Bonnaroo 2026's EDM lineup feels different, and the move to the new Where Stage is at the center of it. In this episode, Russ, Barry, and guest John break down why this year's late‑night energy has shifted, what the community is reacting to, and how the new location changes the vibe of sunrise sets, crowd flow, and the festival’s overall identity. From longtime Roo veterans feeling uncertain to the Saturday lineup pulling people "right back in," we dig into the reasons this year stands out.

If you'd like to be a part of our Discord community like John, it's free to join! https://thewhat.co/discord

Listen to this week's 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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(00:00:00) Intro

(00:04:08) Lineup Discussion and Where Stage with John

(00:39:25) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Church Boners React to Bonnaroo Ticket Contest Entries

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We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

Geese’s performance on SNL last week sparked such a huge debate that we decided to walk it back and revisit the whole thing. Find out how we feel now about the band, what changed after a deeper listen, and whether they've made our list of must‑see sets for Bonnaroo 2026. We also dig into the latest Bonnaroo news, including a tragic update on Lil Jon's missing son and a look at how many Bonnaroo artists showed up at this year's Grammy Awards.

We also get into CaveFest now that the 2026 dates are official, plus some speculation about CaveJam's future and other performances we're excited about at The Caverns. And we wrap things up with a look at the Record Store Day 2026 releases we’re most excited about, from Tony Bennett's MTV Unplugged to Billy Strings' Tiny Desk to a mountain of Rolling Stones exclusives. All this week on The What Podcast!

Listen to this week's 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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(00:00) Intro

(05:20) A special gift from Dale Green

(08:48) Revisiting our Geese Take

(17:33) Lil Jon's Son Found Dead

(19:28) CaveFest 2026 Dates Announced

(26:05) Record Store Day 2026 List Released

(35:21) Bonnaroo Artists on the Grammys

(36:58) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Most People Aren't Physically Ready for Bonnaroo... Are You?

Bonnaroo 2026 Lineup Breakdown with Cory & Tuba: Early Release, Big Changes, and What to Expect

Geese: Trinidad (Live) - SNL

The Les Claypool Interview: Primus, South Park, And The Art Of Weird Bass

Record Store Day 2026

Billy Strings: Tiny Desk Concert

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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
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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

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.