The Bonnaroo Diaries: Water Slides + Throat Singers

June 28, 2015

The Bonnaroo Diaries: Water Slides + Throat Singers

H&M One-piece Ruffle Swimsuit (similar), Target White Linen Striped Blouse (similar), Urban Outfitters Destroyed High-waisted Cut-offs (similar), Tan Combat Boots c/o LuLu*s (similar), Aldo Heart Shaped Sunglasses (similar)

By the time I woke up for our first full day of Bonnaroo, I was 100% in the Bonnaroo spirit and ready for a day full of incredible music and overall kick assery. The main goal for that morning was to ride the shit out of the giant water slide in the middle of the grounds. There's nothing more satisfying than soaking yourself in water from head-to-toe while you're stuck in burning hot temperatures and minimal shade.

It's been long enough already that the days at Bonnaroo seem to blend together, but I do remember that one of the most memorable performances I saw on the second day was definitely Tanya Tagaq, a Canadian/Inuk throat singer. I didn't particularly have any strong desire to stop by her performance, but boy, was it a performance. Definitely one for the books if you're into something much different and unusual, but incredibly impressive. My other favorites were seeing Sylvan Esso for the first time, Kendrick Lamar for the third time (who will always, always kill it), and ending the night with STS9. All in all, a success of a day. Also, cheers to avoiding an awkward tan line even while wearing a cut-out one piece, amirite?

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: The Long Trip Down

June 18, 2014

The Bonnaroo Diaries: The Long Trip Down

New York Crop Top c/o American Eagle | Express Destroyed Shorts (similar) | Studded Boots c/o YesStyle (similar)

One of my absolute favorite times of the year? Bonnaroo. A handful of my favorite people and I made the long 14-hour drive down to Tennessee for the festivities and, this year, three of them flew in since we're slowly all moving further and further apart. I slept through most of the journey, to be honest, so it felt closer to 6-hours total. The perks of being a fast sleeper, na'mean?

After a quick overnight pit stop at Knoxville, we met up with one of my co-workers and his crew and we caravaned onto the Bonnaroo farm just before the sun set. Thursday is the first day of music but people usually take their time since the sets aren't large or well-known. I managed to make it in time to see the last few songs of MS MR and I was pretty content for the rest of the night (ending with Break Science and Omar Souleyman).

Oh, and on the topic of this outfit, can we talk about just how reliable these boots are? These babies arrived at my doorstep over a year ago, just in time for last year's Bonnaroo, and they haven't let me down since. "Sole"mates. Get it? 

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: Insane Nights + Ferris Wheel Sunrises

June 24, 2014

The Bonnaroo Diaries: Insane Nights + Ferris Wheel Sunrises

Urban Outfitters Crop Top (similar, similar), High-waisted Shorts, Shoemint Sandals (similar), Bonnaroo Bandana (similar)

Saturday was definitely my favorite day at Bonnaroo. I spent the majority of the day relaxing to Jeremy Messersmith, exploring the farm, and catching some incredible performances by Damon Albarn and Chromeo. So good.

A few of us skipped out on Jack White that evening to relax and regroup before our all-nighter (we had big plans past midnight), but I heard Jack White was just mind blowing, so that was a bit of a bummer afterwards. But...not enough of a bummer to hold us back from an incredible rest of the night. To sum it up from beginning to end: a Skrillex Super Jam (ft. Big Gigantic, Zedd, Janelle Monae, Chance the Rapper, etc.), literally five minute of Frank Ocean, another brief ten minutes of The Flaming Lips, THE GLITCH MOB, the last few songs of Kaskade, and then watching the sunrise on the ferris wheel.

It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Oh, and Sunday was good too, but I always forget to take outfit pictures on the last day of Bonnaroo for some reason. I guess not showering for four days kinda makes you forget you have a real life outside of the festival to think about, ha.

