The Bamboozle was an annual three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival. In 2012, creator John D left Bamboozle due to creative differences with Livenation and he will be reviving Skate and Surf Festival in 2013. He later clarified in an interview that while he was disappointed in LiveNation'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." It has also been announced that there will not be a Bamboozle festival in 2013 and the future of the festival is unknown.
Chiddy bang all things go at the bamboozle music festival
The Characters
The Bamboozle has many different characters within the festival planning. Some of these characters are real people with false identities, who work to plan and operate the festival, while others are completely fictional, and serve as a means to give the public clues as to who may be playing at The Bamboozle.
John D is the festival creator.
Scoop is the Bamboozle's festival reporter. Scoop shares the latest news about the festival in the Bamboozle chatroom. Scoop likes to leak information to the public about the Bamboozle, but he always talks in riddles and baby talk. He loves the children's show Bob the Builder, the character Mater from the Pixar film Cars, and the game hide-and-seek.
Elmo is an older character involved with the Hoodwink festival. He also works at The Stone Pony as the production manager.
Passmaster Pokey is an actual person. He did production on all Skate & Surf Festivals and Bamboozles. He gives the Backstage / VIP tours too.
The Great Bamboozle 2004 was held on June 4, June 5, and June 6, 2004, at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. G. Love and Special Sauce, moe., and Sonic Youth headlined the shows, respectively.
June 4 lineup
Main Stage:
Stone Pony Stage:
Shakedown St. Stage:
Golddigger Jam Stage:
Jim's Acoustic Junction:
June 5 lineup
Main Stage:
Stone Pony Stage:
Ocean Ave. Stage:
Golddigger Jam Stage:
Jim's Acoustic Junction:
Shakedown St. Stage:
June 6 lineup
Main Stage:
Stone Pony Stage:
Ocean Ave. Stage:
Golddigger Jam Stage:
Shakedown St. Stage:
Jim's Acoustic Junction:
The Bamboozle 2005
The first Bamboozle was held on April 29, April 30, and May 1, 2005, at Asbury Park Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey. My Chemical Romance, The Starting Line, and Thrice headlined the shows, respectively. Brand New was originally scheduled to headline the first show, but was forced to cancel their show, while Thrice took over as the headliner.
The Silence, Flashlight Arcade, Dropping Daylight, The Modern, Lux Courageous, Scenes from a Movie, The Break Runner Up, Ashes Are Nutritious, The Jacks, Lord Sterling, The Dirt Bombs
The Break Stage at Club Jimi
Chasing Monroe, The Years Gone By, Rising Fury, Ded Lilth, ???, Republic
Deciding Tonight, Remedy for Ruin, Driving East, Lakota, The Gun Stays, Bear vs. Shark, Burning Bright, New Years Day, Bind, Another Day Wasted, Tears of Hera
The Break Stage at Club Jimi
Self Denial, Strike.Fire.Fall, Bandcamp, In Harms Way, Echo Screen, For Felix, Hudson, Red Lyte District, Scarlet Letter, Bedlight for Blue Eyes, Blackoutskies, Cute Is What We Aim For, Upper Hand, My American Heart, Tourmaline, Wakefield
The Mile After, Jade Fire, Dead 50's, Waking Ashland, A Day at the Fair, Poor Friend Me, Madison, Knup, Suburban Legends, ...And Then I Turned Seven, Emma
Tri-State Punk Stage at Wonder Bar
Bad Flirt, Our Dying Souls, Copper Pot, The Loved Ones, The Skanks, Blind Hate Experiment, More Than I, Sirsy, The Track Record, The Vacancies, Mike Rocket and the Stars
7-10 Stage at Asbury Lanes
Blind and Driving, ???, The Circus, The Break Runner Up #1, Iced Over Phoenix, Drive Without, Steal the Air, Frame Work, Monster Squad, The Break Runner Up #2, The Break Runner Up #3
The Break Stage at Club Jimi
Company Calls, The NSG, The Transition, The Finale, The Progress, Ashwin
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Linc's Stage:
Photo Finish Stage:
Riot Squad Stage:
Macbeth Stage:
Hurley/Hot Topic Stage:
Dream Makers MP3 Stage:
May 7 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Linc's Stage:
Photo Finish Stage:
Riot Squad/Macbeth Stage:
Saints and Sinners Stage:
Hurley/Hot Topic Stage:
Dream Makers MP3 Stage:
The Bamboozle Left
The Bamboozle Left was held at the Cal Poly Pomona Athletic Field in Pomona, California, on October 14 and October 15. Dashboard Confessional, Brand New and Thrice headlined, with 68 other bands performing on 5 different stages.
