Metallica, Pearl Jam, Kanye Set For Bonnaroo

The seventh annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has rolled out its most diverse lineup yet for 2008, with Metallica, Pearl Jam (pictured), Kanye West, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson and My Morning Jacket among the acts on the bill for the June 12-15 event in Manchester, Tenn.

And rumors of a Led Zeppelin appearance at Bonnaroo are true (sort of), with all-female Zeppelin cover band Lez Zeppelin set to take the stage.

Other artists include the Allman Brothers Band, B.B. King, M.I.A., Drive-By Truckers, Phil Lesh & Friends, Death Cab For Cutie, Vampire Weekend, Levon Helm, the Raconteurs and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. Bonnaroo's Comedy Tent will host Janeane Garofalo, Zach Galifianakis, Mike Birbiglia, Jim Norton, Brian Posehn and David Cross.

The final Bonnaroo 2008 lineup will total more than 100 bands and 20 comedians performing on 13 stages over four days. Tickets go on sale exclusively through Bonnaroo.com on Feb. 16 at noon.

"I actually feel like it's one of our strongest lineups to date and it strengthens our diversity within our programming," Superfly Productions president Jonathan Mayers tells Billboard.com. Superfly and A.C. Entertainment are co-producers of Bonnaroo. "I know we still have a lot more to add, too, so I'm excited about it and feel like we're going to have a very successful year."

As to the wide-ranging stylistic nature of this year's bill, Mayers says it appeals to the diverse tastes of music fans today, much as hosting Tool, the Police, Dierks Bentley, White Stripes and Ralph Stanley did last year. "That's a real testament to music and the diversity of people's interest," says Mayers. "We're in a position to help introduce people to new things and hopefully the audience is open-minded and will discover what's out there."

This year, Bonnaroo is offering ticket buyers the option to purchase a commemorative DVD of the 2008 festival that will be sent to them in December. These DVDs will feature exclusive performances and backstage footage from the upcoming event, in a 5.1 audio mix created from Bonnaroo's soundboard recordings.

Located on 700 acres of farmland (which Bonnaroo purchased last year) about 60 miles south of Nashville, Bonnaroo is the top-grossing North American festival, taking in an estimated $18 million in ticket sales last year. Bonnaroo is also a three-time winner of the Top Festival award at the annual Billboard Touring Awards. -- Ray Waddell, Nashville

<B>Here are confirmed artists for the 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival:</B>

Pearl Jam
Metallica
Jack Johnson
Kanye West
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Phil Lesh & Friends
My Morning Jacket
The Allman Brothers Band
The Raconteurs
Willie Nelson
Death Cab For Cutie
B.B. King
Sigur Ros
Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road
Ben Folds
O.A.R.
The Bluegrass Allstars feat. Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton
M.I.A.
Umphrey's McGee
Iron & Wine
Yonder Mountain String Band
Swell Season
Talib Kweli
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi's Soul Stew Revival
Broken Social Scene
Robert Randolph Gospel Show
Rilo Kiley
Gogel Bordello
Mastodon
Lupe Fiasco
Against Me!
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Pat Green
Ozomatli
Tegan & Sara
Solomon Burke
Drive-By Truckers
!!!
The Avett Brothers
Israel Vibrations
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
Phil Lesh / Larry Campbell / Jackie Green
Aimee Mann
Ladytron
The Fiery Furnaces
Orchestra Baobab
Ghostland Observatory
Jose Gonzalez
Dark Star Orchestra
Minus The Bear
Donavon Frankenreiter
Lez Zeppelin
State Radio
Battles
Jakob Dylan
Two Gallants
The Sword
Vampire Weekend
Little Feat
Nicole Atkins
The Felice Brothers
Mason Jennings
MGMT
The Lee Boys
Black Kids
Serena Ryder
Steel Train
Grupo Fantasma
Back Door Slam

Bonnaroo Comedy:
Bonnaroo Late Night Chat About with David Cross
Janeane Garofalo
Zach Galifianakis
Jim Norton
Brian Posehn
Mike Birbiglia
John Mulaney
Michelle Buteau