The Top Ten Bands We’re Excited To See At Bonnaroo

This year, Bonnaroo turns ten, with a star-studded lineup that includes Grammy-winners Arcade Fire, New York hipster heroes The Strokes, rap icon Eminem and a reunited Buffalo Springfield. With nearly 100 bands to chose from, we’ve narrowed down our own personal list of must-see acts. It’s going to be a great festival.

Buffalo Springfield

Sadly, we weren’t around to catch any of the Springfield’s gigs during their original run in the late ’60s. We’ll happily make up for lost time by watching Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Richie Furay work their hippie-era alchemy next weekend. If recent set lists are any indication, we’ll be rewarded with “For What It’s Worth,” “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing” and “Mr. Soul” for our wait. By the time this band got to Woodstock, it had been renamed Bonnaroo.

Arcade Fire

If there’s one band that can unite all of Bonnaroo under one banner, it’s the ever-anthemic Canadian art rock collective The Arcade Fire. Well, “unite” may be too strong a word — it could just split the grounds into two camps — the I Hate Arcade Fire and I Friggin’ Love Arcade Fire contingents. You can put us firmly in the second group. At their Nashville tour stop last summer, the band threatened to bring the Ryman Auditorium crumbling down with the sheer amount of energy they conjured. Songs from The Suburbs will make for the perfect lighter-hoisters.

Tristen

What can we say, we’ve got a musical crush on this rising indie singer-songwriter, who happens to work down the street from our office. When she’s not out gigging and winning over fans, Tristen works as a waitress at the 12 South Tap Room. Funny then that she’s playing the “On Tap Lounge” on Saturday.  Watch a video of Tristen discussing her latest album Charlatans At The Gate here.

JEFF The Brotherhood

Speaking of local talent, Nashville band JEFF The Brotherhood are bringing their brand of all-caps rock to Bonnaroo for the first time. After releasing a handful of LPS, the legit band of brothers were picked up by Warner Bros., joining the esteemed ranks of Built To Spill, R.E.M., Devo, and Cher. They also just made the pages of the Rolling Stone. Congratulations, boys.

Mumford & Sons

Nobody just “likes” Mumford & Sons. You’re either mildly puzzled by the British folk band’s incredible overnight success, or you’re a flat-out lover of all things Mumford. P.S. we are a flat-out lover of all things Mumford. Can anything top performing with Dylan at the Grammys and riding the rails on tour with Edward Sharpe and Old Crow Medicine Show? We’re all about to find out.

Justin Townes Earle

If our ears start ringing and we somehow break into a widespread panic, we know where we’re headed — The Other Tent on Friday afternoon, to take in the artful story songs and graceful guitar picking of one of our favorite songwriters. The prodigal son and New York City transplant will be returning to his home state of Tennessee, where he cut his teeth on country music and his dad’s old war stories.

Iron & Wine

Time to get drunk and listen to the dulcet tones of Iron & Wine, one of indie folk’s most respected veterans. Sam Beam’s latest album, Kiss Each Other Clean, is a sonic departure, featuring imaginative arrangements and an experimental vibe. After streaming his Sasquatch set online, we can’t wait to hear the new songs live.

Matthew and the Atlas

Get out your compass and head to the On Tap Lounge Saturday to see British folkies Matthew and The Atlas work their magic. Lead singer Matthew Hegarty’s weathered voice has drawn comparisons to Ray LaMontagne and Nick Drake, and the band’s latest EP, Kingdom Of Your Own, has been stuck in our stereo for weeks. For fans of Mumford & Sons (who they’re currently on tour with) and The Avett Brothers.

Gregg Allman

Maybe you’ve seen The Allman Brothers Band 1,500 times, or spend every year peakin’ at the Beacon. We’ve never had the privilege, which is why this set from intrepid Allman Bros. founder Gregg Allman sounds so good to us. And the fact that it’s supporting his excellent, T-Bone Burnett-produced album of vintage blues cuts, Low Country Blues? Even better.

Jessica Lea Mayfield

Long gone are the days of depression after seeing a JLM show. Songs like “Tell Me” and “Our Hearts Are Wrong” are proven crowd-pleasers, and allow guitarist and Nashville native Richie Kirkpatrick the chance to display his ample guitar chops. Watch the Americana Music Awards Emerging Artist nominee perform live at SXSW.

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That’s our top ten, but that still leaves plenty of room to take in My Morning Jacket,  Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, Abigail Washburn, Hayes Carll, The Black Keys, Apache Relay, Ben Sollee, Ray LaMontagne, Ratatat, The Givers, Loretta Lynn and the like.

Who’s in your top ten? Let us know in the comments.