Muse bring stadium rock to Tennessee for Bonnaroo’s epic Friday

2018’s Bonnaroo kicked into full gear Friday and as is the custom for this Summer Midwestern festival it was a hot one. But the sweltering sun and lack of clouds didn’t keep the bands and fans from having an incredibly packed fun filled day.

Muse

Muse was Friday’s big headliner and in their first ever trip to the farm they surely did not disappoint. With their stunning light show mixed with hit after hit, their hour and a half set provided memories that will last a lifetime.

Sturgill Simpson

Manchester, Tennessee was the perfect host for this county superstar. His voice, which brings to mind Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams, provided a true Country rock show. His off the cuff rock outs and jam sessions won many fans over in the process as well.

Paramore

The band from just down the road from Bonnaroo had never played the fest. Hayley Williams made up for lost time with bundles of energy and their hits ranging from “Hard Times” to “Ain’t it Fun” thrilled the massive crowd.

Manchester Orchestra

This band rocks. It’s really the only way to explain it. Andy Hull‘s mesmerising vocals sooth the audience until their many of rocks force them to jump up and down. It’s impossible to stay still for their shows and they gave their sweating audience an amazing reason to forget the heat.

Tom Petty Superjam

The best show of the night was saved for very last. In an incredible honour of the recently passed Tom Petty, several amazing artists joined together for the Into The Great Wide Open Superjam, a two hour jam session featuring the greatest songs of his career led by members of Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Texas Gentleman and more. Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Moon Taxi, Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso and more artists from the festival came out and performed some of the greatest songs of all time. Even some artists not scheduled to be at the festival showed up, like Cage the Elephant, Vanessa Carlton and Young the Giant.

It was a giant party and the greatest way possible to honour the incredible legacy of Tom Petty.

Saturday’s highlights include Eminem, Bon Iver, Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals and many many more.

Photo: Taylor Mithelman.

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