With it's name mocking the famous Manchester, Tenn., music festival, Be Here Now's BonnaWHO? has transformed from last summer's one-nighter into a four-day music extravaganza featuring 20 bands.
BonnaWHO? kicked off Wednesday night with a free show starting with their weekly Comedy Moshpit followed by the band SRVLLST.
Though a majority of the bands will be local or from the Midwest region, the weekend's headliners will be from farther out. Tonight, the main performer is Afroman, and Saturday features 1,2,3 from Pittsburgh.
"I fully expect them to be at Bonnaroo next year," said Be Here Now owner Whitney Lewis about 1,2,3 whose "New Heaven" album he said is one of the best he's heard in years.
Over the course of four days, the music pounding from Be Here Now's outdoor stage area will vary from rap to indie folk, from rock to electronica and everything in between.
Inspiration for BonnaWHO? came to Lewis six years ago when he went to Bonnaroo.
"I had a great time but I honestly don't have $300 to $400 dollars to drop on a weekend and I don't have friends who are able to go drop $300 or $400 on it, too," Lewis said. "So I think it just makes sense now, especially with the price of gas, to have something local."
With the summer of 2011 as BonnaWHO?'s inaugural year, Lewis decided to continue the event this summer - but on a larger scale.
"It just made sense to, especially with who we were able to book," Lewis said. "When you've been doing this for two years most of your touring booking, you're not seeking people out. They're seeking you out. And so sometimes everything just falls into place."
THE NEWCOMERS
One of those bands who sought out Lewis was Max Sollisch, an indie folk singer from Columbus, Ohio, who performs as the single-man band, Dolfish.
Lately, he's been performing on a regional tour, performing at smaller venues and colleges.
"I've played the Be Here Now of every city." Sollisch said.
But BonnaWHO? will be the first time Sollisch has played the actual Be Here Now and in Muncie.
As he was setting up tour dates, he booked a show with the Muncie band The Bonesetters. Sollisch had never been to Muncie before, so the band suggested he give it a try. He contacted Lewis and got on the lineup for Friday night.
"If it's a good show, I'll probably be back in Muncie in 3 months," Sollisch said.
THE RETURNING BANDS
Though some are new to playing at Be Here Now, many of the bands have played before and are making their return.
"Muncie is this oasis of cool in the middle of nowhere," said John "Junior Smalls" Randall of the St. Louis band Junior Smalls and the Criminals about why he likes playing in the area.
He first performed in Muncie with his self-proclaimed folk punk band in March. He was trying to find places to perform between his starting and ending tour locations and randomly chose Muncie off a map.
He now says Be Here Now is his favorite place to perform. Opening for Afroman tonight will mark Randall's third time back at the venue.
Another returning band, playing on Friday, is Rhinoceros Beetle composed of v3G and Jules ffern, deemed as some "cool cats" by Lewis. The singers and synthesizer players from northern Indiana have been to Muncie several times, first in different bands then together as Rhinoceros Beetle.
When it comes to their favorite memory of playing at Be Here Now, the electronica duo can't think of just one.
"[There are] too many to choose from," v3G said. "Talking to Whitney [Lewis] is always awesome. All of the dancing and fun-loving people stand out a lot as good memories."
THE LOCALS
Not all the bands need to travel hours to get to the festival, for some it's a mere five- or ten-minute drive.
The "groove rock" band When, Not If hails from Muncie. The four-member band consisting of Stephen Hopkins, Travis Deardorff, Grady Ray and Zac Clevenger has played at Be Here Now several times and when asked to participate in BonnaWHO?, they willingly accepted, Ray said.
"We love our town of Muncie, and any chance we get to get a righteous time rollin', we will gladly accept," Ray said.
The band plays tonight at 10. Its style varies from "in-your-face rock" to blues. Just as eclectic as the style is its inspiration, which comes from all energies of life, Ray said.
"The great thing about playing music is that you can take something as normal as perhaps a fox, or an idea lodged deep inside your brain, and you can turn it into something that can be shared with everyone," Ray said.
THE BIG NAMES
As much as they look forward to playing their own sets, the bands look forward to hearing the other acts play - especially the headliners on Thursday and Saturday. The local DJ K-Nite can't wait to see Thursday's Afroman; the Muncie band God Dame wants to see 1,2,3 on Saturday.
Having bigger acts come in to play with some of the smaller ones are all a part of what keep the local scene growing and thriving, Lewis said.
"It's those connections the locals make with the bigger act that maybe get them a gig later on down the line," he said.
Plans aren't set in stone yet but Lewis hopes to expand BonnaWHO? in the future years. Though he's keeping tight-lipped about it, he did say he would like to see more of the community involved.
THE LINEUP (not in order of appearance)
Thursday - $15 at the door
Field Slave Dave
When, Not If
Absolute
H.O.M.E.
MC Sparkplug
Afroman
Junior Smalls and The Criminals
Friday - $3 after 10 p.m.
Misunderstood
The Dolfish
The Bonesetters
Golden Moses
Rhinoceros Beetle
DJ K-Nite
Saturday - $5
1,2,3
Journals
God Dame
The No Good Riders
The Chicago Typewriters
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