Like many music festivals, Bonnaroo started out as a labor of love between a few dedicated souls. Six years ago, Knoxville-based promoter Ashley Capps teamed up with Superfly Productions to put on the first-ever Bonnaroo, and now it's quite obviously turned into one of America's premier festivals.

We here at SPIN.com wish we could have stowed you away in our Bonnaroo RV. But just because you don't have a ticket for this weekend's Southern special doesn't mean you can't soak up some of the festival's top performances.

Yesterday (June 15), I noticed a woman checking the time with a sundial, and former SPIN.com Artist of the Day Sam Champion played a raucous set of Pavement sound-a-likes, clever throwbacks with nothing throwaway.

Bonnaroo should presumably be a time to kick back and enjoy the finer things in life: the summer sun, a quality brew, the convenience of 80-something performers in your immediate backyard. The last thing this festival needs is enough drama to induce a heart attack.

We had forgotten how electric the Thursday night sets can be at Bonnaroo. With folks camped out for days waiting to get in, those first notes on Thursday night sound heavenly, and the Black Angels' set in This Tent was no different.

As any seasoned Bonnaroo attendee knows, lots of walking is compulsory; from show to show, from campground to campground. And with that said, my dogs are barkin'!

I got up with the sunrise for day two (June 15) of Bonnaroo, and the campgrounds were already abuzz with talk of last night's adventures. After some makeshift breakfast and a little time to recover, I made the long, crowded hike into Centeroo to catch Ben Jelen, a late addition to this year's schedule.

Keytar superstars Mute Math delivered extra stimulation to Bonnaroo on Thursday night, and they also kicked off our festival interview schedule.

It's day one of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and my voice is already shot. And so far, the only downside of my newfound ailment was the inability to hoot and holler for the Los Angeles-based boys of the Little Ones last night (June 14) as they kicked off the festival over at This Stage.

Swarms of attendees wandered the weathered Bonnaroo farmlands last night (June 14), looking mostly curious and awed, using the night to get acclimated -- hoping to find their musical and activity cup of tea, if you will. If one made the right choice of beverage, they were likely sipping on the zesty shot of tequila and lime known as Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.