The What Podcast

Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • 4.9 (295)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make festivals happen. Whether you're a Bonnaroo veteran or a first-timer, subscribe now to stay in the loop on everything that makes music festivals unforgettable.

  1. 3h ago ·  Bonus

    BREAKING: Bonnaroo 2027 Has Been Cancelled

    We officially have confirmation on Bonnaroo's 2027 cancellation. We got together to share our initial reaction, and Barry literally pulled over on the side of the road to record this. As far as The What Podcast goes, we're still here every week and we'll have a deeper dive into this news next week. 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! ______ 🎧 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 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.

    BREAKING: Bonnaroo 2027 Has Been Cancelled

  2. 2d ago

    Is Hulaween Everything Bonnaroo Used to Be?

    Is Hulaween everything Bonnaroo used to be? We put the question to John, our EDM and jam-scene correspondent, and his answer says a lot about how both festivals have changed. John makes the case for Hulaween, String Cheese Incident's own festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, where the daily lineups just dropped. We get into what makes it different from Bonnaroo: the jam-forward lineup with an electronic edge, the six-hour String Cheese / My Morning Jacket / STS9 runs, and the secret sets where anyone might sit in: Goose turning up to play with Cheese, that kind of unplanned magic. It leads to a real conversation about whether Bonnaroo's special moments have started to feel scheduled instead of spontaneous, and John doesn't hold back, including some honest thoughts on this year's very EDM-heavy Thursday. Plus: John recaps his own Bonnaroo 2026 (great, but different, and quieter than years past), we looks ahead to ShoalsFest October 3-4 in Alabama, CaveFest at The Caverns October 10–11, and take a look at the surprisingly free EDM lineup at our own River Games in Chattanooga. 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! ______ 00:00:00) Intro (00:01:24) Festival updates: CaveFest, 420 Fest, ShoalsFest, River Games (00:09:22) EDM Correspondent John Joins the Show (00:16:50) Hulaween Drops its Daily Linueps (00:26:43) Comparing Hulaween to Bonnaroo (00:35:44) John's Bonnaroo 2026: Great, But Different (01:02:12) What's Next for The What Podcast (01:09:01) Outro LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View Kyle Hollingsworth Interview: String Cheese Incident, New Music & Craft Beer Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese ______ 🎧 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 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.

    Is Hulaween Everything Bonnaroo Used to Be?

  3. Aug 12

    How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

    How has Bonnaroo changed over the years? We asked someone with a rare vantage point — Elizabeth Thorpe, festival photographer and our West Coast correspondent, who's been going to Bonnaroo since 2004 and now shoots it from inside the photo pit. Beth walks us through what the festival experience is really like from behind the lens: the "first three songs only" rule, why the pit is her happy place, and how Bonnaroo has evolved from a freewheeling field party into something bigger, busier, and more produced. We also get into her recent run of festivals beyond Bonnaroo: Wilco's Solid Sound in Massachusetts (with a Mermaid Avenue set featuring Billy Bragg and a surprise Natalie Merchant appearance) and Pickathon out in the Oregon woods. Beth covered both for The What Podcast, and shares her photography throughout. 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! ______ (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:48) 20 Years at Bonnaroo, From Superfan to the Photo Pit (00:28:08) Solid Sound: Wilco's Own Festival in Massachusetts (00:42:52) Pickathon: Eight Stages in the Oregon Woods (01:06:54) Still No Dates for Bonnaroo 2027? (01:08:57) Outro LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast Flying to Bonnaroo: What You Actually Need to Bring Bonnaroo 2026: Thursday Headliner Confirmed + Our Corona Capital 2025 Breakdown Instagram: @ethorpephoto Instagram: @circles_of_sound ______ 🎧 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 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.

