S-25 – Bonnaroo 2011 Playlist Mix with The Black Lips, Widespread Panic, The Strokes, Beirut, Lil Wayne, Deer Tick, The Walkmen

black-keys-bonnaroo — The Black Keys rocked the packed crowds at Bonnaroo on Saturday. Photo by David Hall for OC Register.

Rap rules Bonnaroo? That was the headline grabber from ABC News’ coverage for Day Tree of the popular music festival located on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee.

But, we hardly think that, in a musical context, or any other context we can think of, that rap is ‘ruling’ a music festival where the majority of bands and artists fall within the realms of alternative rock, indie, folk and a hodge podge of other genres like blues, jazz, funk, gospel, country, electronica, pop, and world music. Just because a couple of the world’s most famous rappers, Eminem and Lil’ Wayne, to be precise, performed as headliners this weekend does not make Bonnaroo a rap festival.

One of the things that is so magnificent about Bonnaroo is it’s eclectic and all-inclusive theme, which runs true through everything from the line-up to the participants. So, we thought this Sunday’s S-25 playlist mix should celebrate and reflect the diverse line-up of Bonnaroo 2011. This is the final day of the famous four-day camping fest, which is now in its tenth year, and one of North America’s most popular music festivals.

It wasn’t easy to pick just 25 artists to represent some 200 bands at Bonnaroo this year, but that’s the point of the weekly S-25 mix, so we have to stick to it (even though we’ll sometimes go over the 25 quasi limit as you’d see if you browse through the S-25 archives).

“Modern Art” – The Black Lips from Arabia Mountain

“Under Cover of Darkness” – The Strokes from Angles

“Little Kin” (Live 2008) – Widespread Panic