Post by fogcitygal on Jun 21, 2005 2:16:06 GMT -5
From the Daily Times, Maryville, TN:
Women of Bonnaroo: Female performers jazz up country's largest music festival
2005-06-20
by Kara Covington
of The Daily Times Staff
If you told most Bonnaroo fans that Arlene would rule the festival this year, some would think you were talking about the popular song by headliners Widespread Panic, but this lady had more staying power than any lyrical creation.
The remnants of the first tropical storm of the year swept through the small town of Manchester, 60-plus miles southeast of Nashville, June 10-12 and showed little signs of letting up.
Bonnaroo fans -- some from as far away as California, Maine and Quebec -- were not about to let a lot of rain and a little bit of wind dampen their spirits.
Bonnaroo 2005 began as planned despite the weather with a jolt of Knoxville's own R.B. Morris and sitar songstress Gabby La La (with Les Claypool), whose crystal clear soprano melodies amazed the crowd.
Gabby was the first of many female performers who braved the rain to perform at Bonnaroo in its fourth year.
One of the most outstanding females acts was Alison Krauss who took the stage June 10. Her familiar silken southern twang could be heard at the far ends of the 70,000-plus person campground.
Krauss's talent and determination to be a classic country and bluegrass singer is obvious by her refusal to be lured into trendy pop music and be labeled ``just another pretty face.''
Her insistence to always be herself and stay true to her southern roots has proved to be a rewarding path -- reflected in her 17 Grammy awards.
Krauss's pure tenor voice is a sought-after commodity in the music industry. She recently collaborated with fellow Bonnaroo performer John Prine on his album ``Fair and Square.''
The steely-voiced southern belle isn't the only female performer known for her unique stage presence.
Joanna Newsom, 24, peaked the curiosity of many Bonnaroo fans with her talent as a classically trained harpist.
Newsom, who began her musical career at the age of eight, grew up knowing she possessed a special musical talent and when her friends were doing the typical pre-teen things, Newsom was already enrolled in music camp.
Bonnaroo fans welcomed Newsom, despite her soft and shy demeanor, and in return she caressed the crowd with powerful ballads from her ``The Milk-Eyed Mender'' album.
A stark contrast to Newsom, but still just as intriguing -- Madeline Peyroux, a Paris street musician -- took the stage June 10. Bonnaroo fans instantly recognized her smoke-and-whiskey voice, famous for mastering tunes from divas such as Patsy Cline, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.
Peyroux (pronounced Peru) was a familiar face to most Bonnaroo fans. Some recognized her from her Lilith Fair performance, while others knew her as an opening act for Sarah McLauhlan.
Peyroux was truly one of the most memorable female performers because of her ability to revive old sounds and perform everything from acoustic blues to country ballads, which is reflected on her ``Careless Love'' album.
There were lots of other female performers including Brandi Carlile, Alexandra Scott and Jodie Manross. Some other bands who touted females on their roasters were Heartless Bastards, Brazilian Girls, Donna the Buffalo, Drive-By Truckers, Dixie Dirt and Rilo Kiley.
Talented females were everywhere at Bonnaroo and while most were there based on their talent as musicians, female comedians also came out in full force.
Alexandra McHale, who made her comedic debut on ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' in 2004, gave the crowd a chuckle June 9 and 10. McHale was voted the 2002 and 2003 Female Entertainer of the Year by Campus Activities Today Magazine and was recognized by Bonnaroo fans because of her 2003 performance at
Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.
Marina Franklin, one of the hottest black comics today, performed June 9 and 10. Franklin was a familiar face to most Bonnaroo fans since she performs at clubs and universities all over the country.
Franklin has appeared on Oxygen's ``Girls Behaving Badly'' and is a regular on Comedy Central's ``Chappelle Show.''
The Bonnaroo 2005 line-up was one of the best so far with Widespread Panic, The Black Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Galactic, Peter Rowan, Trey Anastasio and many more but the female acts were surly the crowning jewels in Bonnaroo's crown as the king of southern music festivals.