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Suddenly It's All Real, Suddenly It's All You Feel

March 10, 2016

Suddenly It's All Real, Suddenly It's All You Feel

 

Amour Vert Cotton Bomber Jacket (similar, similar), White Dropwaist Ruffle Dress c/o LuLu*s (similar, similar), Madewell Bolo Necklace (similar), Urban Outfitters Black Textured Mini-Backpack (similar), H&M Black Knee High Socks, Steve Madden Compton Bootie (similar)

Now that it's spring, all of the music festivals are starting to sneak up and all the parts of me that love music are collectively melting away into a puddle of sick beats and dance moves. I'm making my fourth trek to Bonnaroo with my same old crew (with a few new additions) for its 15th anniversary and I think it might be my last, so I'm starting to feel a little bittersweet. I'm not feeling the line-up as much this year but, aside from the obvious favorites, I'm finding magic in the undercard acts (s/o to Børns, Marian Hill, and Oh Wonder).

Then later in July I'm making the (shorter) trek to the inaugural Panorama, who literally made a tear fall down my cheek as I ran through their line-up. Be still my steady heart (Major Lazer, I'm finally coming for you so be afraid.)

While I should be prepping myself for all the bands I'm looking forward to seeing at Bonnaroo and Panorama, I'm currently indulging in my current favorites. Give them a listen if you're curious as to what gets pumped through my brain for a good majority of the day.

Anyone else going to Bonnaroo or Panorama so we can collectively make fools of ourselves and dance our pants off (if we're even wearing pants)?

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: Day 2

June 21, 2013

The Bonnaroo Diaries: Day 2

The second day of Bonnaroo was simply intense. It was definitely my favorite day out of all of them and I wish I could relive it all over again. I had a pretty late start to the day since there wasn't much I wanted to see until later in the afternoon. Once the sun was at it's peak, I headed over to see Of Monsters and Men, made my way to the front of the crowd for Grizzly Bear, and then relaxed in the back of the crowd for WU-TANG CLAN (where I let out my inner thug, who ain't nothin' to f--- with).

And then, you guys. It was time for Paul McCartney, and let me just say, IT WAS AMAZING. Wait, amazing isn't even enough to sum up how epic it was. Besides the fact that you're watching Paul McCartney, the most energetic 71-year-old I know, who was part of The Beatles (which is amazing enough on its own), there were also fireworks. Tons of fireworks. And singing Hey Jude with over 80,000 people? No words can't convey how incredible of an experience that was. Best concert I've been to, hands down. No competition.

Urban Outfitters Plaid Shirt, Hat (similar)
Express Destroyed Shorts
Urban Outfitters Lace Bralette (similar, similar)
Studded Boots c/o YesWalker (similar)

And after Paul McCartney? That's where the night actually began. Everyone in my group got separated (because that's what happens in a crowd of 80,000 people) so my friend and I wandered over to see the second half of The XX. My only regret was not being able to see the first half, since Paul went over 30 minutes, but they were absolutely magical. Then the night ended with an insane rager at Animal Collective, which eventually blended into the sunrise. Let's just say I only got an hour of sleep before starting off Day 3. What up, Bonnaroo.

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: BirdMan + BassNectar

June 30, 2015

The Bonnaroo Diaries: BirdMan + BassNectar

Urban Outfitters Olive Green Crop Top (similar), Gap Short Overalls (similar), Red Plaid Oversized Flannel c/o Sheinside (similar), Tan Strap Sandals c/o LuLu*s (similar), Gorjana Gold Cuff c/o RocksBox (last Day to use code "jennifhsieh" for your first month free)

Day Three of Bonnaroo was definitely the hottest of them all and none of us could avoid the burn of the sun since it was way, way, way too hot to wear anything more than nothing of all. If it wasn't for the societal standards of having to wear clothes, we'd all be running around naked underneath the water fountain. The trick to stay cool was to pack some ice in a bandanna, soak it in ice water, and then drape it on random places on your body, one of the best places being your neck.

