Bonnaroo 2023: Foo Fighters, Lil Nas X among 10 unforgettable festival performances

Bonnaroo 2023 is in the books.

The four-day festival, which annually takes over Manchester, Tennessee, in rural Coffee County, sold out of its four-day passes, drawing more than 80,000 people to Great Stage Park (known to festivalgoers as "The Farm"). The packed attendance underscores the degree to which Bonnaroo fans are committed to turning the music festival into their own freaky, joyous, four-day summer camp.

The six stages inside "Centeroo," the main festival grounds, hosted a feast of sounds and an array of diverse performances that, as cliché as it sounds, offered something for everyone. Centeroo often felt cohesive and dense — jammed with top talent, from Lil Nas X to the Foo Fighters.

The crowds gathered for acts including Tyler Childers and Franz Ferdinand, who packed the Which Stage practically to capacity. Late-night sets from artists such as psychedelic jam band STS9 kept people dancingr well into the morning.

The music helped foster a sense of community at a festival where some claim to be the one place where they feel free. Especially in a fractured political climate, Bonnaroo continues to offer something special: an island of free expression and music where people can gather in pursuit of spontaneous collective joy.

Here are some of our favorite, most joyous musical moments from the weekend.

Foo Fighters headline with raw, thrilling set to close out Bonnaroo

A year ago in the wake of drummer Taylor Hawkin's untimely death, such an emotional, raw set from Foo Fighters at Bonnaroo seemed unimaginable

But, eventually, the band played on. And it played on with emotional fervor at 9:33 p.m. Sunday on the What Stage as the skies threatened to open up with rain. But the weather held off and frontman Dave Grohl came out of the gate screaming through the staccato machine gun rhythm of "All My Life."

As the song, which conjures early Metallica, churned on, the band ripped through an "Enter Sandman" tease before pausing for what would be Grohl's many opportunities to address the crowd.

"It's gonna be a long night, mother (expletive)!" Grohl screamed into his mic.

The Foo Fighters tore from one absolutely ferocious song to the next, spanning through early classics to songs from the well-received new album "But Here We Are." Grohl repeatedly promised to play until the band got kicked out. Meanwhile, new drummer Josh Freese, a veteran whose credits include Devo and Nine Inch Nails, drove the rhythm with loud, confident beats that echoed through the field and cemented his place among his new band.

Special guests included Hayley Williams from Paramore, who sang with the band through an touching version of "My Hero." Grohl's own daughter, Violet Grohl, harmonized with her dad through "Shame Shame" and "Show Me How." The band then played an atmospheric take on "Aurora," which they dedicated to Hawkins. It was his favorite song, Grohl said.

After a nearly two-hour set of defiant rock anthems, the show ended with "Everlong." But even though the placement was predictable, the Foo Fighters still feel undeniably real. There were times when Grohl seemed like he might go off the rails, moments in which his band's steady playing and sure rhythm reeled him back in. But it's Grohl's growling, unpredictable caged tiger spirit that keeps this band a thrilling experience and anything but a nostalgia act.

Lil Nas X leaves Bonnaroo crowd wanting more

Lil Nas X delivered like no other Saturday night at Bonnaroo. Complete with giant costumed creatures and stellar outfits, his performance totally seduced the crowd at the What Stage and left them talking about it for the rest of the fest

Throughout his set, Lil Nas X performed hype song after hype song, like "Don't Want it," "Down Souf Hoes" and his 2019 industry-shaking hit "Old Town Road," which earned him and Billy Ray Cyrus a pair of Grammy Awards and ultimately launched the young showman into stardom.

But besides his trademark charm and energy, what set Lil Nas X's set apart from others was the unapologetic and raw way in which he showcased his persona. And he wasn't alone.

With sexy dance numbers full of pirouettes, vogueing and death drops, Lil Nas X's dancers elevated the performance to great heights.

He ended his set with what appeared to be a passionate kiss with one of his dancers, before closing with Grammy-nominated "Industry Baby."

Tyler Childers brings it all back home

Tyler Childers, the Kentucky troubadour from the heart of Appalachia who's built a die-hard following, has drawn comparisons to popular bluegrass player Billy Strings, and sometimes vice versa.