    How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

  4. Aug 5

    What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

    What do Bonnaroo fans actually want from a podcast? We surveyed our listeners — and 89% agreed on the answer. In this episode of The What Podcast, Barry, Bryan, and Russ break down the results of our listener survey: where you're really listening (YouTube is running away with it), how you found the show, and what content you want more of. We also catch up on a busy stretch of festival season: the rain that hammered Lollapalooza and Hinterland, the pull of Pickathon out in Oregon, and a remembrance of Glen Hansard. Plus: which festivals YOU want us to cover next (Shaky Knees, Bourbon & Beyond, and a few surprises made the list), and a look at the flood of vintage Bonnaroo photo galleries taking over Reddit. 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! ______ (00:00) Intro (01:08) Keith Richards & Our Bonnaroo Radio Takeover (08:29) Jesse Welles in Asheville (14:49) Lollapalooza, Hinterland, and Pickathon (23:41) Remembering Glen Hansard (27:40) The Survey: We Asked Why You Listen (28:30) Where Do Bonnaroo Fans Actually Listen? (30:41) 89% of Our Listeners Want This (35:45) How You Actually Found Us (40:53) Which Festivals Should We Cover Next? (43:31) Your Comments (50:52) The Bonnaroo Photos Reddit Loves (55:56) Wrap-Up & Camp Nutbutter Memories LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese Incident & More Traveling to Bonnaroo: A Patreon Chat It's Bonnaroo Week! Hype, Stories & Last-Minute Tips St. Paul and The Broken Bones' Paul Janeway Got Peed on at Bonnaroo Instagram: @ethorpephoto Instagram: @rockstarsweat ______ 🎧 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 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.

    What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

  5. Jul 29 ·  Bonus

    Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese Incident & More

    The What Podcast took over Bonnaroo Radio in 2026! We present a two-hour special that aired during the festival, bringing together Noah Kahan, RÜFÜS DU SOL, String Cheese Incident's Kyle Hollingsworth, and the people who built and shaped Bonnaroo. Produced and packaged by Bryan Stone, and now collected here in full. Spanning six years of interviews from 2019 through 2025, it's a cross-section of the show's history and how it's evolved — from Noah Kahan on songwriting to the origin story of how Bonnaroo launched, a conversation about sobriety at the festival, the wild backstory of Dancing Man Chris, and Kyle Hollingsworth on String Cheese Incident and his new solo record. Originally aired on Bonnaroo Radio, WFTZ 101.5 FM The Rooster. 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! ______ (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:34) Noah Kahan on songwriting as therapy (00:11:14) RÜFÜS DU SOL on how the pandemic rebuilt the band (00:20:32) Tim "Tuba" Smith on running the festival & the Squarch saga (00:48:33) Ken Weinstein tells Bonnaroo's origin story (01:00:17) Patrick Whelan on Soberoo and finding support (01:20:18) The surprising story behind Chris "The Dancing Man" (01:39:45) Kyle Hollingsworth on String Cheese Incident and wild artist collabs (01:59:18) Outro LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Noah Kahan on Mental Health and Allowing Himself to Be Honest Trading Whiskey Shots for Ginger Shots: RÜFÜS DU SOL Joins The What Podcast Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith Ken Weinstein Mapping Out the Highlights and Conflicts of the Bonnaroo 2024 Schedule Lord Taco's Bonnaroo 2025 Picks and an Encounter with "The Dancing Man" Kyle Hollingsworth Interview: String Cheese Incident, New Music & Craft Beer ______ 🎧 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 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.

    Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese Incident & More

  6. Jul 22

    Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards

    We had the chance to sit down with Keith Richards this week. Not that Keith Richards — let's get that out of the way early. Our actual guest is the newly-named Head of Festivals at Ground Control Touring, an independent booking agency representing artists from Waxahatchee to Japanese Breakfast to Manchester Orchestra. He was named to the role this past January, Ground Control's first-ever Head of Festivals, and he joined us to pull back the curtain on how a festival lineup actually comes together. We get into the questions we've always wanted answered: do artists really make more money at festivals versus arena tours? Is there a "cookie-cutter lineup" problem, or is that a myth? Why is developing a true headliner one of the hardest jobs in the industry right now? Keith also walks us through what it was like being on-site at Bonnaroo 2026 during the storm evacuation, riding it out alongside Bonnaroo's own team, and drops a list of up-and-coming artists he thinks are worth watching heading into next year. Listen to this week's episode with Keith Richards 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! ______ (00:00) Intro (02:24) Meet Keith Richards (Not That One) (07:06) How Booking Actually Works (24:26) Keith's History with the Booking Industry (30:16) Cookie-Cutter Lineups & the State of the Industry (40:20) Bonnaroo Hasn't Gotten Old, You Have (42:10) Artists to Watch: Who's Next? (49:18) Not That Keith Richards (The Full Story) (51:29) Outro LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Shaky Knees 2025 vs. IBMA Chattanooga: Live from the Red Carpet + Bilmuri Interview Ground Control hires Keith Richards as head of festivals & Joy Hubbard as festival coordinator ______ 🎧 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 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.

