really hope this isn't the suprise.[/quote]

Yeah me either. I really would like a small tour and not a one off thing in two countries or something.

Though, I can't complain if ANYTHING happens, either.

[Mrs. Gradenko]

[quote]Though, I can't complain if ANYTHING happens, either.[/quote]
I can.

[sockii]

>Police mailing list...? How does one join such an animal?

http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mai ... nfo/police

(I put up the info in the links list as well).

It's been around since 1990. Usually it's fairly quiet but of course these days it's much more active than I've seen it in years.

You won't find a whole lot there that doesn't get posted here or at AUI as well, and as advanced warning the place can get pretty wanky sometimes with the Sting vs. Stewart wars, which I'm sure will erupt all over again if a tour/show(s) happens. The last doozy I remember was a bunch of folks arguing over if Stewart busted his snare head *on purpose* at the Hall of Fame show.

Not my favorite Police place by far, but occasionally I get something useful from it.

>Do we actually think the Police might play some venue that wouldn't be 50,000 people?

Probably not, and I can deal with a stadium show if I have to - at least there if I pay for a seat I know it's *my seat* and I can have some kind of control over what sort of experience I have. I just can't deal with one of these camping-out/general admission/monster event type situations. I don't do well with big crowds in general, and that sounds like a particular level of Hell I never want to experience.