The 2022 Bonnaroo exit survey | The Pick

Bonnaroo happened. It actually, really happened.

After a two-year hiatus, the mystical music summer camp returned for four nights at Great Stage Park — AKA "The Farm" — in nearby Manchester, Tennessee. J. Cole closed down Friday night. Billy Strings delivered blistering bluegrass Saturday. Stevie Nicks made history Sunday — and our team saw all of it.

How did everything else go at Bonnaroo's long-awaited return? Tennessean music reporter Matt Leimkuehler here with the 2022 'Roo exit survey, a poll of the sights and sounds soaked up by our reporters, editors and photographers on the ground during this year's festival. Let's begin.

What moment from Bonnaroo 2020 can you not stop thinking about?

• Dave Paulson, reporter: "The Chicks were my favorite set of the weekend, but for better or worse, I can’t shake Machine Gun Kelly’s performance – fueled by flames, lightspeed guitar solos and a hot pink helicopter – from my thoughts. It was as if Jared Leto’s Joker formed a band with the Suicide Squad.

• Juan Buitrago, editor: "The Chicks – just how they dominated the What Stage and had the audience in the palm of their hand for the whole show."

• Melonee Hurt, reporter: "Billy Strings. Being a completely different genre than what this year’s festival attendees were hearing, I wondered how it would go over. But the crowd was totally engaged. His guitar playing was so impressive and his band was incredible."

How many steps did you walk this week and on a scale of 1-10, how sore are your feet?

• Kirsten Fiscus, reporter: "I averaged a little over 14,500 steps a day for a total of 59,048 steps over the four day weekend. Fitbit tells me I walked almost 26 miles over the four days. Pro tip: If you’re going to wear Chacos, make sure you break your winter feet back into the shoes well in advance of the festival."

• Hurt: "I wish I had tracked my steps. I didn’t, but I guarantee you I walked 10 miles a day."

• Paulson: "Averaged between 20K and 30K per day, a total of 92K during the fest. Not my top score, but my feet are grateful."

What act has been added into your playlist rotation post-Bonnaroo?

• Jeremiah Rhodes, visuals: "Japanese Breakfast. Listened to a little of their stuff a few months ago and was not impressed, but after seeing them live and going back to listen to their stuff, I’m obsessed. Not sure what the science is behind that, but I’m digging it."

• Buitrago: "Tobe Nwigwe and The Chicks. I admit I didn’t listen to the latter that much but now I can appreciate more of their songs besides “Goodbye Earl.” The former was someone I discovered on a Bonnaroo playlist ahead of the festival but after his live show, I hope to see him every time he plays live."

• Paulson: Habstrakt (and Skrillex)’s “Chicken Soup," because bass.

How did 2022 stack up to Bonnaroo of yesteryear?

• Buitrago: "It was a good Bonnaroo for coming back after three years. The lineup wasn’t stacked as usual – it seemed heavy on EDM and didn’t feature as many indie rock acts as in years past – but maybe that was a good thing, it made for less of a rushed experience."

• Paulson: "The lineup was slightly thinner on big names than recent years (or are we less in touch than we used to be? Surely not). There were operations issues – chiefly the long lines to enter Centeroo via a single entrance – and it was mercilessly hot at the start. But the spirit of the attendees is what really defines this thing, and even with a three-year break, they didn’t miss a beat this weekend."

Of all the non-concert activities – weddings, Pride celebrations, a 5,000-meter run or otherwise – which are you gearing up to participate in next year?

• Hurt: "I really enjoyed the 5K. I am a fit person who missed getting to work out while we were there. So having a 5K was a great way to get a little exercise beyond just walking. It was also a great way to get a fun look at the campground areas, which I wouldn’t have seen had I not done the 5K."

• Rhodes: "Pride. 10/10 was so fun. So colorful and vibrant and made me fall in love with queerness all over again."

• Buitrago: "I didn’t get to do the silent disco this year and I regret it. It looked like a better experience this year – in the Who Stage, which now looked like a bandshell."

What was the most memorable thing you heard from an artist on stage?

• Buitrago: 'This is going to be in 300 BPM' — Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner before starting a song during an acoustic set at a Jersey Mike’s Above Club (why??) and across from The Other Stage blasting EDM.

• Paulson: 'Now, when I get this guitar back in tune, I’m gonna rip you a new one.' – Billy Strings.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The Pick: The 2022 Bonnaroo exit survey