October 14
MTV2 Stage:
Epitaph Records Stage:
Elmo Sez Stage:
Smart Punk Stage:
Linc's Special Stage:
October 15
MTV2 Stage:
Epitaph Records Stage:
Elmo Sez Stage:
Smart Punk Stage:
Linc's Special Stage:
The Bamboozle 2007
The Bamboozle 2007 was again held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex from May 5 to May 6. Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance headlined the event, along with over 150 bands, artists, and comedians performing on 9 stages. A compilation album, The Bamboozle 2007: Everything Will Be Much Better Once I Get These Clowns Out of My Head, was created from the event.
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Pep Rally:
Main Stage A:
Monster Energy Stage:
Carnivale Stage:
Saints and Sinners Stage:
Riot Squad Stage:
Macbeth Stage:
Bamboozle TV Studio:
Pass The Mic Stage Right:
Pass The Mic Stage Left:
May 6 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Main Stage A:
Monster Energy Stage:
Carnivale Stage:
Saints and Sinners Stage:
Riot Squad Stage:
Macbeth Stage:
Bamboozle TV Studio:
Pass The Mic Stage Right:
Pass The Mic Stage Left:
2008
In 2008, the Bamboozle created 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 in 2008, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.
The Bamboozle Left 2008 took place on April 5 and April 6, 2008 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. My Chemical Romance, Paramore, and The All-American Rejects headlined the festival. The following bands and artists performed on the respective dates:
April 5 lineup
Asbury Park Stage:
Nowwhat.com Stage:
Nokia Ticket Rush Stage:
The 5 Gum Stage:
MLB Authentic Collection Stage:
Playground Stage:
April 6 lineup
Asbury Park Stage:
Nowwhat.com Stage:
Nokia Ticket Rush Stage:
The 5 Gum Stage:
MLB Authentic Collection Stage:
Playground Stage:
The Hoodwink 2008
Took place on May 2, 2008 in parking lot of the Giants Stadium
Lineup:
Main Stage 1:
Main Stage 2:
Side Stage 1:
Side Stage 2:
This is a secret or mysterious concert, and as quoted on thebamboozle.com "The Bamboozle Reserves The Right To Trick Everyone on Friday Night, May 2nd With a Mysterious Concert Held Somewhere Close To Another Major Festival," this concert speculated to be The Hoodwink.
Many of the names on the Hoodwink website now have a link attached to them, which you can click on taking you to the band's website.
