Getting with the Spirit When Bon Iver Played Bonnaroo

Ela Melo of genre bending indie-rockers Rainbow Kitten Surprise had a life-changing experience at the Which Stage.

Ela Melo: The year is 2018, me and my friends are crossing Bonnaroo from the What Stage to the Which Stage, where Bon Iver is going to play. We’re leaving Eminem’s set and wading through people to go and see Bon Iver. When we get to the Which Stage, everybody is seated as though they’re in an auditorium patiently waiting for Bon Iver to start playing. 

When Bon Iver comes on, it’s the quietest thing I’ve ever heard at Bonnaroo. Then they start playing and this incredible music comes out and at that moment, I’m like “Wow, I need to pay more attention to my life’s sound.” That being said, it was almost — not even almost — it was spiritual, and it changed my life. As soon as they started playing, everybody had to get up to see over top of each other. When the horns went, it was a whole thing. It was awesome. You had to be there.  ❖

Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Love Hate Music Box album is out now.