The Bamboozle

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The Bamboozle
Atlantic City
Years active2003–2012, 2023
Websitethebamboozle.com

The Bamboozle

Atlantic City by its founder.[1][2] Every year, new bands competed for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival. The 2012 event was the final one of its original run, as founder John D'Esposito subsequently left Bamboozle due to creative differences with organizing partners.[3]

History

Early versions

In 2003, The Great Bamboozle was held from May 30 to June 1 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with headliners Keller Williams, the Roots, and Dark Star Orchestra.[4]

The 2004 event remained at The Stone Pony, expanding from four stages to six, and took place from June 4 to 6, with

.

The Bamboozle 2005

In 2005 the festival took the name "The Bamboozle" for the first time. It was held from April 29 to May 1, with the main stage at

The Bamboozle 2006

The Bamboozle 2006 was held over six stages at the

2006 also saw the first year of a sister festival in the west of the United States, known as "The Bamboozle Left". This was held at the

The Bamboozle 2007

The Bamboozle 2007 was again held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex from May 5–6. Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance headlined the event, along with over 150 bands, artists, and comedians performing on nine stages. A compilation album, The Bamboozle 2007: Everything Will Be Much Better Once I Get These Clowns Out of My Head, was released of the event. Several bands performed under "mystery names", such as the Matches (the Locals), Hawthorne Heights (the Death of...), Thursday (Bearfort), Motion City Soundtrack (The Great American Freedom Machine), Van Stone (Yesterday's 2morrow), the Sleeping (Biker Women), and Silverstein (XCanuckX).

Bands appearing at the 2007 event included

, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Haste the Day, the Devil Wears Prada, It Dies Today, the Bled, Norma Jean, As I Lay Dying, Blessthefall, the Oohlas, the Dear Hunter, Schoolyard Heroes, Halifax, State Radio, Rx Bandits, Juliette and the Licks, NORA, Sherwood, the Matches, Fair to Midland, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Envy on the Coast, Hawthorne Heights, Catch 22, Jonas Brothers, Secondhand Serenade, the Spill Canvas, Danger Radio, Rookie of the Year, Jack's Mannequin, Treaty of Paris, Amber Pacific, Quietdrive, the Graduate, Conditions, We Are the Fury, Drive By, Dave Melillo, Powerspace, Monty Are I, Mêlée, Stereo Skyline, and Four Letter Lie.[10]

2008

In 2008, the Bamboozle added the Bamboozle Roadshow and a new festival called the Hoodwink. The Bamboozle Roadshow 2008 took place from March 28 to May 10 at small venues across the United States featuring several acts selected by the Bamboozle staff. The Hoodwink took place on May 2, one day before the Bamboozle, in the Giants Stadium parking lot in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In addition, the Bamboozle Left, named due to its taking place on the West Coast, was held for the second time, at the

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California
.

The Bamboozle Roadshow featured

The Bamboozle Left 2008 took place on April 5–6 at the

headlined the festival. Other bands and artists appearing at the festival included

The Hoodwink 2008 took place on May 2, 2008, in parking lot of the Giants Stadium. This was a secret concert, announced on thebamboozle.com with the message "The Bamboozle Reserves The Right To Trick Everyone on Friday Night, May 2nd With a Mysterious Concert Held Somewhere Close To Another Major Festival".[13] Bands appearing at The Hoodwink included the Pink Spiders, Metro Station, Armor for Sleep, Jack's Mannequin, Say Anything, Mae, Finch, Saves the Day, Chiodos, Someone Say Something, Rookie of the Year, Lydia, the Sleeping, End of an Era, Men, Women & Children, Set Your Goals, and MxPx.

Immediately after the Hoodwink, the Bamboozle 2008 was held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex for the third year in a row, on May 3 – 4.

You Me and Everyone We Know, Greeley Estates, Sound the Alarm, Good Old War, and Innerpartysystem
.

2009

The Hoodwink California took place on April 3, 2009, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, with five bands performing cover sets of other artists. Bands appearing included We the Kings covering Jimmy Eat World, Forever the Sickest Kids covering Avril Lavigne, the Cab covering Queen, Never Shout Never covering the Beatles, and Mercy Mercedes covering Midtown.[15]

The Bamboozle Left 2009 took place on April 4 and 5, with headliners

DJ Skeet Skeet.[16]

The Bamboozle Roadshow 2009 took place from April 5, 2009, to April 30, 2009, featuring

.

The 2009 edition of the Hoodwink New Jersey took place on May 1, 2009, on four stages at the

brokeNCYDE performing a Crunk set.[15]

The Bamboozle 2009 took place on May 2 and 3.

2010

The Hoodwink California took place on March 26, 2010, at

.

The Bamboozle California took place on March 27 and 28, 2010, at

.

The Hoodwink New Jersey took place on April 30, 2010, at the

.

The Bamboozle 2010 took place on May 1 and 2, 2010, also at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Among the headliners were

.

The Bamboozle Chicago took place on May 15, 2010, at

.