The Bamboozle 2008
The Bamboozle 2008 was held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex for its third year in a row on May 3 and May 4. Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Eat World headlined the May 3 show, and Panic! at the Disco and Coheed & Cambria headlined the show on May 4. The following bands and artists performed on the respective dates:
May 3 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
The Bamboozle Left 2009 took place on April 4 and April 5. Fall Out Boy headlined the April 4 show while 50 Cent headlined the show on April 5. The following bands and artists performed:
April 4 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Wonka Stage:
Imagination Stage:
Saints & Sinners Stage:
MLB Authentic Collection Stage:
State Farm Stage:
Kazoozle Stage:
Kazoozle Tent:
April 5 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
The 2009 edition of the Hoodwink took place on May 1, 2009, at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and featured the following bands playing entire sets covering the songs of other bands or artists:
Lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
The Bamboozle 2009 took place on May 2 and May 3. Fall Out Boy headlined the May 2 show, and No Doubt headlined the show on May 3. The following bands and artists performed:
May 2 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Wonka Stage:
Imagination Stage:
State Farm Stage:
MLB Authentic Collection Stage:
Zumiez Stage:
Kazoozle Stage:
Kazoozle Tent:
The Aquarian/Break Stage:
Passion Brand Clothing Stage:
May 3 lineup
(artists listed from earliest to latest time sets)
Wonka Stage:
Imagination Stage:
State Farm Stage:
MLB Authentic Collection Stage:
Zumiez Stage:
Kazoozle Stage:
Kazoozle Tent:
The Aquarian/Break Stage:
Passion Brand Clothing Stage:
The Hoodwink California
The Hoodwink California took place on March 26, 2010, at The Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, California
B-Boy Warm Up, Jared Evans, B-Boy Introduction, Tanya Morgan, B-Boy Competition, Mel a friend of Elmo's who raps, B-Boy Competition, T. Mills, B-Boy Competition, Far East Movement, B-Boy Competition, Dirt Nasty, B-Boy Competition, I Set My Friends on Fire, B-Boy Competition, Mike Posner, Spose, The Beatards, Roxy Cottontail, DJ Prime, Skeet Skeet
Pass the Mic Stage:
Bamboozle Pep Rally, Greetings from Gregory Schwartz, Tales from the Ripper, Jason Bishop the Illusionist, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Eric Schwartz, Justin Kredible, MC Mr. Napkins, David Garabaldi, Owen Benjamin, Eclectic Method
The Aquarian Stage:
Eric & The Sliders, Richy Nix, Great Big Planes, All the Day Holiday, Bobby Long, Let's Get It, Nigel Pilkington, Dan Russell and Emma Tate, Stephen Jerzak, Artist Vs Poet, Secret Secret Dino Club, Moneybrother
The Break Contest Stage:
To Write A Riot, Score 24, Like the Stars, Take One Car, Float Face Down, Sexy Heroes, The Zodiac Complex, Darkness Descends, Naenia, The Nightlife
Award Presentation - Scarlet Carson, B-Boy Warm Up, Boaz, B-Boy Introduction, Dylan Owen, B-Boy Competition, Grieves, B-Boy Competition, Samuel Adams Wisner, B-Boy Competition, Sean Price, B-Boy Competition, Spose, B-Boy Competition, Wiz Khalifa, B-Boy Competition, Wale, B-Boy Final, 88 Keys, All Out, DJ Prime
Pass the Mic Stage:
The Poets Greeting, Tales from the Ripper, Eric Schwartz, Jason Bishop the Illusionist, A Musical Performance by Cara Salimando, A Musical Performance by Canyon., Justin Kredible, David Garabaldi, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Rory Scovel, Eugene Mirman, Arj Barker, Eclectic Method
Welcome Toast By a Poet, Bobby Mahoney, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Jay Pharoah, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One, FTSK Takeover Karaoke
Lucha Hype, The Flip Fly, El Bombero Classico, Aeroform Tag Team Extreme, The Amazing Azrial, The Notorious Dirty Sanchez, Royale Rumble, Championship Finale
The Break Contest:
Alter the Ending, Cheers to Romance, Political Party Crashers, The Ever After, Leah Le Grace, The New Royalty, Six Stories Told, The Closers, Tony E., Here's To You, Gravity Against Us, The Ready Set
The Aquarian Stage:
Voted Most Random, Julian Fulton and the Zombie Gospel, Wired, Starting Last, Take One Car, B.A.N.G., Doomsday Diaries, I'm Awake, Life Between Sleep, Jamface, Zodiac Complex
Jason Bishop Illusionist, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Bamboozle & the Music Business, Liz Lee from My Life as Liz, Marky Ramone Cooking, Bo Burnham, Scoop McDroop and The Bam Crew, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One
Lucha Hype, The Flip Fly, El Bombero Classico, Aeroform Tag Team Extreme, The Notorious Dirty Sanchez, Wrestling Finale
The Break Contest Stage:
Until Holy, New Year Premiere, Time Will Tell, Breathing East, Dear Luna, Going Dark, Asmara, Born of Scars, Victor Made A Time Machine, The Gift of Ghosts
The Aquarian Stage:
Kissing Carpets, Run on the Sun, Martyrs and Flowers, Victims of Tragedy, Bad Case of Big Mouth, Plug In Stereo, Cady Groves, Zoe Gnecco, Valhalla, Any Time Today
Temple of Boozle:
Young Hollywood, I Am Fighting, Breathing Blue, Romance on a Rocketship, Wicker Hollow, Ocean Grove, DJ Prime, DJ Chance, Leaf, The Hood Internet, Super Mash Bros., Wolfgang Gartner
Final Daily Thoughts of a Poet, Jason Bishop Illusionist, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Liz Lee from My Life as Liz, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One, Introducing Steve Way, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Special Programming, Hannibal Buress, Tim Minchin, David Garibaldi featuring DJ Joseph One
The Bamboozle Roadshow 2011
Was to have taken place from May 4, 2011 to June 10, 2011 but was cancelled before the tour started.
