June 16, 2013
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is in its twelfth year, and the 2013 edition - headlined by Paul McCartney, Jack Johnson (pinch-hitting for a last-minute cancellation from Mumford & Sons) and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – may represent the best lineup ever assembled by the folks at Superfly and AC Entertainment.
Sunday on the What Stage opened up with a tight set by Lee Field and the Expressions, another in Daptone Records' stable of incredible artists, before giving way to sets from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, and The National. As the sun set on the horizon, festival goers made their way across the grounds and gathered in front of the main stage. When the house lights dropped,Tom and the rest of the guys cast shadows across the backdrop as they made their way to their place onstage.
"I don't have to be anywhere for hours!" Tom said with a laugh. "We're going to have an incredible time tonight."
With that, Tom and the band launched into "So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star" and for the next two hours, 80,000-plus fans sang along to hit after hit, covers and some more obscure deeper tracks. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" rocked, "Listen to Her Heart" jangled and "I Should Have Known It" ripped.
"Thank you for spending your night with us, Bonnaroo!" Tom said, staring out into the massive crowd before launching into "American Girl," providing the perfect end to America's largest and most prestigious music festival.
Set List:
Rock & Roll Star
Love Is A Long Road
I Won't Back Down
Baby Please Don't Go
Here Comes My Girl
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Good Enough
Free Fallin'
Woman In Love
Listen To Her Heart
Tweeter & the Monkey Man
Rebels
Friend of the Devil
Learning to Fly
You're So Bad
It's Good To Be King
I Should Have Known It
Refugee
Runnin' Down A Dream
Encore:
Don't Come Around Here No More
You Wreck Me
American Girl