Eight Bands Who Are Perfect for Bonnaroo Late at Night

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, started in 2002 on a farm in rural Manchester, Tennessee, has quickly risen to become the biggest music festival in the United States. A major draw at Bonnaroo is the eclectic variety of musical acts on display during the four days of the festival. While Bonnaroo started out as primarily a venue for the Jam Band scene, it has since spread to include Metal, Jazz, Hip Hop, Electronic, and many other musical styles.

According to Bonnaroo's most rabid fans, who call themselves "Roosters", the most special parts of Bonnaroo each year are usually the Late Night sets. After the headliners have left the mammoth What Stage and the roadies are packing it in, the various smaller stages and tents throughout the festival come to life to rock until dawn. The coveted Late Night sets are usually reserved for two types of bands; those who can play for 3+ hours and those who bring a serious sleep-banishing party. From My Morning Jacket's 4 hour epic to Primus' mudbath party, many a Bonnaroo fan comes away declaring the Late Night sets the best of the weekend, surpassing even the headliners.

Below is a list of eight bands who would perfectly fit the Bonnaroo Late Night vibe:

David Gilmour: The former Pink Floyd frontman's ethereal vocals and soaring guitar are perfect for chilling out in the relative cool of a Tennessee summer evening. Pink Floyd's large discography lends itself well to Gilmour playing a 3 hour set and the light show he brings to most of his tours would be impressive in the pre-dawn hours.

Yonder Mountain String Band: If any band in the world fits the stereotype of a "Bonnaroo Band", it's this Progressive Bluegrass group from Colorado. Resembling Bill Monroe on Red Bull, Yonder Mountain's lightning-fast bluegrass jams have been a hit during the number of daytime sets they've played at Bonnaroo. But a band that regularly plays 26 minute songs is constrained by an hour and a half daytime set and that's what makes Yonder Mountain perfect for a Late Night show. Yonder Mountain's regular sets often include reggae songs, heavy metal songs, and traditional country songs. Give these guys 4 hours and there's no telling what you'd get.

Alice Cooper: Who better to play a set that starts at midnight than the Prince of Darkness himself? As much musical theater as concert, Cooper's sets intersperse hook-driven classic rock with monsters, beheadings, and lots and lots of make-up. While a typical Cooper set comes in at under two hours, Alice Cooper easily has the discography and the showmanship to pull off a longer show. As a bonus, Cooper has influenced a good number of rockers who are popular today so you can bet that bands playing sets earlier in the night would be lining up to play a guest shot with the "Grand Old Man" of classic rock.

Opeth: Swedish act Opeth defies labels, blending elements of traditional death metal with goth rock, folk, and jazz into lengthy compositions that resemble dark symphonies. Opeth's aural waves, as evidenced on their masterwork album Damnation, would be perfect fodder for chilling out after a long day in the Tennessee sun. But lest you get lulled to sleep, Opeth can also bring the Death Metal fury to rock you back to life for the next day. Who needs sleep when you have Opeth?

Thomas Dolby: People who only know Dolby from his one 80's hit "She Blinded Me With Science" might think him a strange addition to this list. Dolby's other music, like so many one hit wonders, is very different than the song he's most known for. These days Dolby does a one-man show, mixing songs live on stage using only multiple keyboards and his trusty computer. The result, which can be viewed on Dolby's The Sole Inhabitant cd and dvd, is atmospheric and almost hypnotic synthpop on the first order.

Kitaro: Japanese New Age artist Kitaro has achieved worldwide fame for his mix of Asian and electronic music. Featuring soaring keyboards, massive percussion sections, and wailing electric guitars, Kitaro takes relaxation music to the next level. Additionally, Kitaro's message of peace, love, and spirituality fits perfectly with the Bonnaroo "vibe".

LL Cool J: In addition to the symphonic soundscapes and jam band grooves, Bonnaroo always serves up at least one big rap or hip hop jam in the Late Night slot. No one is more perfect for that slot than LL Cool J. One of the most enduring rap acts around, LL can also jam, as was shown during his masterful performance in the 1990's on MTV Unplugged. LL Cool J would bring a big-name party to the Late Night stage.

The Beastie Boys: For more than 20 years, The Beastie Boys have been the party band to end all party bands. With their eclectic music ranging from rap to hard rock to instrumental jams and their goofy attitudes, they have been one of the most enduring and critically decorated bands of the last two decades. The Beasties with a full night to jam would be a party on a level never seen before.