On November 7, 2011, John D, the founder, tweeted a picture from Asbury Park, New Jersey hinting that the festival would return there to help celebrate its 10-year anniversary. It was later confirmed on their website and in various chats with John D.
The three-day music and pop culture event will be staged at North Beach Asbury Park, New Jersey, May 18, 19 and 20, 2012 with Incubus, Foo Fighters, Mac Miller, Skrillex, Bon Jovi, Brand New and My Chemical Romance as the headliners. Originally Blink-182 was to perform but was replaced by My Chemical Romance when Blink-182 had to cancel due to medical issues that Travis Barker had. Bamboozle refused to accept refunds for anyone who no longer wished to attend once the announcement had been made.
A behind the scenes series about the planning of the return of The Bamboozle to Asbury Park, New Jersey is being created, called "The Gursky Project", by John D. & Samuel Gursky. The first episode premiered on Sunday December 18, 2011 at 08:00pm EST and can be seen on the official Bamboozle Vimeo Page.
In 2012, Bamboozle offered guests contact-less admission with wristbands using RFID technology, making the event one of the few to use such technology in the US.
Batten Down the Hatches, Shake That Bear, Forget Paris, This Good Robot, A Balance Between, D.A. The Future, Scott's Side Show, I.O.U., Cavalcade of the Odd
Paramount Stage:
David Garibaldi, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist, Freak Dance, Fishbone Documentary, Sailesh the Uncensored Hypnotist
May 19 lineup
Main Stage:
This Good Robot, The Maine, Never Shout Never, The All-American Rejects, Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters
Two Cent Sam, Le Blorr, Matt Toka, Ballyhoo!, He Is We, DJ Riddler, Protector, Big Chocolate, Datsik, DJ Pauly D
Beach Party Stage:
CB Smooth, DJ Prime, Hi-Rez, DJ Prime, Upgrade, DJ Prime, The Knocks, DJ Prime, Aer, DJ Prime, David Garibaldi, DJ Prime, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, DJ Prime, Iggy Azalea, DJ Prime, Action Bronson, DJ Prime, ASAP Rocky, DJ Prime, Cavalcade of the Odd, DJ Prime, Bamboozle Bonus Round
Yuuzoo Break Stage:
Turning Down Harvard, Waking Elliot, Reality Check, Alter the Ending, Going Dark, Small Town Scoundrels, Kid Felix, They All Float, Xero Gravity, Something About January, Powerglove, Agony Family
In 2012, festival creator John D. announced that he was not longer a part of Bamboozle due to creative differences with LiveNation and House of Blues. He went on to say in an interview:
"There were obviously strong creative differences. For the anniversary we wanted to bring it back to Asbury Park and I paid for my own flight to Beverly Hills to convince Michael Lapino and Arthur Fogel to bring it back there. We had the site and we had everything in place, but the partners wanted to put someone down to watch us."
