Prepare To Get Your Booty Bounced at Bonnaroo 2012

When Big Freedia takes the stage at Bonnaroo this summer, booties will bounce.

Freedia, fresh off one of her biggest performances to date, a late-night performance on the Jimmy Kimmel show, is known as the “Queen Diva” of bounce, a type of music that originated with Freedia and other artists from New Orleans.

Bounce music, for those unfamiliar, is best described in a recent interview Freedia gave to Fuse TV, where she’s quoted describing it as “simple, uptempo, heavy bass, call and response type music.”

Freedia’s career so far has landed her in prestigious places like the New York Times, who wrote a full-fledged lifestyle piece on her career-to-date.

And, Freedia just released her first-ever video game on her Web site, aptly named the Booty Battle Game, where, you guessed it, two voluptuous booties battle for the best bulge.  Players pick from four different “booties,” and battle it out.

But her music career began as a sophomore in high school.

“I got my start singing in the choir” said Freedia.

Her role as a choir director and eventual sharing of her love of music with friends is what initially gave her the spark to enter the New Orleans musical threshold.

Her involvement with the local music scene has landed her guest appearances and performances with some of the most well-known names in music from New Orleans, LA., to Brooklyn, NY.

“I’ve collaborated with artists like Galactic and Matt and Kim,” said Freedia.

Freedia mentions her love for performing at festivals, and said concert attendees might even see her outside of Centeroo, Bonnaroo’s main stage and vendor area.

“We’ll definitely be walking around,” said Freedia.

Recent health issues forced Freedia to cancel some of her most recent tour, but Freedia said since her health issues are now resolved, she’s ready to come back bigger and better, noting that the crowds at every show is the force behind her continued assault on music.

“The fans are what keeps me going,” said Freedia.

In parting, Freedia has advice for first-time Bonnaroo campers:  Be prepared.

Check out Big Freedia on social media and the Web:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bigfreediadiva

Twitter:  twitter.com/bigfreedia

Myspace:  www.myspace.com/bigfreedia

Website: bigfreedia.com/

Bonnaroo Adds More Artists to the Mix

Bonnaroo announced today the addition of six additional performancing artists to the already engaging music lineup.  Here are the artists, along with a link to each of their websites:

DANZIG LEGACY – featuring music by Danzig, Samhain and Danzig/Doyle performing The Misfits
Puscifer
Santigold
The Temper Trap
fun.
The Cave Singers

Bonnaroo Couldn’t Come Sooner for Nashville’s Moon Taxi

Bonnaroo Blog caught up with Moon Taxi’s Wes Bailey to talk with him about the band’s first appearance at the festival in June.

By Evan Brenner

This year marks 11 exceptional years for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and Moon Taxi’s keyboard player Wes Bailey couldn’t be more excited to finally play the festival that’s literally down the road from his band’s home base of Nashville, Tennessee.

“Seeing a Moon Taxi-less lineup for so many years was pretty discouraging,” said Bailey.

But, Bailey, who’s originally from Knoxville, said he feels the festival invite couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for the group, and accredits years of writing, practicing and playing shows to the band’s readiness to rock Bonnaroo.

Bailey began playing music with friends at the age of 15.  Hearing Phish for the first time encouraged him to study jazz theory and improvisation.  By the time he reached college, he had several songs written, which he shared with Trevor Terndrup, Moon Taxi’s lead singer.

“Moon Taxi’s singer (Trevor) heard one called ‘Totally Nude’ and loved it,” said Bailey.

Terndrup wrote lyrics for it, and started performing the song.  This eventually led to Bailey joining the band, making it his main project.

Bailey is excited to play the festival, and hopes the group’s music will find new listeners that enjoy their style as well.

“I think I’m most looking forward to all the people that have never seen or heard Moon Taxi experiencing their first show,” said Bailey.

When it comes to the Bonnaroo’s makeshift city, otherwise known as the campgrounds, Bailey said he might take advantage of the proximity to his Nashville home during the weekend.

“I don’t think my girlfriend will go for bathing in that mushroom fountain,” he said.

Bailey’s keyboard playing recently landed him in an issue of Keyboardmag.com, which can be viewed by clicking here.  The band has also received praise in newspapers like the University of Georgia’s independent student newspaper, Red and Black.

He recalled his most memorable show with Moon Taxi to date, where they opened for Matisyahu in Washington, D.C.

“I had never played a room that size where the balcony wrapped around the stage packed with people. There was insane energy coming from every direction and it felt like we were the headlining act that night,” said Bailey.

Speaking of Matisyahu, the reggae artist lends his vocal prowess to the band’s track, Square Circles, off their most recent record, Cabaret.

Make sure you catch Moon Taxi at this year’s Bonnaroo, and heed to Bailey’s advice regarding an item nobody in the campgrounds should forget:  Gold Bond.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Moon Taxi on Social Media:

Check out Moon Taxi on Facebook:  Facebook.com/ridethemoontaxi

Check out Moon Taxi on Myspace:  Myspace.com/moontaxi

Official Web site:  Ridethemoontaxi.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/ridethemoontaxi

Bonnaroo 2012 Lineup Announced: Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish to Headline

Who are you most excited to see this year?

 

The official Bonnaroo 2012 lineup.