Bonnaroo 2026 is happening and we've got the first real confirmation. In this episode of The What Podcast, Barry, Bryan, and Lord Taco take a look at the (as of now) unofficially official dates (June 11–14), the subtle ways the news dropped, and why this feels like the first truly optimistic Bonnaroo moment since the cancellation in 2025.

Then we head to Common John Brewery, just outside the festival grounds in Manchester, where we sit down with the team behind this year's King Gizzard-inspired hazy IPA, "Nuclear Fusion". We talk about the brewery's roots in the Bonnaroo community, the Camp Reddaroo collaboration, and what it takes to create a beer that's become integral to the Bonnaroo experience.

Plus: A recap of Russ' last two weekends of travel, including a July 4th trip to "The Other Farm" and a campout on the side of a mountain with airplanes, fireworks, and rock concerts in the woods. And finally, Bryan and Barry dive into a spirited debate: Does Oasis deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the Beatles? One of them says absolutely not.

Listen to this episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

Thumbnail photo by: Evan Brown

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CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:26) Bonnaroo's dates for 2026

(00:07:21) Bryan's merch issues

(00:11:00) Camping trips from the last 2 weeks

(00:22:47) Oasis vs. The Beatles

(00:34:12) Setting up this week's interviews

(00:39:20) Interview with Bull at Common John

(01:03:25) Interview with LeBron and Derek at Common John

(01:12:35) Outro

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The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat

In this special live episode of The What Podcast from Bonnaroo 2025 at Planet Roo, hosts Barry, Bryan, and Lord Taco moderate an insightful panel celebrating the festival's cultural, civic, and economic impact on Manchester, Tennessee, and the broader region. Guests include Priscilla Norman, Rebecca French ("Miss Bonnaroo"), Festival Director Brad Parker of C3 Presents, and Ryan French from the City of Manchester. Together, they share personal stories of their Bonnaroo beginnings, reflect on the festival's evolution since 2002, and underscore its transformation into a generational rite of passage that fuses community spirit with musical magic.

The conversation highlights how Bonnaroo has become a year-round civic partner - investing millions into local schools, infrastructure, and nonprofit organizations through the Bonnaroo Works Fund. Stories range from prankish memories of sneaking into early fests to tales of locals opening swimming pools to traffic-trapped fans. They also address complex dynamics like city annexation and festival logistics while honoring the late co-founder Jonathan Mayers and unveiling new initiatives like the Infinity Stage and enhanced charitable integration. The panel closes with reflections on Bonnaroo's irreplaceable role as a beacon of positivity, unity, and transformation in both local and global festival culture.

Got something to say about Bonnaroo? Call our voicemail line at (423) 667-7877 and tell us what Bonnaroo means to you. We just might feature your message on a future episode!

Listen to this episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

Photo by: David Bruce

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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
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Email: comments@thewhatpodcast.com

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat

How are we all feeling, 3 weeks removed from Bonnaroo's 2025 cancellation? This episode might just improve your mood a little. With the new survey out, it offers a rare insight into the festival organizers' thoughts about the future of Bonnaroo. We all feel pretty sure it should stay in June on The Farm, however.

We also introduce you to one of our favorite new discoveries from the festival: emo/folk duo hey, nothing. Bryan and Barry sit down with Tyler and Harlow for a conversation about their journey from high school musicians to Bonnaroo performers, the creative power of Maine, and their stacked summer tour that includes stops at Lollapalooza, Shaky Knees, and more.

Got something to say about Bonnaroo? Call our voicemail line at (423) 667-7877 and tell us what Bonnaroo means to you—we just might feature your message on a future episode!

Listen to this episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(01:16) StoneOnAir Podcast's Bonnaroo Coverage

(02:30) Comments on social media

(06:08) Phone line is open

(07:14) I Am Bonnaroo photos

(08:38) Our thoughts, 3 weeks later

(10:17) The Bonnaroo survey

(27:59) Setting up this week's interview

(29:47) Interview with Hey, Nothing

(46:51) Upcoming episodes

(49:59) Outro

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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast
Email: comments@thewhatpodcast.com

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat