Rita Report: Bonnaroo Friday

Ryan Shaw was the musical kickoff for me at Bonnaroo, and a great start it was! He's such a natural, strong performer who gets the crowd right away. And he def Bonnaroo-IZED his set adding extended bass, drum AND guitar solos! Pretty cool.

He opened with "A Change Gonna Come" and closed with a very Sam Cooke-like version of "If I Had a Hammer." At first that seemed like a hokey choice but in the end he made it work into a big folklike singalong. It reminded me of Odetta. I wonder if Ryan Shaw has ever seen Odetta. I'll have to ask him one day.

Here's the video - a golf cart ride and a bit of Ryan:
- Ryan Shaw at Bonnaroo

Plus there's a new (air conditioned) jazz tent I can give you a peek at, and some of the Rodrigo & Gabriela set from late late last nite:
- Jazz set & RodGab