Bonnaroo Bonanza

While forecasts have predicted that 2006 may see the first Bonnaroo not to turn into a rain-soaked mudpit, the Tennessee heat punished festival-goers on day one yesterday (June 16), who stripped down to the bare essentials and lathered themselves in sun block. For much of the day, the temperature rested in the 90s.

With a hit-packed set capped by "American Girl," Tom Petty tipped his hat to the festival's diversity and seemed genuinely excited to be playing here. While the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has been a staple of classic rock radio and a mainstream rock icon for years, he didn't seem out of place at Bonnaroo. He was more like the founding father he has morphed into in his veteran years, as he ran through classics like "You Don't Know How It Feels" and "Learning To Fly."

Elsewhere, several artists like sacred steel phenom Robert Randolph expressed excitement at being back, and hailed Bonnaroo for providing a place where fellow musicians can not only see each others' sets but also collaborate onstage. There were plenty of respites from guitar rock, like reggae stalwarts Steel Pulse, who drew on old standards such as "Reggae Blues Band" and "Rejoice" plus such modern-era material as "Global Pollution" and "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

With wailing guitars defining the sound of a new, alien, ultra-heavy form of southern rock, My Morning Jacket (frontman Jim James pictured above) delivered a three-hour jaw-dropper to close the evening. The band continued to redefine its sound just as Bonnaroo was defining itself for 2006. Unexpected treat: covers of the Who's "A Quick One" and the Stones' "Loving Cup."

Stay with Jaded Insider and Billboard.com all weekend for indepth coverage of Bonnaroo. For the day one recap: click here.