2014 Bonnaroo Rumors

It’s that time again. Time for the speculation to begin of who you will be clamoring to see at the farm this summer with the 2014 edition of Bonnaroo Rumors. We’ve been doing this for a few years now, and were pretty successful in our picks in the first year. Last year, we took it up a notch, found one of the Roo Clues, and did a pretty good job of figuring out all of the Roo clues.  With the first round of pre-sales going on sale (and likely selling out) today starting at 11am CST, let’s get the Roomer mill for 2014.

PROBABLY NOT

Sometimes it is easier to start with who’s NOT playing, because that list continues to grow as more and more artists have schedule conflicts and other news which effectively rule them out for Bonnaroo. So, let’s get started with that list.

• Arcade Fire will be headlining a summer festival in Denmark during Bonnaroo.
• Black Sabbath will be in Europe with Soundgarden during Roo.
• Danny Brown might be too busy at another festival in Canada during the weekend of Roo.
• Fleetwood Mac has canceled any upcoming tours after John McVie was diagnosed with cancer.
• Franz Ferdinand will be at North Side festival in Denmark during Bonnaroo.
• Everyone at Roo loves a jam band, but that won’t be Furthur who is taking a hiatus in 2014.
• Thinking of fun throwbacks? Journey & Steve Miller will be touring in the northeast during Bonnaroo.
• Canada has a festival going on the weekend of Roo and has booked Mac DeMarco.
• Pretty sure Paul McCartney will never play Bonnaroo again, but, man, wasn’t that incredible?
• Mumford and Sons have announced that they are on hiatus for the foreseeable future.
• Muse talked of only one festival in the States for summer 2014 – looks like that’s Coachella.
• The National will be in Denmark for the same summer festival as Arcade Fire.
• Nine Inch Nails will be in Europe during Bonnaroo, which rules out How To Destroy Angels as well.
• Pearl Jam would make a nice headliner, but they will in Europe this summer.
• Phil Lesh has signed a deal to perform shows this summer at the Capitol Theater.  I guess a Roo-pearance wouldn’t be out of the questions, but it seems unlikely.
• Queens of the Stone Age will be playing alongside Arcade Fire in Denmark.
• Tom Petty played through pouring rain last year.
• Run The Jewels could be too busy at North by Northeast in 2014.
• Rush is taking a break in 2014.
• Rhye will be in Canada during Roo and might be too busy to make it back down the farm.
• St. Vincent is an unlikely candidate because she will be in Canada for North by Northeast the weekend of Bonnaroo.
• The Killers are taking a hiatus
• Rumors have it that the only Irish playing at the FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil next summer will be U2, and that is directly in the middle of Bonnaroo.
• Passenger is off the radar for Roo due to being a performer at the Isle of Wight festival the same weekend. 
• Along with Passenger, The 1975 announced being at the Isle of Wight festival also.
• Looks like Kings of Leon will be in Europe during Bonnaroo.
• Bruce Springsteen is to perform in Nashville on April 17th, doesn’t look promising for Bonnaroo.

PROBABLY SO

Now let’s get to the good stuff to find out who we do think you will see this year at the Roo!  We’ll start with bands that we’ve heard hints through the grapevine, seen bands slip on social media, or just see that tell tale hole in a tour schedule.

