With every summer comes the promise of barbecues, sun tanning, swimming pools, and maybe most exciting of all, music festivals. For each and every fan, there is a festival no matter what your musical tastes from Electric Forest (primarily electronica music) to Rock The Bells (a multi city hip hop bonanza). One festival in particular offers an eclectic variety of acts in addition to a rabid almost cultish fan base that return again and again to rural Tennessee to experience Bonnaroo. This year’s ‘Roo runs from June 13th to June 16th and promises a great time for any and all. As the festival runs, each day we will be previewing a few of the acts that are playing that day so let’s open with Thursday’s line up.

For those who are fans of guitar and indie rock, Thursday promises to be a great time. Canadian duo Japandroids bring their guitar and drum assault to “This Tent” at 10:00 and the show promises to be raucous. Look for them to play cuts from last year’s awesome Celebration Rock (seriously, if you haven’t heard this album, you’re missing out) and hopefully we will be treated to some new material. Following them in “This Tent” is the English foursome calling themselves ? (pronounced “Alt-J”, named after the keyboard shortcut) are bringing their unique brand of indie rock, heavily influenced by electronic bass and drum sensibilities, and fans will likely be treated to cuts from last year’s freshman album An Awesome Wave. A few of my friends caught the band at a Williamsburg club show earlier this year and said that it was one of the most varied rock shows they had ever been to so needless to say I will be making every effort to catch them. Bonnaroo organizers were kind enough to give us a 30 minute break before they bring out the big guns for “This Tent”, another English foursome, The Vaccines. After two fantastic albums and innumerable comparisons to acts like The Strokes, Interpol, even The Ramones, The Vaccines have big expectations to meet. Expect this show, one of the last of the night, to draw a huge crowd and be especially energetic.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Bonnaroo if there was only one stage or genre. In “That Tent”, the last show of the night is being played by ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), a funky jam band that recalls summer vibes and beach cookouts. They are preceded on stage by indie buzz band Django Django, and sister act Haim who will play their unique updated take on 70’s soft rock with token urban influences. Also playing on the stage in “The Other Tent” is a favorite of hip hop connoisseurs, Killer Mike and Pretty Lights Label signee, Paper Diamond. Also on the electro heavy stage of “The Other Tent” is Canadian electronic duo Purity Ring and beat pad savant AraabMuzik. For me at least though, the most exciting act of the day are Bonnaroo veterans Walk The Moon who bring their pop-influenced, easily danceable indie rock to “the Other Tent” midway through the day.

Bonnaroo looks to be a great time for all and regardless of your tastes, you will find something you like and that’s only Day One. Remember to stay hydrated and fed and have fun! We’ll catch you tomorrow with the preview for Day 2.

Bonnaroo 2013 Schedule | Thursday, Jun 13th
This Tent: DIIV 4:00 – 5:00 Futurebirds 5:30 – 6:30 Ariel Pink 7:00 – 8:00 Deap Vally 8:30 – 9:30 Japandroids 10:00 – 11:00 Alt-J 11:30 – 12:30 The Vaccines 1:00 – 2:00	That Tent: Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers 3:00 – 4:00 Milo Greene 4:30 – 5:30 JD McPherson 6:00 – 7:00 HAIM 7:30 – 8:30 Django Django 9:00 – 10:00 Father John Misty 10:30 – 11:30 Allen Stone 12:00 – 1:00 ALO with Special Guests 1:30 – 2:30
The Other Tent: The Stepkids 3:15 – 4:15 twenty one pilots 4:45 – 5:45 Araabmuzik 6:15 – 7:15 Walk The Moon 7:45 – 8:45 Purity Ring 9:15 – 10:15 Paper Diamond 10:45 – 11:45 Killer Mike 12:15 – 1:15	Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre hosted by IFC: Maria Bamford ft. Kyle Dunnigan and Cristela Alonzo 6:00 – 7:15 Maria Bamford ft. Kyle Dunnigan and Cristela Alonzo 8:00 – 9:15 Mike Birbiglia ft. Michael Che 10:00 – 11:15 Eric Andre, Nikki Glaser, Chris Gethard & Kyle Dunnigan 12:00 – 1:15
New Music On Tap Lounge: Ri¢hie 1:00 – 2:00 Johnnyswim 2:30 – 3:30 Andrew Duhon 4:00 – 5:00 Houndmouth 5:30 – 6:30 Sons of Fathers 7:00 – 8:00 Wake Owl 8:30 – 9:30 Jonny Fritz 10:00 – 11:00 Maps & Atlases 11:30 – 12:30 Capital Cities 1:00 – 2:00	Silent Disco Sonic Stage: Vacationer (DJ Set) 4:00 – 6:00 Jonny Santos 6:00 – 8:30 DJ Logic 8:30 – 10:30 DJ Sam Spiegel of N.A.S.A. 10:30 – 12:30 DJ Jazzy Jeff 12:30 – 2:00
Solar Stage: Asian Teacher Factory 3:00 – 4:00 In Memory of Gregor Barnum: Carbon Shredding 4:00 – 4:15 The Battleholex and Friends Hip Hop Variety Show Breakdancing 4:15 – 5:15 ON an ON 5:30 – 6:30 Ogya Afrobeat 6:45 – 7:45 The Flavor Savers Beard & Mustache Contest 8:00 – 9:00 Carnivalesque Entertainment: Bellydance & Vaudeville 9:15 – 10:15