The What Podcast

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Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

We had the chance to sit down with Keith Richards this week. Not that Keith Richards — let's get that out of the way early. Our actual guest is the newly-named Head of Festivals at Ground Control Touring, an independent booking agency representing artists from Waxahatchee to Japanese Breakfast to Manchester Orchestra. He was named to the role this past January, Ground Control's first-ever Head of Festivals, and he joined us to pull back the curtain on how a festival lineup actually comes together.

We get into the questions we've always wanted answered: do artists really make more money at festivals versus arena tours? Is there a "cookie-cutter lineup" problem, or is that a myth? Why is developing a true headliner one of the hardest jobs in the industry right now? Keith also walks us through what it was like being on-site at Bonnaroo 2026 during the storm evacuation, riding it out alongside Bonnaroo's own team, and drops a list of up-and-coming artists he thinks are worth watching heading into next year.

Listen to this week's episode with Keith Richards 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) Intro

(02:24) Meet Keith Richards (Not That One)

(07:06) How Booking Actually Works

(24:26) Keith's History with the Booking Industry

(30:16) Cookie-Cutter Lineups & the State of the Industry

(40:20) Bonnaroo Hasn't Gotten Old, You Have

(42:10) Artists to Watch: Who's Next?

(49:18) Not That Keith Richards (The Full Story)

(51:29) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Shaky Knees 2025 vs. IBMA Chattanooga: Live from the Red Carpet + Bilmuri Interview

Ground Control hires Keith Richards as head of festivals & Joy Hubbard as festival coordinator

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CaveFest at The Caverns, Oct 10-11, 2026 | Get Tickets Here!
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We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

We Filled Out Bonnaroo's 2027 Music Census Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Bonnaroo puts out an official music census every year asking fans what they want to see next — so this year, we sat down together to answer every single question. We walk through it all: genres, headliners, comedy acts, late-night programming, the future of That Tent's new location, Bonnaroo Radio, and more. What do we agree on? What do we disagree on?

Before the census, we catch up on recent local trips, and break down the newly finalized Hulaween lineup. Plus: Billy Strings opens Chattanooga's newly renovated Tivoli Theater, and Reddit's already buzzing about 2027 Bonnaroo mock lineups.

NOW TAKING OUR OWN LISTENER SURVEY!

How did you find the show? What do you listen to us on? What do you want to hear more of? Take 2 minutes and help shape what we cover next: https://thewhat.co/survey

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) Intro

(00:00:36) Catching Up: Recent Trips

(00:05:04) RIP Rick Williams: A Chattanooga Music Legacy

(00:06:43) Bryan's Sphere Anniversary & The Caverns

(00:10:25) Hulaween 2026 Lineup Reactions

(00:13:30) Billy Strings Opens the Tivoli Theater

(00:15:21) Bonnaroo 2027 Mock Lineups

(00:19:23) Bonnaroo's Official 2027 Survey Begins

(00:23:33) What Genre Do We Listen to Most?

(00:24:46) What Genre Needs More Presence at Bonnaroo?

(00:33:07) Should Bonnaroo Bring Back Comedy Acts?

(00:39:58) Headliners vs. Undercard: What Matters More?

(00:45:56) Does Bonnaroo Help You Discover New Music?

(00:50:18) Late Night Sets & Time Between Shows

(00:53:46) Bonnaroo in June vs. September

(00:54:10) How Important Is the SuperJam?

(00:54:57) Should Thursday Have More Stages?

(00:55:30) That Tent's New Location: Was It a Success?

(00:59:43) Grading Bonnaroo Radio

(01:03:09) Did Anyone Watch the Where Stage?

(01:05:16) Bonnie Roo's: The Farm's New Hangout Spot

(01:08:05) Who We Want at Bonnaroo Next Year

(01:08:59) Take Our Own Listener Survey

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Dead & Co. at the Sphere and Happy Landing at Bonnaroo 2024

Camping at Bonnaroo: Must-Know Updates and New Amenities for 2025

Church Boners React to Bonnaroo Ticket Contest Entries

The What Podcast Audience Survey

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Is Now Bonnaroo Famous Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Meet the man who's become a Bonnaroo legend, one signature at a time. Caleb Arias, creator of the Bonnaroo Yearbook, joins us for the third time to break down how his passion project exploded this year. What started as pitching strangers to sign a notebook is now three-hour lines, sold-out printed editions, and fans hand-crafting custom trinkets just for him.

