The 2006 Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival was held June 8 through June 11.
The festival continued its growth selling just under 60,000 tickets with 80% of attendees coming from outside Kansas. With the increase number of festival goers came an increase in the number of bands and stages.[1] A new feature to the festival a low-power broadcasting radio station called Waka-radio from University of Kansas student run radio station KJHK.[2] The Wakarusa organizers also purchased renewable energy credits to offset the more than 63,000 lbs of greenhouse gasses produced from running the festival.[3]
The increasing success of the Wakarusa festival wasn't without problems. After a drug related death at the 2005 festival the law enforcement presence was much greater leading to over 100 arrests mostly involving minors and alcohol. The vehicle searches along I-70 drew the ire of many attendees and the ACLU.[4][5] The festival also had issues with long lines of traffic from so many festival goers arriving at the same time for the opening acts.[6][7]
On June 8, the artists that performed were 56 Hope Road, Alfred Howard & K23 Orchestra, Arthur Dodge, The Avett Brothers, Bootyjuice, Brass 'n' Grass, The Buffali, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Cosmopolitics, Delta Nove, DeWayn Brothers, The Disco Biscuits, E-Bon, Ghosty, Gooding, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Green Lemon, Groovatron, Hackensaw Boys, Jackie Greene, Lotus, Madahoochi, Nipplez, Papa Rhino, Perpetual Groove, Pnuma Trio, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Ric Roberts, Rob Lee, Samantha Stollenwerk, Todd Snider, Trampled by Turtles, Virginia Coalition, Will Hoge and Woodbox Gang. The headline that performed on this day was Tim Reynolds.
On June 9, the artists that performed were 56 Hope Road, Archetype, Assembly of Dust, Backyard Tire Fire, Bassnectar, Brother's Green, Buckethead, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Del Castillo, Delta Nove, The Disco Biscuits, DJ Smoove, Drakkar Sauna, Full Throttle, Future Rock, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Green Lemon, Greyboy Allstars, Groovatron, Hillstomp, Jackie Greene, Jake Shimabukuro, Koncept, Lotus, Lubriphonic, Lucero, Maxx, Mama's Cookin', Michael Franti & Spearhead, MOFRO, Moonshine Still, Motion for Alliance, My-Tea Kind, Never Perfect Intentions, The New Congress, New Monsoon, Order of Chaos, Oteil & The Peacemakers, Outformation, Perpetual Groove, Pnuma Trio & Friends, Probably Vampires, Rose Hill Drive, The Reverend Horton Heat, Samantha Stollenwerck, Shooter Jennings, Sydeburnz vs. Frooky, Tim Reynolds, Trampled by Turtles, Truckstop Honeymoon, Virginia Coalition, The Watchman, and White Ghost Shivers. The headline act that performed on this day was Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
On June 10, the artists that performed were Alabaster Brown, Alan Paul, Animal Liberation Orchestra, Andrew Bird, Assembly of Dust, Backyard Tire Fire, The Balance, Ben Fuller, Benevento-Russo Duo, Bernie Worrell and the Woo Warriors, Big Metal Rooster, Big Thumb, Bob Schneider, Bonobos Convergence, Brothers Past, Buckethead, Camper Van Beethoven, Cat Empire, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Chris Berry & Panjea, Clandestine, Cracker, Deep Fried Pickle Project, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Don Tinsley, Duece, Euforquestra, Gabby La La, Gov't Mule, Greyboy Allstars, The Ills, Jah Roots, Jerry Joseph, Julia Peterson Band, Keller Williams, Kenny Larkin, Les Claypool, Lila, My Friend Mike, Mutaytor, New Monsoon, Oteil & Peacemakers, Railroad Earth, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Rocky Votolato, Rose Hill Drive, Shanti Groove, Speakeasy, Tea Leaf Green, Tim Hjersted, Tony Markham, Treologic, Trevor Matthews, Yard Dogs Road Show, and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. The headline act that performed on this day were The Flaming Lips.
On June 11, the artists that performed were Animal Liberation Orchestra, Bad Abby, Billy Spears & Beer Bellies, Brothers Past, Chris Berry and Panjea, Daniella Cotton, Donna The Buffalo, Electric Soul Method, Fire Built 500's, Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Hurra Torpedo, Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormans, Jesus Christ Superstar, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, MOFRO, Oakhurst, OK Jones, Papa Mali, Polytoxic, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Shanti Groove, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Tea Leaf Green, Truckstop Honeymoon, William Elliott Whitmore, Yard Dogs Road Show, Yo Mamma's Big Fat Booty Band, and Yonder Mountain String Band. The headline act that performed on this day was Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.