Bonnaroo kicked off last night with a surprise set from the Benevento/Russo Duo and some cross-pollination between ALO and Tea Leaf Green. A day before its scheduled performance with Mike Gordon in That Tent, the Duo performed an intimate set for Bonnaroo staff members and festival VIPs in a tent located in the middle of the What Stages field. Earlier in the evening, the Animal Liberation Orchestra invited Tea Leaf Greens Josh Clark onstage, while Perpetual Groove played in The Other Tent to a capacity crowd. Perhaps the evenings largest draw, Gabby La La offered a set with her trio, which included a pigface-clad Les Claypool on bass. Backstage before the show, La La revealed that her first concert was a performance by Primus. Steel Train, Rose Hill Drive, R.B Morris & the Irregulars and The Legendary Shack Shakers also each performed high energy sets throughout the evening.
Despite earlier reports that police investigations would slow car entrance lines to a crawl, traffic seemed to move smoother than in years past. Once inside, visitors were treated to Bonnaroos usual mix of arts and entertainment, as well the 24 hour Radio Bonnaroo. Relix Contributing Editor Tim Donnellys Dirty Jersey program was among the evenings entertainment. Between acts, fans also mingled around the Silent Disco Tent and Scratch DJ Academy, preparing for tomorrows UNO Torment in the Games Room.