Bonnaroo 2023: Foo Fighters, Lil Nas X among 10 unforgettable festival performances

Bonnaroo 2023 is in the books.

The four-day festival, which annually takes over Manchester, Tennessee, in rural Coffee County, sold out of its four-day passes, drawing more than 80,000 people to Great Stage Park (known to festivalgoers as "The Farm"). The packed attendance underscores the degree to which Bonnaroo fans are committed to turning the music festival into their own freaky, joyous, four-day summer camp.

The six stages inside "Centeroo," the main festival grounds, hosted a feast of sounds and an array of diverse performances that, as cliché as it sounds, offered something for everyone. Centeroo often felt cohesive and dense — jammed with top talent, from Lil Nas X to the Foo Fighters.

The crowds gathered for acts including Tyler Childers and Franz Ferdinand, who packed the Which Stage practically to capacity. Late-night sets from artists such as psychedelic jam band STS9 kept people dancingr well into the morning.

The music helped foster a sense of community at a festival where some claim to be the one place where they feel free. Especially in a fractured political climate, Bonnaroo continues to offer something special: an island of free expression and music where people can gather in pursuit of spontaneous collective joy.

Here are some of our favorite, most joyous musical moments from the weekend.

Foo Fighters headline with raw, thrilling set to close out Bonnaroo

A year ago in the wake of drummer Taylor Hawkin's untimely death, such an emotional, raw set from Foo Fighters at Bonnaroo seemed unimaginable.

But, eventually, the band played on. And it played on with emotional fervor at 9:33 p.m. Sunday on the What Stage as the skies threatened to open up with rain. But the weather held off and frontman Dave Grohl came out of the gate screaming through the staccato machine gun rhythm of "All My Life."

As the song, which conjures early Metallica, churned on, the band ripped through an "Enter Sandman" tease before pausing for what would be Grohl's many opportunities to address the crowd.

"It's gonna be a long night, mother (expletive)!" Grohl screamed into his mic.

The Foo Fighters tore from one absolutely ferocious song to the next, spanning through early classics to songs from the well-received new album "But Here We Are." Grohl repeatedly promised to play until the band got kicked out. Meanwhile, new drummer Josh Freese, a veteran whose credits include Devo and Nine Inch Nails, drove the rhythm with loud, confident beats that echoed through the field and cemented his place among his new band.

Special guests included Hayley Williams from Paramore, who sang with the band through an touching version of "My Hero." Grohl's own daughter, Violet Grohl, harmonized with her dad through "Shame Shame" and "Show Me How." The band then played an atmospheric take on "Aurora," which they dedicated to Hawkins. It was his favorite song, Grohl said.

After a nearly two-hour set of defiant rock anthems, the show ended with "Everlong." But even though the placement was predictable, the Foo Fighters still feel undeniably real. There were times when Grohl seemed like he might go off the rails, moments in which his band's steady playing and sure rhythm reeled him back in. But it's Grohl's growling, unpredictable caged tiger spirit that keeps this band a thrilling experience and anything but a nostalgia act.

Lil Nas X leaves Bonnaroo crowd wanting more

Lil Nas X delivered like no other Saturday night at Bonnaroo. Complete with giant costumed creatures and stellar outfits, his performance totally seduced the crowd at the What Stage and left them talking about it for the rest of the fest.

Throughout his set, Lil Nas X performed hype song after hype song, like "Don't Want it," "Down Souf Hoes" and his 2019 industry-shaking hit "Old Town Road," which earned him and Billy Ray Cyrus a pair of Grammy Awards and ultimately launched the young showman into stardom.

But besides his trademark charm and energy, what set Lil Nas X's set apart from others was the unapologetic and raw way in which he showcased his persona. And he wasn't alone.

With sexy dance numbers full of pirouettes, vogueing and death drops, Lil Nas X's dancers elevated the performance to great heights.

He ended his set with what appeared to be a passionate kiss with one of his dancers, before closing with Grammy-nominated "Industry Baby."

Tyler Childers brings it all back home

Tyler Childers, the Kentucky troubadour from the heart of Appalachia who's built a die-hard following, has drawn comparisons to popular bluegrass player Billy Strings, and sometimes vice versa.

Perhaps that's because Childers is known for his graveled-voice truth-telling sermons such as "Nose To The Grindstone,” a parable about prescription drug addiction in his native Eastern Kentucky. Perhaps that's because of his sure hand with Grateful Dead classics such as the Robert Hunter-penned "Greatest Story Ever Told," which Childers played Saturday night, with the support of his band, to perfection.

But Childers, who took the Which Stage at Bonnaroo in support of his deeply spiritual 2022 album “Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?,” has a sound and a following all his own.

In an hour and a quarter, the artist and his backing band, an ever-reliable collective called The Food Stamps, traveled through gospel, bluegrass standards, originals and straight-fire, meat-and-potatoes country music. The crowd was filled with bubble-blowing hippies, blue-collar festival maintenance workers, families and Instagram models. They all somehow found common ground in Childers' music.

My Morning Jacket plays another adventurous, extended set

Nearly 20 years after My Morning Jacket made their Bonnaroo debut with a rain-soaked show that's since become the stuff of legend, and a subject of a newly-released live album, the Louisville-based band did it again in the early hours of Sunday at the Which Stage.

The band took the stage shortly after 12:30 a.m. for what meant to be a two-hour set that well extended well past 3 a.m. with saxophone and guitar jams (not to mention the unrelenting work of drummer Patrick Hallahan).

Before thousands of fans, the band coursed through favorites such as "Off The Record," from 2005 album "Z," and the psychedelic pop sounds of "Lucky To Be Alive," from the self-titled 2021 album.

