Bonnaroo 2004 - Tyler Stout

Bonnaroo  2004 - Tyler Stout
Manchester, TN
11-13 June 2004
Size: 22 x 26 inches
Available: here

By now, pretty much everybody in the poster world knows who Tyler Stout is: his signature sketched collages of figures and faces has adorned posters for Phish, plus just about every movie Alamo Drafthouse has screened in the last three years. But back in June of 2004, neither I nor just about anyone else had a clue, and even afterwards, it took me a little while to make the connection between that guy and this poster that stares me down every time I sit at my computer.  As always, some pretty great collage work, and the stickers and buttons are a killer way to work all that text into a living, breathing image.

Since the poster news doesn't seem to be flowing this week, I figured I'd do a little tribute to Bonnaroo, which is coming up this weekend.  I went in 2004, and between the traffic, the heat, and the seemingly endless walk between our campsite and the music, I can't say I had the best time ever--I was actually pretty miserable--but I did get to see some great music (see today's Music of the Day for one of my weekend favs): Wilco, Bob Dylan, Gov't Mule, moe., Kings of Leon, The Dead, Steve Winwood, Primus and on and on and on.  My own Bonnaroo experience was one of the last before the festival moved from a "hippie" festival to just a straight up music festival, and while I've never been one to deny anyone his hippie groove, I'm glad for the move. 

Festivals like Bonnaroo exist to expand our horizons and show us what we might not normally see, so for those of you headed to Tennessee this weekend, have fun, be safe, and open your ears!  Make sure to swing by the poster exhibition, hosted by the American Poster Institute, where artists like Justin Helton, Guy Burwell, and many more will be displaying and selling their work!