Grab your own copy of the Bonnaroo Yearbook at bonnarooyearbook.com and use code THEWHATPODCAST for 50% off!

We get into the wristband smuggling caper, the moment Caleb revealed Bryan might have the most beautiful signature in the entire book (calligraphy pen and all), and what it's really like becoming a recognizable figure at a large music festival: including the sacrifices, the boundaries he's had to set, and why he stayed sober the entire weekend just to protect the project. Plus: a sneak peek at a possible Bonnaroo children's book starring his bearded dragon, Trogdor.

Listen to this week's episode with Caleb 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) Intro

(00:00:32) Caleb, the Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Returns

(00:02:14) The Wristband Heist & Getting to the Farm

(00:12:24) How the Yearbook Project Began

(00:15:47) Bryan's Calligraphy Pen & Inside the Book

(00:24:14) Becoming "Bonnaroo Famous"

(00:33:18) From Passion Project to Real Money

(00:36:09) Trogdor, the Children's Book & Music Highlights

(00:42:04) Chasing Sunrise Sets & Planning for Next Year

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories

@bonnarooyearbook on Instagram

How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

How Bonnaroo 2026 Survived the Storm (And Became Unforgettable) Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Bonnaroo 2026 might have been the best one yet, and we are here to break down the entire weekend for you! We recap a festival full of serendipity: a surprise wedding in The Grove, an unforgettable run-in with singer-songwriter Jesse Welles on Shakedown Street, Bryan's first-ever Roo Run, and the Noah Kahan set and fireworks that closed it all out.

Looking behind the scenes, we also go deep on how Bonnaroo pulled it all off. After the rain, the mud, and a Thursday-night power outage, we've got details on all the improvements. 2,700 yards of mulch, new French drains, sump pumps and generators, and more! Plus a music rundown covering Wet Leg, Geese, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, GRiZ, Mount Joy, The Strokes, The Chats, and Blues Traveler, and a moment to remember Oliver Tree.

Thumbnail photo by Evan Brown

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 Best Bonnaroo Ever? Our 2026 Recap Begins

(00:00:44) 300 Episodes! How We Got Here

(00:01:46) The Bonnaroo Moments We'll Never Forget

(00:07:03) Ranking Bonnaroo 2026 Against 20+ Years

(00:14:00) Getting to the Farm: Setup, Common John & Jiffy Burger

(00:19:28) Thursday at Bonnaroo 2026

(00:25:15) The Thursday Night Power Outage

(00:29:54) Behind the Scenes: Dale Green's Bonnaroo Infrastructure Tour

(00:37:00) Did Moving the Stage to The What Field Work?

(00:40:45) What Bonnaroo Is Fixing for Next Year

(00:42:54) The Which Stage's Big Comeback

(00:44:29) Surviving Sunday: The Storm That Almost Won

(00:51:11) A Surprise Wedding in the Grove

(01:01:15) Bryan's Best Day Ever at Bonnaroo

(01:20:29) What's Next + Looking Ahead

(01:22:56) Remembering Oliver Tree

(01:26:50) Send Us Your Bonnaroo Pics!

(01:29:56) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

It's Called: Freefall (GRiZ Remix)

Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

Instagram: @ethorpephoto

Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

We're back from The Farm! First, Barry and Russ give a quick recap of an unforgettable Bonnaroo 2026 (our full deep-dive recap is coming soon!). Then we bring you our live panel from the Planet Roo stage, where we sat down with the nonprofits behind Bonnaroo's charitable mission: Kelsey Dewald (Planet Roo / Bonnaroo Works Fund), David Conover (Grundy County Food Bank), Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity), Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral), and Nancy Tarr & Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation). From a $100,000 grant for local school mental health to rescuing 25,000 pounds of food a year — here's how Bonnaroo gives back, and how your ticket does so much more than get you through the gate.

