While concerts and tours are getting interrupted around the world due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some festivals are bravely forging on in spite of it. Yet while some high-profile multi-day events, like Lollapalooza, went off successfully this summer, Bonnaroo will not be so lucky, as the extravaganza has been canceled because of weather.
The four-day Manchester, Tenn. based fest was scheduled to take place beginning Thursday and run through this weekend, but organizers revealed that due to the ground being flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, they are being forced to nix this year’s edition. It’s the second time in a row Bonnaroo has had to shut it down since launching in 2002, with the bulk of last year being a wash for live music across the board due to Covid-19.
“We are absolutely heartbroken to announce that we must cancel Bonnaroo,” read a statement released Tuesday. “While this weekend’s weather looks outstanding, currently Centeroo is waterlogged in many areas, the ground is incredibly saturated on our tollbooth paths, and the campgrounds are flooded to the point that we are unable to drive in or park vehicles safely.”
As late as Monday, organizers were hopeful that they would still be able to go ahead, but it didn’t look good, with the official Twitter account for the festival noting that the capacity camping area had to be reduced because some of the grounds were rendered “unusable.”
Typically, Bonnaroo is held in mid-June, but was bumped to September this year in hopes that the pandemic would’ve subsided. Unfortunately, that put it smack in the middle of hurricane season, which added another layer of risk.
“We have done everything in our power to try to keep the show moving forward, but Mother Nature has dealt us a tremendous amount of rain over the past 24 hours, and we have run out of options to try to make the event happen safely and in a way that lives up to the Bonnaroo experience,” organizers added.
The 2021 headliners and big-name acts included Foo Fighters, Lizzo, Tame Impala, Run the Jewels, Phoebe Bridgers and Tyler, the Creator. Upwards of 80,000 people were expected to attend, with a large contingent settling in on the campgrounds for the weekend.
Most concertgoers, many who traveled long distances, understood the cancelation but were disappointed, with a vocal minority expressing anger at the financial and time inconveniences they now faced. While thanking their crew in an official tweet, organizers noted, “we wouldn’t have even had a chance.” All purchased tickets are expected to be refunded within 30 days and plans are still a go for Bonnaroo to return in June 2022.
VINYL OF THE WEEK
Keep an eye on this spot as each week we’ll be looking at new or soon-to-be-released vinyl from a variety of artists. It might be a re-pressing of a landmark recording, special edition or new collection from a legendary act. This week, it’s a companion soundtrack to recently restored footage of a group of reggae icons.
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS: ‘THE CAPITOL SESSION ‘73’
The scene is Hollywood. October 1973. International reggae pioneers Bob Marley and the Wailers were filmed in a closed-door session at The Capitol Records Tower on October 24 by famed producer Denny Cordell, who received the blessing from Marley to capture the band recording 12 songs. Shooting with four cameras and mixing “on the fly” to a colorized tape, this footage, has been painstakingly restored, resulting in an incredible presentation of this unseen live session.
Fifty years after this concert was recorded, ‘Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Capitol Session ‘73’ is available on DVD and CD, standalone compact disc, all digital formats and, of course, vinyl. The 2LP set is offered in a couple of different colors in addition to standard black; it’s pressed on green marble vinyl and on Rasta swirl vinyl, which is red, yellow and green, the latter available exclusively at Sound of Vinyl.
This session at Capitol Studios represented a unique moment in the band’s career. Filmed 10 years after their formation, Bob Marley and the Wailers already had several established hits through the ska and rocksteady eras. Gaining recognition stateside, including a few shows with Bruce Springsteen at Max’s Kansas City in New York City, they then went on to tour with Sly and the Family Stone, before they had been unceremoniously dumped from the tour. This led to the band, at the time made up of Marley, Peter Tosh, Joe Higgs, Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett and Earl “Wya” Lindo, making their way to Hollywood to do this session.
The footage from this session was considered lost until a freelance researcher uncovered a few frames. For over 20 years, archives and storage units from New York and London to San Diego were tracked down and searched to retrieve fragments of the film, until it was fully unearthed, restored, and remastered.
Evolving into a politically and socially charged unit after being inspired by the US Civil Rights movement, various African liberation efforts, and Rastafari, which the group studied from Rasta elders, the music of Bob Marley and The Wailers reflected the soul and struggles of the era. Making poignant statements about life, liberty, and social justice, the sentiments are imbued in the songs, which are beautifully brought to life via ‘The Capitol Session ‘73.’
The standard, black vinyl edition and green marbled edition of ‘The Capitol Session ‘73’ can be found online and in stores from all respectable retailers who carry vinyl.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his blog at www.thechroniclesofmc.com
Source: Berkshire mont
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