Article Contributed by L. Paul Mann
Published on 2026-07-06
Kesha | SuperJam | Bonnaroo 2026 - photos by L. Paul Mann
Every year, Bonnaroo’s SuperJam delivers a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration, and on Saturday night inside a packed, sweat-drenched This Tent, Kesha delivered it as a full-blown spiritual awakening. Titled SuperJam Esoterica: The Alchemy of Pop, the 105-minute set was high-energy chaos that showed why the festival gave her the keys to its most sacred tradition.
From the moment she stepped out to a haunting, slowed-down rendition of “TiK ToK,” it was clear this wasn’t going to be a standard greatest-hits victory lap. Kesha recast herself as pop’s high priestess, leading a genre-blind lineup of guests that read like a fever dream.
The Alchemical Highlights
The true appeal of a SuperJam lies in artists stepping out of their comfort zones, and Esoterica delivered it in full.
The Bluegrass Britney: Alabama bluegrass quintet Mountain Grass Unit joined Kesha right out of the gate, turning Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” and Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” into energetic string-band hoedowns.
The Indie-Pop Groove: Indie-rock darlings Flipturn brought psych-pop energy into the tent, backing Kesha for covers of MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”
Americana Heartbreak: Country breakout Wyatt Flores brought a grounded, rootsy emotional force, tearing through Blink-182’s “All the Small Things” before joining Kesha on “Die Young.”
Del WaWyatt Flores with Kesha | SuperJamNostalgia Unlocked: Del Water Gap embraced late-’90s alternative angst, leading the crowd through a singalong of The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” alongside a take on the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”
The Rock Icons: During her appearance at Kesha’s SuperJam Esoterica, country rebel Margo Price completely stole the spotlight by showing off her versatility on the drum kit.
While she originally took the stage to join Kesha on vocals for an explosive, crowd-pleasing duet of Robyn’s iconic dance anthem “Dancing On My Own,” she didn’t just stand behind a microphone. Instead, Price hopped back onto the drum kit to deliver a ferocious rhythm section for a series of stadium-sized rock covers, including The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
The TikTok Phenomenon: Internet sensations Boy Throb brought their harmonies to the stage, assisting Kesha in a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Electro-Funk Fire: Chromeo brought their signature neon-funk, turning up the energy on Kesha’s newer cut “RED FLAG” before moving into “Take It Off.”
Indie Anthemics: Rainbow Kitten Surprise sent the audience into a frenzy as lead vocalist Ela Melo joined Kesha for a cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.”
Pure Pop Anarchy: The energy boiled over when Grouplove erupted onto the stage, featuring a double whammy of their own anthem “Tongue Tied,” bouncing alongside Kesha with frenzied, joyous energy.
A “Weird” Surprise: Just when the crowd thought the guest list had reached its peak, “Weird Al” Yankovic emerged. Dropping his usual parody antics, he joined Kesha for a straight, accordion-backed cover of Sia’s “Chandelier” — calm, focused, and effective.
The Cosmic Finale
“This is what music is supposed to be,” Kesha screamed to the rafters mid-set, drenched in sweat and reflecting the thousands of neon glowsticks before her. “No boundaries. No rules. Just us.”
But the defining moment of the weekend belonged to the weather. As Kesha gathered all ten guest acts back onto the stage for a grand finale cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” the skies above Manchester opened up.
Right as the guitar solo began to swell, a heavy summer rain began to fall over the open air of This Tent. Rather than scattering the crowd, it added to the moment. Covered in downpour, sweat, and glitter, thousands of Bonnaroovians raised their hands to the sky, singing every word in unison.
By the time the final chords rang out, Kesha hadn’t just pushed pop in new directions; she left the Farm soaked, exhausted, and part of Bonnaroo history.