Women of Bonnaroo: Female performers jazz up country's largest music festival
2005-06-20
by Kara Covington
of The Daily Times Staff
If you told most Bonnaroo fans that Arlene would rule the festival this year, some would think you were talking about the popular song by headliners Widespread Panic, but this lady had more staying power than any lyrical creation.
The remnants of the first tropical storm of the year swept through the small town of Manchester, 60-plus miles southeast of Nashville, June 10-12 and showed little signs of letting up.
Bonnaroo fans -- some from as far away as California, Maine and Quebec -- were not about to let a lot of rain and a little bit of wind dampen their spirits.
Bonnaroo 2005 began as planned despite the weather with a jolt of Knoxville's own R.B. Morris and sitar songstress Gabby La La (with Les Claypool), whose crystal clear soprano melodies amazed the crowd.
Gabby was the first of many female performers who braved the rain to perform at Bonnaroo in its fourth year.
One of the most outstanding females acts was Alison Krauss who took the stage June 10. Her familiar silken southern twang could be heard at the far ends of the 70,000-plus person campground.
Krauss's talent and determination to be a classic country and bluegrass singer is obvious by her refusal to be lured into trendy pop music and be labeled ``just another pretty face.''
Her insistence to always be herself and stay true to her southern roots has proved to be a rewarding path -- reflected in her 17 Grammy awards.
Krauss's pure tenor voice is a sought-after commodity in the music industry. She recently collaborated with fellow Bonnaroo performer John Prine on his album ``Fair and Square.''
The steely-voiced southern belle isn't the only female performer known for her unique stage presence.
Joanna Newsom, 24, peaked the curiosity of many Bonnaroo fans with her talent as a classically trained harpist.
Newsom, who began her musical career at the age of eight, grew up knowing she possessed a special musical talent and when her friends were doing the typical pre-teen things, Newsom was already enrolled in music camp.
Bonnaroo fans welcomed Newsom, despite her soft and shy demeanor, and in return she caressed the crowd with powerful ballads from her ``The Milk-Eyed Mender'' album.
A stark contrast to Newsom, but still just as intriguing -- Madeline Peyroux, a Paris street musician -- took the stage June 10. Bonnaroo fans instantly recognized her smoke-and-whiskey voice, famous for mastering tunes from divas such as Patsy Cline, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.
Peyroux (pronounced Peru) was a familiar face to most Bonnaroo fans. Some recognized her from her Lilith Fair performance, while others knew her as an opening act for Sarah McLauhlan.
Peyroux was truly one of the most memorable female performers because of her ability to revive old sounds and perform everything from acoustic blues to country ballads, which is reflected on her ``Careless Love'' album.
There were lots of other female performers including Brandi Carlile, Alexandra Scott and Jodie Manross. Some other bands who touted females on their roasters were Heartless Bastards, Brazilian Girls, Donna the Buffalo, Drive-By Truckers, Dixie Dirt and Rilo Kiley.
Talented females were everywhere at Bonnaroo and while most were there based on their talent as musicians, female comedians also came out in full force.
Alexandra McHale, who made her comedic debut on ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' in 2004, gave the crowd a chuckle June 9 and 10. McHale was voted the 2002 and 2003 Female Entertainer of the Year by Campus Activities Today Magazine and was recognized by Bonnaroo fans because of her 2003 performance at
Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.
Marina Franklin, one of the hottest black comics today, performed June 9 and 10. Franklin was a familiar face to most Bonnaroo fans since she performs at clubs and universities all over the country.
Franklin has appeared on Oxygen's ``Girls Behaving Badly'' and is a regular on Comedy Central's ``Chappelle Show.''
The Bonnaroo 2005 line-up was one of the best so far with Widespread Panic, The Black Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Galactic, Peter Rowan, Trey Anastasio and many more but the female acts were surly the crowning jewels in Bonnaroo's crown as the king of southern music festivals.