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) Intro

(00:01:54) Quick Bonnaroo 2026 Recap

(00:17:18) Live from Planet Roo at Bonnaroo 2026

(00:24:43) Kelsey Dewald (Bonnaroo Works Fund)

(00:33:42) David Conover (Bonnaroo Food Sustainability)

(00:40:18) Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity)

(00:45:48) Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral)

(00:58:26) Nancy Tarr and Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation)

(01:08:40) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard

Bonnaroo 2026: Meet the podcasters who talk ‘Roo year-round

Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026

Instagram: @ethorpephoto

Bonnaroo 2026 Recap: Roodemption!

Reel: I Am Bonnaroo

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

It's Bonnaroo Week! Hype, Stories & Last-Minute Tips Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

It's Bonnaroo Week! We all got together at Lo Main in Chattanooga to get hyped, swap stories, and run through our last-minute tips before we all head to the farm. Joining us: Austin (aka Squeegee Guy), Tara, and Cassie.

We get into going VIP, counting up our Bonnaroos (the math is harder than you'd think), taking family to the farm, staying safe out there, the shows we can't wait to see, and our final tips before we leave.

SEE US LIVE AT BONNAROO 2026!

The What Podcast is going LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 on the How Stage inside Planet Roo, Thursday at 4PM. Come see us on stage with special guests and giveaways.

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) Intro

(01:26) It's Bonnaroo Week!

(04:05) The What Podcast LIVE at Bonnaroo — Thursday 4PM, How Stage

(06:31) Is Bonnaroo VIP Worth It?

(10:39) How Many Bonnaroos Have We Done? (The Math Is Hard)

(16:50) Bringing Family & Kids to Bonnaroo

(31:46) Bonnaroo Safety & Harm Reduction Tips

(37:11) Must-See Bonnaroo 2026 Artists

(43:14) Last-Minute Bonnaroo Packing & Prep Tips

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The What Podcast on TikTok

The What Podcast LIVE in Planet Roo, Thursday 4:00 PM

Bonnaroo Isn't About the Headliners Anymore: Brad Steiner's Don't-Miss Picks

What Everyone Forgets to Pack at Bonnaroo - and Where to Get It

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

What Everyone Forgets to Pack at Bonnaroo — and Where to Get It Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

You packed for weeks. You made a list. And you're still going to forget something — everyone does. This week we sat down with Brendan from Mr. B's Festival Needs General Store, who's spent nearly 20 years watching festival-goers realize they left the most important thing at home. Toothbrush, pillow, tent poles, stakes, a power bank — Brendan's seen it all, and he tells us what people forget the most and how to make sure a missing item doesn't wreck your weekend.

Mr. B's has two locations in the Bonnaroo campgrounds (Plaza 3 and Plaza 4) plus a spot inside the VIP lounge, open 24 hours from Wednesday through Monday. If you forgot it, they brought it. Even better — you can skip the on-site scramble entirely with Mr. B's Click & Collect: pre-order everything from tent packages to cases of water and pick it up when you arrive. The pre-order deadline is JUNE 7, so don't wait.

Plus, before the interview we catch you up on the latest — the Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy clip that's now passed 4 million views, and the weather chatter that has everyone a little nervous (spoiler: don't panic). And don't forget — The What Podcast is going LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 on the How Stage inside Planet Roo, Thursday at 4PM. Come see us on stage with special guests and giveaways.

Listen to this week's episode with Brendan from Mr. B's 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) Intro

(01:18) The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Goes Viral

(02:35) The What Podcast LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 - 4PM Thursday

(05:09) Bonnaroo 2026 Weather: Should You Worry About Rain?

(12:37) What People Always Forget to Pack for Bonnaroo (Mr. B's General Store)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The What Podcast on TikTok

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard

The What Podcast LIVE in Planet Roo, Thursday 4:00 PM

Mr. B's Click and Collect: Pre-order before June 7th

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard May 27, 2026

Show notes

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy is one of the biggest viral moments to come out of Bonnaroo 2025's cancellation and letdown, and this week we finally got the full story. Austin, the man behind the pool noodle who went viral squeegeeing mud during the Bonnaroo 2025 cancellation, joins The What Podcast to tell us how the video blew up across TikTok, and the unexpected twists that came from it — including how it's sending his mom and aunt to their first-ever Bonnaroo.

Before the interview, we go into the latest festival news like the long lines of fans waiting to get into Griztronics at The Gorge last weekend. We also revisit a little of our interview last week with Bonnaroo's director and marketing manager Shelby and Cory.

