2013 Clues
Click a number to jump directly to that clue. Blue dots represent clues that are presumed to be solved, orange ones are potentially solved, and red ones are still unsolved.
Clue #1:
Rising son of man
The future was less certain
Human contact is gone
Info: Released on Monday, 12/24/12, via posters for New Years Eve.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Most Popular Guesses:
Frank Ocean - "rising son of man" could refer to an up-and-coming young male artist, could be a reference to rising ocean tides, or could refer to Frank Ocean being from New Orleans (a "house of the rising sun" reference), "the future was less certain" could refer to Odd Future (OFWGKTA) which Frank Ocean is a member of, "human contact is gone" could be a reference to his cover of MGMT's "Electric Feel" (could be seen as the opposite of "human contact")
Japandroids - "rising son of man" could refer to Japan being the land of the rising son, "the future was less certain" could refer to their debut album Post-Nothing, "human contact is gone" could refer to the "androids" part of the band's name
Clue #2:
Two by two they go
[Crabs walking on the beach]
While the pavement bakes
Info: Released on Thursday, 1/3/13. The video for the second line did not reveal the exact wording.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Most Popular Guess:
Animal Collective - "two by two they go" could refer to Noah's ark (i.e. collecting two of each type of animal) and to Panda Bear's real name Noah, the crabs could refer to the band being from Maryland, the third line could refer to the band being influenced by Pavement and covering their songs
Clue #3:
Joy on the north end
Spiritual shaking abounds
But does one believe?
Info: Released on Tuesday, 1/8/13, at the entrance to the Woodlands Cemetery in Des Moines, IA.
Links:
Clue thread
Photo of the poster
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
There doesn't seem to be much of a consensus for this one. Many bands have been mentioned, including Sleigh Bells and Furthur.
Clue #4:
Oh, the weeping tree
But beauty in the moon's glow
Peace before the cut
Info: Released on Thursday, 1/10/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
Paul McCartney - "the weeping tree" could refer to Paul's song "Little Willow," "peace before the cut" could refer to lyrics from the song ("sleep, little willow / peace gonna follow / time will heal your wounds")
Clue #5:
A quiet engine
Murmurs out back in the grass
Hypnotizing drone
Info: Released on Tuesday, 1/15/13 by the entrance to the Dallas Zoo.
Links:
Clue thread
Photo of the poster
Bonnaroo.com page
Assumed Answer:
Tame Impala - since an Impala is a car, a "quiet engine" could be a Tame Impala, "out back" could refer to the band being Australian, "in the grass" could strengthen the connection between the animal and the car since impalas eat grass (among other things), "hypnotizing drone" could refer to the band's genre (psychedelic). The animal connection would also explain the placement of this clue at a zoo.
Clue #6:
Two fathers sit still
Deep in the fields of lava
Waiting for the scream
Info: Released on Thursday, 1/17/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
Björk - "two fathers" could refer to Björk's biological father and her stepfather, "the fields of lava" could refer to her homeland of Iceland, "waiting for the scream" could refer to her biggest hit, "It's Oh So Quiet"
Clue #7:
Eric B's partner
Is paid in full with pesos
On the Harlem streets
Info: Released on Tuesday, 1/22/13 in Madison Square Park in New York City.
Links:
Clue thread
Photo of the poster
Bonnaroo.com page
Assumed Answer:
A$AP Rocky - "Eric B's partner" could refer to A$AP Rocky being named after hip hop legend Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo, "is paid in full with pesos" could refer to his first single, "Peso," and the last line could refer to him being from Harlem (this would also seem to be the reasoning for posting the clue in NYC).
Clue #8:
Innocence of youth
Dancing on the Galway shores
Around they must go
Info: Released on Thursday, 1/24/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Assumed Answer:
Purity Ring - "innocence of youth" could mean purity, "dancing on the Galway shores" could refer to Claddagh, meaning "the shore," a region on the shores of Galway and the origin of the Claddagh ring, "around they must go" could also refer to a ring
Clue #9:
Eleven months wait
For entry to the prestige
The first rejected
Info: Released on Tuesday, 1/29/13 at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Links:
Clue thread
Photo of the poster
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
Nothing very solid, but guesses that keep appearing include Mumford and Sons and the Decemberists.
Clue #10:
A writer now done
Inspired pastoral moves
From east to west
Info: Released on Thursday, 1/31/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Assumed Answer:
Father John Misty - "a writer now done" could refer to his song "I'm Writing a Novel" and him taking a break from music to write, "pastoral" could refer to his use of "Father" in his pseudonym, "from east to west" could refer to him being born in Baltimore and then moving to Seattle (to join Fleet Foxes)
Clue #11:
A school known for food
Is near a maker of beats
Hopes high for the kid
Info: Released on Tuesday, 2/5/13 in the student dining center at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
Kendrick Lamar - the "maker of beats" could refer to Beats headphones and therefore Dr. Dre, with whom Lamar has worked, and the last line could refer to his album good kid, m.A.A.d city
Clue #12:
Pavement sticks to feet
At front of hotel
Mixed from a blue book
Info: Released on Thursday, 2/7/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
R Kelly - the second line could refer to the line "after the party it's the hotel lobby" in "Ignition (Remix), "mixed from a blue book" could refer to the remixed version of the song and to the Kelley Blue Book
Clue #13:
Run, run like the wind
On the north wide plains
Where the big stones roll
Info: Released on Tuesday, 2/12/13 at the Nashville Humane Association.
Links:
Clue thread
Photo of the poster
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
Mumford and Sons - the first line could refer to their song "Winter Winds" and the last line could refer to their song "Roll Away Your Stone"
Clue #14:
Generation what?
Who lives in coral castle
Mark is on the wall
Info: Released on Thursday, 2/14/13.
Links:
Clue thread
Bonnaroo.com page
Guesses:
The xx - the first line could refer to "Generation X" and the third line could refer to an x that marks the spot
Billy Idol - "generation what?" could refer to his band Generation X, the second line could refer to his video for "Sweet Sixteen" which was filmed in Coral Castle