• We speculate how Bonnaroo manages to continue to step up their lineup year after year.  This seems nearly impossible after McCartney showed us all how it was done last year.  In order to keep things rolling in the right direction, we think (and have heard positive signs from those in the know) that this might be the year that Prince graces the farm with his purple presence.
• The Avett Brothers were a big stage late afternoon hit a couple of years ago at The Roo, and it’s very likely that they will earn an evening nod to their ever growing fan base this summer.
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have been touring since the release of Push The Sky Away earlier this year, and they have a tour that starts in Louisville, KY the Monday following the Roo.
• We saw Arctic Monkeys at Marathon earlier this year, and we’ve been speculating an AC Entertainment Marathon-Bonnaroo connection since they announced their connection with the Nashville venue.  We’re pretty sure that you’ll see Arctic Monkeys at the Roo.
• Phoenix would fall right in line with our Marathon = Bonnaroo connection.  They also headlined Coachella last year after the release of a new release that fell slightly short of expectations.  Their live show would help to change the minds of those critics.
• Gary Clark Jr. is another Marathon = Bonnaroo possibility.  This dude is a festival mainstay, and is only picking up steam with his opener slot with Kings Of Leon this winter.
• Cut Copy just confirmed a March Marathon date, this follows along with the Marathon = Bonnaroo theory.
• Umphreys McGee are an absolute Roo favorite for their late-night-til-sunrise marathon party sessions, and they’ve leaked that they are going to be on the bill in 2014.
• Another stop for The Flaming Lips would surprise no one… and the grapevine is telling us that this is a shoe-in.
• Neutral Milk Hotel is selling out venues across the country as reclusive frontman Jeff Mangum continues to revive his cultish 90’s band, and rumors swirl that, regardless of numerous southeastern appearances on the current tour, they are a shoe-in for Bonnaroo.
• James Mercer is mostly pumping his new Broken Bells album that is coming out in January, but the rumor mill is swirling that The Shins will be performing this summer at the Roo…. which begs the question, will Danger Mouse be in the house?
• Chromeo has been gaining popularity over the last few years with their chilled out electro-pop vibe, and rumor has it that Roo fans will have have their first chance to party with these boys since 2010.
• Austin, TX psych rockers White Denim are hyping the release of their new release Corsicana Lemonade (which was co-produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy), and rumor has it we will be rocking out with them likely on a smaller stage in June.
• Zedd may only be 24 years old, but the German-Russian producer is rapidly making strides in the electronica scene.  You know the Roo groovers are going to be stoked for that fairly substantiated rumor.
• Swedish goth-folksters, First Aid Kit, seem to be running right under the radar of most, but a supposed Roo appearance may bring them into a bit more of the national conscious.
• New York based indie folk artists Tall Tall Trees left a hint on their Facebook page.
• Rumors have been floating around town that local shredders Diarrhea Planet will be repping Infinity Cat.
• We got a tip that Cage The Elephant will hit the festival season hard in support of their new release Melophobia, and rumor has it that a stop at the farm is on the agenda.
• Lady Gaga just announced a tour for her Artpop tour.  While we think this would be a bit of a strange headliner, we wouldn’t put anything past Bonnaroo.
• It looks like Consequence of Sound confirms Andrew Bird will be at Roo.
• UPDATE (1/13): After taking a look at Roo Clues 1 and 2, we have a pretty good feeling you’ll be seeing Washed Out and Break Science this summer on the farm!
• UPDATE (1/14): Outkast plans to perform at 40 festivals in 2014 – we’re thinking Roo is one of them.
• UPDATE (1/29): Shovels & Rope left a tweet confirming they were “pretty sure we are” playing Roo.
• UPDATE (2/7): After getting the win at this year’s first Road to Bonnaroo, Blank Range is confirmed to play this year.
• UPDATE (2/7): After Roo Clue’s 3 & 4, we have a hunch CHVRCHES and Bloc Party will be at Roo.
• UPDATE (2/7): The Flaming Lips and Broken Bells are our solutions for Roo Clues 5 & 6.
• UPDATE (2/7): Roo Clues 7 & 8 give the hint Phosphorescent and Culture Club will be making an appearance at Roo.
• UPDATE (2/7): As we get close to the end of Roo Clues, 9 & 10 have lead us to believe Janelle Monae and Meshuggah will be at the farm.
• UPDATE (2/17): Since The Flaming Lips and Ben Folds are creating a superjam for BLAM, we have a feeling they might be included in the lineup as well.

 POSSIBLE

Here’s a list of the bands that we can’t confirm, but, more importantly, we can’t rule them out yet.  We will, of course, continue to monitor and update.

• Alabama Shakes – band talks of new music for next year and their summer looks clear
• Atoms for Peace
• Beck
• Blood Orange
• The Black Keys – announced playing in Croatia right after Bonnaroo ends, still doesn’t rule them out quite yet
• The Black Lips
• Caitlin Rose
• Chance the Rapper
• Daft Punk
• Dave Mathews Band
• Deer Tick
• Deltron 3030
• Depeche Mode
• Die Antwoord
• Disclosure
• Dr. Dog – at the Wakarusa the weekend before
• Earl Sweatshirt
• Elton John
• Foster The People – tease new album for 2014 and no scheduled dates
• Fuck Buttons
• Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Haim
• Jack White – teases new album for 2014. Could this mean new tour or Roo appearance?
• James Blake
• Jessie Ware
• Justin Timberlake
• Kanye
• The Knife
• Leagues – at Wakarusa the weekend before
• Lorde – She just announced a 2014 North American tour with no Nashville date and the tour ends before Roo.
• Moon Taxi – at Wakarusa the weekend before
• The Neighbourhood
• Nicolas Jaar / Darkside
• Nikki Lane
• Paul Simon/Sting – possible coheadliner, their new tour skips the southeast
• Phish
• Shlohmo
• Sleigh Bells
• Thee Oh Sees
• The Strokes
• Toro y Moi
• Vampire Weekend
• Wild Child – at Wakarusa the weekend before
• Willy Moon
• XXYYXX
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Young The Giant

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