And don't forget — The What Podcast is going LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 on the How Stage inside Planet Roo, Thursday at 4PM. See us live on stage with special guests, and you could also win free giveaways from Lunchbox and an original I Am Bonnaroo print from photographer David Bruce!

Listen to this week's episode with the Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy 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) Intro

(04:29) Griztronics at The Gorge: Long Lines, Heat & Refunds

(10:17) Bonnaroo 2026 Changes Recap

(18:18) The What Podcast LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026

(19:26) Interview: The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Tells His Story

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026

Follow Austin on TikTok

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026 May 20, 2026

Show notes

Less than three weeks to Bonnaroo 2026 and we got an exclusive interview with Bonnaroo's new Festival Director Shelby Goodsell and Marketing Manager Cory Smith to give us the most comprehensive inside look at what's changing, what's new, and what to expect on The Farm this year.

We cover the Where Stage move, the campsite changes, the new Bonnie Roo's Sports Bar, Thursday's unprecedented all-in-one programming, the Grateful Dead tribute set, bandanas at the toll booths, and much more. If you're going to Bonnaroo 2026 this is the episode you cannot miss.

Then don't forget, The What Podcast will be LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 on the How Stage inside Planet Roo, Thursday at 4PM. Come find us, hug and howdy, and maybe walk away with free giveaways from Lunchbox and an original I Am Bonnaroo print from David Bruce!

Listen to this week's episode with Shelby and Cory 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) Intro

(00:01:49) Bonnaroo 2026 Outeroo Schedule Revealed

(00:06:47) Bonnaroo Radio Returns in 2026

(00:12:46) Bonnie Roo's Sports Bar - New for 2026

(00:15:54) Bonnaroo Arch Playlist - Fans Choose This Year

(00:17:40) Bonnaroo Squeegee King Returns

(00:19:50) Interview: Bonnaroo Festival Director Shelby Goodsell & Marketing Manager Cory Smith

(01:02:53) The What Podcast LIVE at Bonnaroo 2026 - How Stage, Planet Roo, Thursday 4PM

(01:04:12) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

StoneOnAir: "Wishlist" on Pearl Jam Radio

Noah Kahan Told Us This Before He Was A Bonnaroo Headliner

Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith

Ken Weinstein

Bonnaroo Community Spotlight: How Church Boners Became a Festival Family

There Is No Bonnaroo Without Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

Noah Kahan Told Us This Before He Was A Bonnaroo Headliner May 13, 2026

Show notes

We're back with a jam-packed episode as Bonnaroo 2026 gets closer by the day. We are now less than 30 days away! First up, The What Podcast will be LIVE Bonnaroo this year! We'll be on the How Stage inside Planet Roo on Thursday at 4PM, and we want to see you there. Then we break down the newly announced Bonnaroo SuperJam lineup headlined by Kesha, and react to Noah Kahan's SNL performance.

Then we sit down with Trevor and Miguel from Wooks Haven: two first-timers who attended their first Bonnaroo in 2024, got completely hooked, came back in 2025, and loved it so much they built something around it. Their story is proof that it doesn't matter how many times you've been, Bonnaroo gets you every time. We wrap things up with a look back at our 2023 interview with Noah Kahan, who just performed on SNL and Tiny Desk and is now headlining Bonnaroo 2026. We had him before he blew up, and it's a powerful interview you don't want to miss!

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) Intro

(00:07:01) The What Podcast Live at Bonnaroo 2026

(00:10:17) Bonnaroo SuperJam Lineup Revealed feat. Kesha

(00:13:41) Noah Kahan on SNL

(00:16:55) Wooks Haven Interview

(00:39:09) Outro

(00:43:10) Noah Kahan Interview: Before He Was A Bonnaroo Headliner

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Noah Kahan on SNL

Noah Kahan on Mental Health and Allowing Himself to Be Honest

Jim James Looks Back on My Morning Jacket's Legendary 2004 Bonnaroo Show

St. Paul and The Broken Bones' Paul Janeway Got Peed on at Bonnaroo

Trading Whiskey Shots for Ginger Shots: RÜFÜS DU SOL Joins The What Podcast

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

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