The Bamboozle is an annual two day rain or shine music festival held in New Jersey in early May. While traditionally the focus has been on post hardcore and punk pop bands, the genres represented now range much more widely than in the past. The event has also expanded into a collection of festivals. There is now a Bamboozle California and Bamboozle Chicago. Hoodwink Festivals are also held which present bands covering songs by other bands. The Bamboozle Roadshow takes a number of the bands on the road as a package tour.
2010 The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle 2010 took place at East Rutherford, New Jersey May 1-2, 2010. The entire complex of concerts expanded once again to include a Bamboozle Chicago added to Bamboozle California. A Bamboozle Roadshow and Hoodwinks, concerts of entirely covers of material by other bands, before each of the three festivals will also take place.
2009 The Bamboozle
Photo by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
The Bamboozle 2009 took place May 2-3, 2009 and featured the reunion of No Doubt as a headliner further diversifying the music presented. The Bamboozle Roadshow rolled for a second year. There were Hoodwink cover shows before both the Bamboozle and Bamboozle Left festivals.
- All Time Low
- Boys Like Girls
- Cobra Starship
- Fall Out Boy
- Demi Lovato
- No Doubt
- Owl City
- Rise Against
- Gavin Rossdale
- Taking Back Sunday
Watch Fall Out Boy perform "Sugar, We're Goin' Down"
2008 The Bamboozle
Photo by Sean Gardner / Getty Images
In 2008 the Bamboozle created the Bamboozle Roadshow to take a number of bands on a package tour. The Bamboozle Left festival in Calfornia was held for a second time. The Hoodwink, a concert in which bands play entirely cover versions was held for the first time the day before the Bamboozle itself. The Bamboozle took place May 3-4, 2008 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The music presented took significant steps toward hip hop and metal with the inclusion of Snoop Dogg and Coheed & Cambria as key acts.
- The Bravery
- Cobra Starship
- Coheed & Cambria
- Snoop Dogg
- Gym Class Heroes
- Jimmy Eat World
- Metro Station
- Panic! At the Disco
- Paramore
- Tokio Hotel
Watch Paramore perform "Misery Business"
2007 The Bamboozle
Photo by Gaye Gerard / Getty Images
The Bamboozle 2007 took place at East Rutherford, New Jersey May 5-6, 2007. More than 150 artists took part. A compilation album titled The Bamboozle 2007: Everything Will Be Much Better Once I Get These Clowns Out of My Head was released following the festival.
- Boys Like Girls
- Cartel
- Linkin Park
- Muse
- My Chemical Romance
- New Found Glory
- Paramore
- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
- Relient K
- Taking Back Sunday
Watch My Chemical Romance perform "Teenagers"
2006 The Bamboozle
Photo by Vince Bucci / Getty Images
For 2006 The Bamboozle moved to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The festival dropped from three days to two and was held May 6-7, 2006. Among the very young bands that performed were a trio known as the Jonas Brothers. The Bamboozle continued to grow its reputation as one of North America's top festivals. The Bamboozle Left in California was held for the first time in 2006.
- AFI
- All-American Rejects
- Fall Out Boy
- Hawthorne Heights
- Hellogoodbye
- Panic! At the Disco
- Paramore
- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
- Relient K
- Taking Back Sunday
Watch All-American Rejects perform "My Paper Heart"
2005 The Bamboozle
Photo by Brad Barket / Getty Images
In 2005 with the title simply the Bamboozle for the first time, the festival took place April 29, 30, and May 1, 2005 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The band Brand New were original headliners and their place was taken by the band Thrice. The event featured many of the country's top pop punk bands.
- Alkaline Trio
- All-American Rejects
- Fall Out Boy
- Hellogoodbye
- Motion City Soundtrack
- My Chemical Romance
- Relient K
- Say Anything
- Silverstein
- Thrice
Watch Say Anything perform "Alive With the Glory of Love"
2004 The Great Bamboozle
Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images
The 2004 Great Bamboozle took place June 4-6, 2004 once again in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The headliners were bigger acts than the year before as the festival's reputation began growing.
- G. Love and Special Sauce
- moe
- My Morning Jacket
- Sonic Youth
2003 The Great Bamboozle
Photo by Karl Walter / Getty Images
The first Bamboozle Festival titled The Great Bamboozle was held May 30, 31, and June 1, 2003 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Before the Great Bamboozle, the Skate and Surf Festival was the most popular festival in New Jersey. When concert promoter Joe D'Esposito had a falling out with the Skate and Surf promoters, he decided to start his own festival.
- Dark Star Orchestra
- The Roots
- Keller Williams
