Bonnaroo Co-Founder and Festival Pioneer Jonathan Mayers Dies at 51

A Visionary’s Final Bow

Jonathan Mayers, the co‑founder of Superfly Entertainment, passed away on June 10, 2025. He was 51. His death comes days before Bonnaroo’s 2025 kickoff, marking a poignant end to a life defined by musical innovation.

While the cause of death hasn’t been disclosed, the timing underscores the deep bond between Mayers and the festival he birthed. (Sources: Pitchfork, L.A. Times)

Roots in Crescent City

Raised near New York and later studying at Tulane University, Mayers started his career in New Orleans. He cut his teeth at Tipitina’s and the Jazz & Heritage Festival, places that taught him the power of live performance.

Those early experiences shaped his ability to blend authenticity with grandeur in his later projects.

Building Superfly

In 1996, Jonathan Mayers co-founded Superfly Entertainment in New Orleans with Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone, and Kerry Black. Their first major event, a Mardi Gras concert featuring The Meters, Maceo Parker, and Rebirth Brass Band, set the tone for what Superfly would become.

It wasn’t just about booking acts; it was about crafting experiences. This show captured the spirit of collaboration, genre fusion, and community that would define their future festivals, laying the groundwork for landmark events like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands.

The Bonnaroo Breakthrough

In 2002, Jonathan Mayers and his Superfly co-founders teamed up with A.C. Entertainment to launch Bonnaroo on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The debut lineup featured Trey Anastasio, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, drawing a sold-out crowd of 70,000. Rooted in jam-band culture but open to genre fusion, the festival became an instant success.

It set a new standard for immersive, multi-day music experiences, reshaping the American festival landscape and inspiring a generation of large-scale, community-centered events.

A Blueprint for Festivals

Bonnaroo wasn’t just a music event; it became a model for the modern American festival. Co-founded by Jonathan Mayers, it blended music, art, camping, and sustainability in a way that felt both free-spirited and organized. Unlike Woodstock’s chaos decades earlier, Bonnaroo operated under tighter regulations while still fostering community and spontaneity.

Its success inspired a wave of similar festivals across the U.S., proving that immersive, multi-day gatherings could be both creatively bold and environmentally conscious without losing their soul.

Expanding the Vision

Following Bonnaroo’s success, Jonathan Mayers and the Superfly team expanded their festival footprint. In 2005, they launched Vegoose in Las Vegas, experimenting with genre diversity and city-based staging. Then in 2008, they partnered with Another Planet Entertainment to create Outside Lands in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

With a mix of music, food, art, and sustainability, Outside Lands quickly grew into the largest independently owned music festival in the U.S., further solidifying Mayer’s role as a visionary in live entertainment.

Outside Lands’ Cultural Footprint

Held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands reflected Jonathan Mayer’s signature style, melding music, art, food, and sustainability into one cohesive experience. The festival elevated local cuisine and green initiatives while delivering world-class performances across genres.

Signature features like the Ranger Dave mascot and quirky areas like Choco Lands added character and charm. More than just a music event, Outside Lands became a cultural institution, highlighting Mayer’s talent for designing festivals that felt immersive, thoughtful, and uniquely rooted in place.

Comedy and Immersive Worlds

Jonathan Mayers didn’t stop at music; he brought his creative touch to comedy, too. In 2017, he co-created Clusterfest with Comedy Central, blending stand-up with pop culture nostalgia.

The festival featured stars like Kevin Hart and Jerry Seinfeld, but what truly set it apart were the interactive TV set recreations from “Friends,” “The Office,” and “Seinfeld.” Fans could walk through these iconic sitcom worlds. It was more than a comedy fest; it was an immersive experience, showing Mayer’s flair for innovation.

Superfly Departure & Legal Battle

In August 2021, Jonathan Mayers was dismissed from Superfly Entertainment following unresolved internal disputes. In 2022, he filed a lawsuit against his former partners, alleging fraud and misrepresentation related to the valuation of his shares in the company.

The legal battle attracted industry attention but ultimately concluded in January 2023, when a New York judge dismissed the case. Mayers never returned to the company he helped build, marking a turning point in his relationship with the festival world he helped shape.

Detroit Dreaming

After parting ways with Superfly, Jonathan Mayers turned his creative energy toward Core City Detroit. He envisioned a vibrant music and arts campus that would serve as a hub for local talent, cultural events, and public gatherings.

The project reflected his lifelong commitment to community through creativity. While still in development at the time of his passing, it stood as a powerful example of Mayer’s belief that art and music could be tools for empowerment, connection, and neighborhood revitalization.

Bonnaroo’s Tribute

In a heartfelt gesture, Bonnaroo organizers announced they would honor Jonathan Mayers at the 2025 festival, held from June 12 to 15, by planting a memorial tree on The Farm. More than just a symbol, the tree represents Mayer’s lasting roots in the festival’s culture.

Organizers invited fans to celebrate his life by spreading kindness, joy, and community values he championed from day one. The tribute ensures that his spirit, creativity, and ethos of positivity will continue to live on in the heart of Bonnaroo.

Peers Remember Him

Industry colleagues mourned the loss of Jonathan Mayers with heartfelt tributes. Peter Shapiro, a fellow live event pioneer, described him as “a true visionary” whose ideas helped shape the modern festival era.

Another Planet Entertainment praised his “razor-sharp wit,” “infectious laugh,” and natural ability to energize any room. Across the entertainment world, friends and collaborators remembered him not only as a creative force but also as a generous spirit who left a lasting impact on both people and the industry.

A Lasting Legacy

Jonathan Mayers didn’t just create festivals; he built cultural landmarks. Bonnaroo, launched in 2002, became a cornerstone of American music culture and pumped hundreds of millions into Tennessee’s economy over two decades.

Outside Lands followed with equal impact, spotlighting local food, wine, art, and sustainability in San Francisco. His work boosted tourism, supported artists, and redefined what a festival could be. Mayer’s legacy lives on in every ticket sold, every stage lit, and every fan moved by live music’s magic.

Influence on Music Culture

Jonathan Mayers helped shift the paradigm of American live music. Festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands broke genre boundaries, mixing jam bands with hip-hop, indie rock, and electronic acts. The L.A. Times praised their eclectic lineups and “mega jam” spirit, which inspired events like Coachella to evolve.

By creating spaces where music fans of all kinds could come together, Mayers fostered a new kind of festival culture—one built on inclusivity, spontaneity, and unforgettable shared experiences.

Festival Footprint in Numbers

Bonnaroo’s growth under Jonathan Mayers was nothing short of remarkable. Since its 2002 debut, attendance has ranged from 70,000 to 100,000 during peak years. The festival paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but returned in 2022 with 40,000 fans.

By 2024, crowds were back up to 70,000. Meanwhile, Outside Lands continues to sell out annually, welcoming approximately 65,000 attendees each year. These numbers reflect Mayer’s enduring impact on the scale and success of modern music festivals.

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A Presence That Lives On

Though Jonathan Mayers passed at just 51, his vision continues to echo through the fields and stages he helped create. Festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and Clusterfest still draw thousands each year, united by music, laughter, and shared memories.

His legacy isn’t just in lineups or ticket sales, it’s in the moments of connection under open skies, the spontaneous jam sessions, and the tree now growing on The Farm. Rooted in joy and community, his presence lives on in every note.

Like Mayers’ enduring legacy, these beloved “Little House” stars left behind memories that continue to shine. Discover the faces we miss—and the stories that keep them alive.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.