With just one week to go, Bonnaroo organizers have yet to announce the SuperJam. Just like it sounds, it’s a jam session featuring musicians who typically don’t work together, making for a rare, special set that truly is a once in a lifetime thing. Occuring every year at the festival since 2002, here’s a look at past SuperJam’s:
The very first SuperJam in 2002 featured members of String Cheese Incident, Bela Fleck, Jeff Raines, Robert Randolph, Stanton Moore of Galactic, Edgar Meyer, Danyel Morgan, DJ Logic, Rich Vogel, Robert Mercurio and Marcus Randolph.
2003′s SuperJam featured Dr. John, Mike Gordon of Phish, Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Stanton Moore of Galactic, Dewayne Burnside and G. Love.
In 2004, the SuperJam featured Stanton Moore of Galactic, Maceo Parker, George Porter, Eric Krasno, Neil Evans, Papa Mali, Adam Deitch, Reggie Watts and the New Orleans Horns, among others.
2005′s SuperJam featured Herbie Hancock, ?uestlove of the Roots and Pino Palladino.
The 2006 SuperJam was a project known as G.R.A.B., which featured Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon of Phish, along with Marco and Joe from the Benevento/Russo Duo.
Perhaps one of the more memorable collaboration’s was the latenight SuperJam in 2007 featuring Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Ben Harper and ?uestlove of the Roots. The Roots guitarist, Kirk Douglas (not the actor), also made an appearance during this set.
Last year’s SuperJam didn’t exactly live up to the hype for most, as it was playing the same time as the four-hour My Morning Jacket performance. The 2008 SuperJam played tribute to Tom Waits, featuring Les Claypool, Kirk Hammett of Metallica and members of Gogol Bordello.
As I look over the schedule, there’s really only a couple spots I see where they could place the SuperJam, although changes with the schedule can always be made. Right now, it seems rather odd that on Sunday there is an opening after Okkervil River in the Other Tent. They’re scheduled to play until 5:45 pm, but the acts in the other two tents are schedule to end around 8 pm, as does Band of Horses, who play until 8 pm on the Which Stage.
The only other spot I think they could place the SuperJam would be before Erykah Badu on Sunday on the What Stage. She’s not starting until 3:30 pm, but in the past (excluding last year) they have had acts starting at either noon or 1 pm on the What Stage.
SuperJam or no SuperJam, you will find some other super jams, although they aren’t the official SuperJam.
A few bands will be composed of some guest artists, while some of these bands feature artists who have collaborated for other projects. Here are some of those acts:
Elvis Costello, who recently stumbled into Americana, Country, Bluegrass and Folk music with his new album, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, has assembled a backing band called the Sugarcanes. The band features Jerry Douglas (dobro), Jim Lauderdale (guitar), Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo), Mike Compton (mandolin), Dennis Crouch (upright bass) and Jeff Taylor (guitar).
Fiction Family is a collaboration between Switchfoot frontman, Jon Foreman, and Nickel Creek guitarist, Sean Watkins. Joining them on piano will be Watkins sister, Sara, who you also know from Nickel Creek, as well as her recent launch into her solo career.
The Jerry Hannan Band features Cody Dickinson (multi-instrumentalist), John Molo (drums, percussion), John Avila (bass) and Steve Molitz (keys). Dickinson, Molo and Molitz have all played at Bonnaroo numerous times since the beginning, with the North Mississippi Allstars, Phil Lesh & Friends and Particle, respectively.