    Bonnaroo's Lineup Secrets, From a Booking Agent Named Keith Richards

  7. Jul 15

    We Filled Out Bonnaroo's 2027 Music Census

    Bonnaroo puts out an official music census every year asking fans what they want to see next — so this year, we sat down together to answer every single question. We walk through it all: genres, headliners, comedy acts, late-night programming, the future of That Tent's new location, Bonnaroo Radio, and more. What do we agree on? What do we disagree on? Before the census, we catch up on recent local trips, and break down the newly finalized Hulaween lineup. Plus: Billy Strings opens Chattanooga's newly renovated Tivoli Theater, and Reddit's already buzzing about 2027 Bonnaroo mock lineups. NOW TAKING OUR OWN LISTENER SURVEY! How did you find the show? What do you listen to us on? What do you want to hear more of? Take 2 minutes and help shape what we cover next: https://thewhat.co/survey 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! ______ (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:36) Catching Up: Recent Trips (00:05:04) RIP Rick Williams: A Chattanooga Music Legacy (00:06:43) Bryan's Sphere Anniversary & The Caverns (00:10:25) Hulaween 2026 Lineup Reactions (00:13:30) Billy Strings Opens the Tivoli Theater (00:15:21) Bonnaroo 2027 Mock Lineups (00:19:23) Bonnaroo's Official 2027 Survey Begins (00:23:33) What Genre Do We Listen to Most? (00:24:46) What Genre Needs More Presence at Bonnaroo? (00:33:07) Should Bonnaroo Bring Back Comedy Acts? (00:39:58) Headliners vs. Undercard: What Matters More? (00:45:56) Does Bonnaroo Help You Discover New Music? (00:50:18) Late Night Sets & Time Between Shows (00:53:46) Bonnaroo in June vs. September (00:54:10) How Important Is the SuperJam? (00:54:57) Should Thursday Have More Stages? (00:55:30) That Tent's New Location: Was It a Success? (00:59:43) Grading Bonnaroo Radio (01:03:09) Did Anyone Watch the Where Stage? (01:05:16) Bonnie Roo's: The Farm's New Hangout Spot (01:08:05) Who We Want at Bonnaroo Next Year (01:08:59) Take Our Own Listener Survey LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Dead & Co. at the Sphere and Happy Landing at Bonnaroo 2024 Camping at Bonnaroo: Must-Know Updates and New Amenities for 2025 Church Boners React to Bonnaroo Ticket Contest Entries The What Podcast Audience Survey ______ 🎧 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 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.

    We Filled Out Bonnaroo's 2027 Music Census

  8. Jul 8

    The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Is Now Bonnaroo Famous

    Meet the man who's become a Bonnaroo legend, one signature at a time. Caleb Arias, creator of the Bonnaroo Yearbook, joins us for the third time to break down how his passion project exploded this year. What started as pitching strangers to sign a notebook is now three-hour lines, sold-out printed editions, and fans hand-crafting custom trinkets just for him. Grab your own copy of the Bonnaroo Yearbook at bonnarooyearbook.com and use code THEWHATPODCAST for 50% off! We get into the wristband smuggling caper, the moment Caleb revealed Bryan might have the most beautiful signature in the entire book (calligraphy pen and all), and what it's really like becoming a recognizable figure at a large music festival: including the sacrifices, the boundaries he's had to set, and why he stayed sober the entire weekend just to protect the project. Plus: a sneak peek at a possible Bonnaroo children's book starring his bearded dragon, Trogdor. Listen to this week's episode with Caleb 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! ______ (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:32) Caleb, the Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Returns (00:02:14) The Wristband Heist & Getting to the Farm (00:12:24) How the Yearbook Project Began (00:15:47) Bryan's Calligraphy Pen & Inside the Book (00:24:14) Becoming "Bonnaroo Famous" (00:33:18) From Passion Project to Real Money (00:36:09) Trogdor, the Children's Book & Music Highlights (00:42:04) Chasing Sunrise Sets & Planning for Next Year LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories @bonnarooyearbook on Instagram How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026 ______ 🎧 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 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.

    The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy Is Now Bonnaroo Famous
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4.9
out of 5
295 Ratings

About

Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make festivals happen. Whether you're a Bonnaroo veteran or a first-timer, subscribe now to stay in the loop on everything that makes music festivals unforgettable.

Information

  • Creator
    Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • Show Website
    The What Podcast

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