MUSIC NEWS- Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has added a batch of add'l acts and announced the comedy program for this years event. Updates include established artists such as Public Enemy and Ani DiFranco along with reggae mainstays the Itals and Wailing Souls, African superstars Amadou & Mariam, underground rapper Murs, metal favorites Shadows Fall and High on Fire, R&B ingénue Janelle Monáe, electronic soul duo Pretty Lights, bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice, and indie-world buzz bands Passion Pit, Hockey and White Rabbits. A full list of confirmed acts is below.
Also, Bonnaroo 2009 will feature a host of national headlining comics in a seated, air-conditioned comedy venue. Presented by Butterfinger (yup, I saw the candy today with a Bonnaroo promo on the package) and newly named "The Comedy Sweet," the tent willoffer up some of TV's most hilarious personalities, including late-night host Jimmy Fallon and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, who will present "Bonnapoo 2009," a variety show with music, stand up, classic clips, unaired material, interviews and insults. Also scheduled is "An Evening with The Daily Show," featuring correspondents John Oliver, Rob Riggle and exec producer Rory Albanese. Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter are also confirmed to perform ahead of the debut of their new Comedy Central show Michael and Michael Have Issues, along with Office spin-off Parks and Recreation star Aziz Ansari, Flight Of The Conchords (buy dvd) regulars Kristen Schaal and Arj Barker, the legendary Todd Barry, Nick Thune, Wayne Federman, Nick Kroll, Kurt Braunholer, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Pete Holmes.
Outside The Comedy Sweet tent, a number of the comics will engage Bonnaroo guests with pop-up gags around the festival grounds. Starting next month, the Butterfinger Comedy Network will air routines from previous Bonnaroo comedy performances, including clips from Lewis Black, Brian Posehn and Joe DeRosa. Check it out.