Bamboozle Road Show 2010

The Bamboozle Road Show ran for 26 dates from May 21, 2010, until June 27, 2010. Headliners of the tour were

LMFAO, and Third Eye Blind.[21] All Time Low was removed from the lineup for three dates after criticizing the way their fans were treated at a previous show when some fans were pepper sprayed by police for fighting over a T-shirt thrown into the crowd.[22]

2011

The Bamboozle 2011 took place from April 29 to May 1, 2011, over 10 stages at the new

.

The Bamboozle Roadshow 2011 was scheduled to take place from May 4 to June 10, 2011, featuring Chiddy Bang, Dev, Ninjasonik, and Pusha T. However, the tour was cancelled before it started.

2012

On November 7, 2011, John D'Esposito, the founder, tweeted a picture from Asbury Park, New Jersey, hinting that the festival would return there to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.[23] This was later confirmed on the festival website. The festival took place from May 18–20, 2012, with Incubus, Foo Fighters, Mac Miller, Skrillex, Bon Jovi, Brand New and My Chemical Romance as the headliners.[24][needs update] Originally Blink-182 were due to perform, but were replaced by My Chemical Romance when Blink-182 cancelled due to Travis Barker's medical issues. Bamboozle refused to accept refunds after Blink-182 pulled out. In 2012, Bamboozle offered had contactless admission with wristbands using RFID technology.[25]

Other artists appearing at the event included

.

Departure of John D'Esposito and end of the festival

In 2012, festival creator John D'Esposito. announced that he was no longer a part of Bamboozle due to creative differences with

LiveNation and House of Blues. He later clarified in an interview that while he was disappointed in Live Nation's support of the festival, "It wasn't LiveNation that did this – House of Blues did. House of Blues is 100% responsible for the damage of Bamboozle."[3]

Return of John D'Esposito and 2023 revival of the festival

In 2021, John D'Esposito reacquired the rights and trademarks of Bamboozle from Live Nation. He mentioned May 5 to 7, 2023 as the date the festival would be held in a New Jersey location.

The rebooted festival was allegedly scheduled for

The 2023 event, to be held May 5th-7th was canceled only one week prior. This is partly due to lies surrounding the lineup, false claims that Black Friday sale prices would be the cheapest way to purchase tickets, and lying about the amount of tickets sold. The event was mainly canceled because John managed to promote and book acts for a festival he never properly secured the permits for.

Notes

  1. ^ The 2023 revival is simply named “Bamboozle”, dropping the “The”

References

  1. ^ a b "Bamboozle festival, stage for music superstars, returning May 2023 to New Jersey". www.app.com. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Bamboozle Festival announces NJ location for 2023 return". nj1015.com. July 7, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Gallo, Alexa (February 25, 2013). "John D. tells all in interview with The Gunz Show". Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "The Great Bamboozle: A 3 Day Festival Celebrating Arts". August 4, 2003. Archived from the original on August 4, 2003. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Great Bamboozle". June 4, 2004. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Montgomery, James. "My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Thrice To Headline Bamboozle Fest On Jersey Shore". MTV News. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Untitled Document". September 7, 2005. Archived from the original on September 7, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "..// THE BAMBOOZLE \\." June 21, 2006. Archived from the original on June 21, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Bamboozle Left post updated lineup". www.punknews.org. August 26, 2006. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  10. ^ "..// THE BAMBOOZLE \\." July 6, 2007. Archived from the original on July 6, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "Armor For Sleep Playing Bamboozle Roadshow 2008 | Reuters". Reuters. December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "the BAMBOOZLE LEFT (assorted rock concerts) 4.5.2008-4.6.2008, Irvine, CA". Yelp. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "// The Hoodwink \\". Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Live Review 5/3". inTuneMusic. May 6, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  15. ^ a b -- THE HOODWINK FESTIVAL -- Archived April 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ -- THE BAMBOOZLE LEFT -- Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ -- THE BAMBOOZLE ROADSHOW -- Archived January 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Ambrose, Anthony. "inTuneMusic Online: Hoodwink @ East Rutherford 5/1". Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  19. ^ Ambrose, Anthony. "inTuneMusic Online: Bamboozle Day 1 @ East Rutherford 5/2". Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2009.
  20. ^ -- THE BAMBOOZLE -- Archived December 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "The Bamboozle Music Festivals". Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  22. ^ "All Time Low banned from gig after standing up for pepper-sprayed fans". Flecking Records. May 31, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  23. ^ Twitter / lincstarboss
  24. ^ "PropertyOfZack, blink-182 To Headline Bamboozle W/Bon Jovi + Foo Fighters". Propertyofzack.com. December 12, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  25. ^ "Bamboozle Offers Guests Contactless Entry Experience with RFID Wristbands". RFID World. June 24, 2012.
  26. ^ Jordan, Chris. "Bamboozle festival, stage for music superstars, returning May 2023 to New Jersey", May 4, 2021. Accessed March 21, 2023. "The storied Bamboozle music festival is returning May 5 to 7, 2023, for a 20-year anniversary celebration at a location in New Jersey, said founder John D'Esposito to the USA TODAY Network New Jersey.... The Bamboozle featured emo, hip-hop, rock and pop A-listers like Drake, Bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, My Chemical Romance, Bruno Mars Demi Lovato and many more during a 10-year run primarily in Asbury Park and the Meadowlands in East Rutherford."
  27. ^ "E.Town Concrete Singer Sues Bamboozle Over Unpaid Loan". May 8, 2023.

External links