Flashback

Moon Taxi's Road to Bonnaroo Redemption

Despite a very extended set and their use of neon-light-adorned robot outfits during their 2010 Road to Bonnaroo performance, local jam-pop act Moon Taxi — at the time much more "jam" than "pop" — lost the battle-of-the-bands competition to fellow locals The Non-Commissioned Officers. Call it irony, then — or at least poetic justice — that the band is now playing the second-biggest stage at the festival, and they didn't have to win a contest to get there. D. PATRICK RODGERS

My Morning Jacket

Take it from a guy who's seen a few MMJ shows (15-ish?) — it doesn't get much better than seeing the band at Bonnaroo. Old-time 'Roovians will wax nostalgic for the 2004 and 2005 sets, 2008 was incredible, but 2011 — when the band made its What Stage debut — is the one. The band's sixth album, Circuital — featuring all time mega-jams "Outta My System" and "Holdin' On to Black Metal" — had just hit shelves. It was one of those albums that screamed, "Hey! This is going to sound really good in a big fucking field." Hot damn, did it ever! Expect even more majesty when Jim James & Co. take the second stroll onto the big stage. —SEAN L. MALONEY

D'Angelo Returns, 2012

It was one of those moments. On the edge of a meltdown, hauling ass across Centeroo, running away from the techno fascism of Skrillex's spaceship. And then there was the voice of Bonnaroo 2012 Superjam bandleader Questlove. "Ladies and gentlemen, D'Angelo!" he said to the shock and awe of thousands. Then, like an angel from neo-soul heaven, the long-reclusive singer returned by complete surprise. It was his first appearance on an American stage since 2000. He sang Beatles, Prince and Funkadelic classics. It was the superest of Superjams. This year, riding high on his 2014 critically acclaimed psych-funk comeback album Black Messiah, the singer returns for a proper, not-to-be-missed late-night tent show. Ironically, he'll be going up against this year's Superjam, which will feature Pretty Lights, Chance the Rapper, members of Metallica and Run DMC, and more. —SEAN L. MALONEY

Alabama Shakes

Anyone who wondered if Alabama Shakes would live up to the hype when they emerged seemingly out of nowhere to Thursday night tent stage-headliner status in 2012 had all doubts silenced minutes into the set. In a bold move, the band busted out its biggest jam, "Hold On," two songs in, to which crowd responded by singing along at What Stage volumes. This year the band appears on the actual What Stage for a magic-hour set Friday evening. It might get loud. —ADAM GOLD