Bonnaroo Artist | Hot Mulligan
Bonnaroo History | Newbie
Stage & Time | Friday | This Tent | 9:30-10:30pm
Like we’ve been doing for many years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with many of our favorite acts from Bonnaroo‘s 2026 lineup. A pivotal year for the fest, this summer’s ‘Roo will see some significant changes after last year’s unfortunate rainout, including infrastructure improvements, a scaled-back capacity, and a smaller lineup (notably, cutting down Thursday’s programming the most). We’ll have to wait until we’re on the farm to feel the full extent of the changes and tweaks, but we’re cautiously optimistic that it will benefit the fest in the long-term, especially in helping make the site more resistant to weather. This will be Bonnaroo’s 23rd installment and 25th anniversary, and even with a more compact lineup, it packs a pretty stellar, eclectic slate of artists, per usual. Back once again in its dependable June 11-14 timeframe, we’re counting down the days until another great weekend on the farm.
As we dig through the entire schedule, we’ll highlight a spread of performers spanning across genres and stages, big and small, new and old, to bring you some of the most interesting, lesser-known, and most highly-recommended among this year’s crop of artists. And as our time at ‘Roo approaches, we’ll also be bringing you some special features and full list-style daily lineup guides, to help you plan your weekend ahead of the fest. While these previews won’t span every artist, and might omit some more obvious must-see acts, we hope they’ll serve as a way to help you navigate Bonnaroo’s gargantuan lineup, and to make the most of your busy weekend at the fest! Be sure to grab your tickets (available in weekend or single-day, with various upgrade levels and add-ons) and camping or parking pass (also available with a lot of flexible options and levels), and read on for our Bonnaroo Artist Spotlight!
LEARN
Hailing from Lansing, Michigan, emo and pop punk outfit Hot Mulligan have become one of the scene’s most essential and versatile acts for just over a decade, self-proclaiming themselves the “best new band” upon their arrival, as well as the originators of “post-emo” (you’ll find that they’re pretty adept at sarcastic shit-posting, but also pretty good at manifesting the things they joke about). Lead singer Nathan “Tades” Sanville and guitarist and vocalist Chris Freeman are the longest-running members, and came up playing together in bands in rural Michigan, with several other members cycling through in the early days, as Hot Mulligan released some promising EPs on local Save Your Generation Records. After relocating to Lansing, and inking a deal with popular punk label No Sleep Records, the pair recruited guitarist Ryan “Spicy” Malicsi and drummer Brandon Blakeley, ahead of their buzzy 2016 EP Opportunities and well-received debut full-length, Pilot, in 2018 (current bassist Jonah Kramer joined in 2022 as a touring member, and became a full-time member a couple years later). Inspired by emo great of the aughts like Taking Back Sunday and The Wonder Years, Hot Mulligan are markedly more earnest, vulnerable, and sharp in their writing style than their more lighthearted, very online, jokester outward persona (that’s not to say all of their songs are serious- they have a popular single about sunglasses, and have name-checked famous artists like Mark Hoppus in titles in a bid for their attention). 2020 sophomore LP You’ll Be Fine was an impressive sonic leap forward, cementing them as one of modern emo punk’s best bands, and helping them reach a wider audience, though, unfortunately, it dropped just as Covid lockdowns began, limiting the band’s ability to capitalize on its buzz on the road. Instead, they focused on making more music, resulting in 2021 EP I Won’t Reach Out to You, which felt very much in conversation with Fine, and refined their confessional, resonant writing style even further. The last few years have seen the band only continue to grow in popularity, and share the stage with some legends of pop punk, with third album Why Would I Watch dropping on new label home Wax Bodega in 2023 to critical acclaim, further boosting the group’s presence within the scene. They released their fourth album- and most refined and earnest to date- The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still, last summer, just a couple months after their would-be debut at Bonnaroo was rained out (leading to a legendary pop-up show at Dee’s), and we’re thrilled to see Hot Mulligan back at ‘Roo once more (a mulligan, if you well), with even more great new music in tow!
WATCH | “And a Big Load” (Official Video)
LISTEN | “Equip Sunglasses”
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