The band also played two covers, sneaking Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" into original song "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2." The group followed that with a cover of Traffic's "Feelin' Alright?," inspired by the 1969 Joe Cocker version.

As it approached 2:30 a.m., My Morning Jacket showed no sign of stopping as the band rolled through catalog cuts from 2011's "Circuital" and 2003's "It Still Moves."

And while the band walked off the stage after that, there was no doubt among the audience that they would return —despite the late hour and another daunting festival day around the corner.

"We love you Bonnaroo," frontman Jim James yelled after closing with tension-building and crowd-pleasing version of "One Big Holiday." A perfect send off.

Three 6 Mafia surprises with Jelly Roll appearance

Memphis’ Three 6 Mafia sent the Bonnaroo crowd into a frenzy Friday night during their set, special guest and all, on the Which stage.

Three 6’s Juicy J and DJ Paul began their 7:45 set with “Who Run It,” from their 2000 album, “When The Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1.”

Joining the group Friday night was 2023 CMT award winner, Jelly Roll who came onstage for a special version of “Hard Out Here For a Pimp.”

The audience couldn’t get enough of the group. Similarly, Three 6 Mafia fed off the audience’s energy, even encouraging a mosh pit.

Umphrey’s McGee redefines "jam band" moniker

Umphrey’s McGee is one of those groups that turns the notion of what “jam band” means squarely on its ear.

When most people hear that ill-defined term, they think of noodle-y jams that go nowhere. But Umphrey’s belongs to a tighter school of improvisational music that dabbles in funk, prog rock and metal — and plenty of the latter.

For those who came to like Phish and the Grateful Dead at the same time as Pantera and Metallica, Umphrey’s hits right in the center of their Venn Diagram of musical interests.

That prog rock-pop-metal mashup was on full display during the South Bend, Indiana, band’s entire energetic late-afternoon Sunday set. But no musical moment better expressed their off-the-wall style than “Frankie Zombie,” an unlikely interweaving of “Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss ‘65.”

It was insane, absurd and utterly enjoyable, just like Umphrey’s hour-long Bonarroo performance this year.

Sheryl Crow embodies positivity

Sheryl Crow shared an abundance of joy and positivity - in true Bonnaroo fashion - Saturday evening on the What Stage.

The activist and soon-to-be Rock and Roll Hall of Famer used her platform at 'Roo to speak on mental health and transgender rights. On stage, Crow recalled during her record-making days in 1990s Pasadena, California, she witnessed a transgender person being kicked out of a coffee shop for “disturbing” other patrons.

After being booted, she said the person left a note that read, “If I’m not here, then you’re not here.” Crow wrote 1996 song “Hard To Make A Stand” about the person.

“I’m happy that although 30 years later, all of us can live in this country free and be our true selves and love who we love,” she said.

As Crow progressed through her set, she also reflected on dark moments in her life. The time-tested hitmaker shared empathy toward young people who could be experiencing the same. She dedicated “Cross Creek Road” to all of those “struggling with their low lows.”

“Sometime you’re just born with melancholy," she said. "I was."

Fleet Foxes takes Bonnaroo to church

There are some bands whose live performances fall flat when compared to their studio albums. And there are some bands whose performances transcend those recorded tracks. Fleet Foxes belongs in the latter category.

The critically-acclaimed indie-folk band, known for lush harmonies, took the stage at the relatively small This Tent shortly after 9 p.m. Friday night. The crowd easily filled the space and spilled over onto the lawn.

The band kicked off their set with the short “Sun Giant” and then soared through some of the most popular songs in the Fleet Foxes canon, including a clear-eyed and earnest version of “Ragged Wood” from their eponymous album. The crowd joined in on every word, sometimes coming close to smothering the band’s beautifully layered lyrics.

Knocked Loose sparks one of Bonnaroo's most intense mosh pits

Kentucky hardcore band Knocked Loose stepped onto This Tent Friday to a crowd ready to mosh. They were happy to oblige.

While vocalist Bryan Harris screamed his lyrics, the crowd pulsated in unison with fans pushing against one another. The space above the audience filled with so many crowd surfers that security couldn't seem to keep up. At one point, a fan in a wheelchair was in the air.

“We’re the only band this weekend that sounds like this,” frontman Harris told the Bonnaroo crowd before thanking them for such a welcome reception.

“I love this energy,” Harris said during a brief break. “There’s nothing in the world I love more than this energy, and I need you to pick it up.”

Don't make Shaq come down there!

“Are we having a good time Bonnaroo?” Diesel, also known as NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, yelled at the crowd shortly after starting his 2:30 a.m. set Saturday at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Playing a mixture of EDM beats with samples of hip hop, house music and even rock mixed in, Shaq — who played as performances around Centeroo wound down — seemed to draw waves of totems (one-of-a-kind signposts often carried by Bonnaroo faithful) to The Other Tent where he delivered a never-ending blur of blinding lights perfectly synched to his ground-shaking EDM set.

The 51-year-old basketball legend spent most of his time on stage playfully threatening the audience — “I’m coming out there!” — and encouraging chaos.

“I don’t see no mosh pits in the back,” he said at one point

It was a whole lot of nonsense, but fun and exactly the sort of thing to keep the Bonnaroo audience going in the wee hours of the morning. While one might not have heard a recognizable drop, or remember the intricacies of his EDM set, it was clear by the end that the Bonnaroo crowd wouldn't forget Shaq screaming things like "lady mosh pit" any time soon.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bonnaroo 2023: Best performances include Foo Fighters, Lil Nas X