A bunch of us ended up escaping into the air conditioned cinema tent to cool off and watch Birdman, which had been on my list of movies to watch for quite some time now. Not only was the movie spectacular on all fronts, but the famous jazz drummer Antonio Sánchez recreated the score of the movie that he composed LIVE. IN FRONT OF US. Pretty damn awesome, if I do say so myself.

With a couple of shows here and there as the sun started to set into the sweet, cool, breezy evening, we ended the night with a great performance by Mumford & Sons and plenty of raucous dancing at Bassnectar. Touché, Bonnaroo. Touché.

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Headed to Bonnaroo!

June 12, 2013

Headed to Bonnaroo!

If you're reading this now, it means I'm already on my way down to Manchester, Tennessee for the Bonnaroo Music Festival! I couldn't be more excited for all of the incredible music, delicious food, dirty camping, boozing, and sleepless nights under the torturous southern sun. I know it's going to be a wild ride and I can't wait. I'll be back and posting next Tuesday morning, but in the mean time check back for a few guest posts and I'll see you guys soon!

P.S. Be sure to follow my Twitter and Instagram for updates if you want to follow along my Bonnaroo adventures. :)

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: Foreheads + Kanye

June 22, 2014

The Bonnaroo Diaries: Foreheads + Kanye

Denim Vest c/o For Elyse | Urban Outfitters Tank (similar) | H&M Brick Shorts (similar) | Studded Boots c/o YesStyle (similar) | Bandana from ex (similar)

I've had bangs since sophomore year of high school. Side bangs, blunt bangs, you name 'em. So going a day in public without bangs? You guys, my forehead looked huge. Don't lie to me, I know you're thinking it too. Where has all that forehead been hiding all these years? Pretty sure the only other time I ever debuted my forehead on my blog was in 2010.

But anyway, back to more important things...like Bonnaroo. The weather was absolutely beautiful on the second day with partly cloudy skies, making an entire day of music outdoors much more bearable. I spent the majority of the afternoon listening to some world music with Jeremy (DakhaBrakha was amazing) since there weren't many shows I was dying to see. My only teeny tiny regret during the entirety of the trip, was getting too distracted to stop by Janelle Monáe's performance.

After catching a bit of CHVRCHES, A Tribe Called Red (so, so good), and Phoenix, I ended my night relatively early with some Kanye. WHAT A SPECTACLE. Between all the sick performances and the insane rants, Kanye did not disappoint. No regrets there.

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The Bonnaroo Diaries: Day 1

June 19, 2013

The Bonnaroo Diaries: Day 1

I've finally regenerated enough physical and mental energy to put together my first Bonnaroo post. You guys, it was one crazy, exhausting, whirlwind of a weekend. I'm still trying to make up for those sleepless nights, burning hot mornings, and music-filled afternoons.

Eight other friends and I made the 15 hour trek down to Manchester, Tennessee last Wednesday, arriving at the campgrounds (with minimal difficulties) on Thursday afternoon. Three of my friends accidentally filled their car with diesel, causing them to fall behind schedule, but after a friendly, neighborhood mechanic worked after hours, they managed to get on their way. Disaster averted.

V-Neck Tank c/o Junk Food Clothing (similar)
H&M Burgundy Shorts
Gap Chambray Shirt
Studded Boots c/o YesWalker (similar)
Urban Outfitters Hat (similar)

Side note: Check out my bitch face in the photo above. 

Overall, the first night was pretty chill since people were still settling into the camp grounds and getting to know the surroundings. I checked off Purity Ring (shown down below) as well as Maps and Atlases (who were incredible). We managed to squeeze our way pretty close to the stage for Purity Ring (SO GOOD) and I learned that bringing a hat to a concert is a pretty dumb idea unless you're ready for it to crowd-surf its own way up to the stage. It's a sad life being short at a concert. You guys feel me?

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