For 75000 music lovers from all over the globe there is one weekend a year that rises above all others—a weekend when heaven meets the earth a weekend that changes everything.
The third weekend of each April Indio Calif. a small town in the Mojave Desert becomes a magnet for music fans who make their yearly pilgrimage to what is one of the most outstanding music festivals in the world—the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Avid festival attendees flock to the desert year after year to attend the mind-blowing event for a weekend of blaring and blasting music in the blistering heat.
Coachella promoted by Goldenvoice has featured hundreds of bands of different musical genres since its humble beginnings in 1999. Since then it has become the top-tier of music festivals. It has presented some of the most talked about headliners phenomenal reunions and noteworthy up-and-coming bands.
The festival which begins Thursday originated primarily as a rock and independent music festival featuring Beck Tool Rage Against the Machine and Morrissey in its inaugural year drawing 25000 fans. Hip-hop influence in the opening year was minimal but Jurassic 5 and DJ Shadow two underground hip-hop acts at the time were also featured in the festival’s 1999 lineup.
After 1999’s rock-based lineup came 2001’s similarly focused bill (there was no festival in 2000 due to lack of funds) featuring major musical acts such as Jane’s Addiction and Iggy Pop. It was in 2002 that the festival proved that it could bring in substantial revenue and generate popularity when it showcased Oasis Siouxsie and the Banshees and Björk.
By 2003 Coachella had become one of the largest music festivals in the United States and attracted 100000 audience members who came to see headlining bands Beastie Boys and Read Hot Chili Peppers among other incredible acts in this unparalleled and epic lineup for that time.
“I first attended in 2003. I think I was 15 said Nicole Serleto, 2010 Pepperdine graduate. I’ve been to Coachella four times seen the lineups slowly progress. That was by far one of the best weekends of my life. I knew Coachella was going to be something worth going to again.”
The evolution of the Coachella lineup is something fans have debated the last several years as the festival’s attendance roster and budget have all exponentially grown. In 2006 Coachella organizers branched out including pop superstar Madonna as a headliner. Fans bantered over whether Madonna such a “mainstream” artist was an appropriate match for the typically “indie” festival. This was only the beginning of what would soon become the multi-genre multi-crowd-pleasing music festival that is Coachella.
Organizers further expanded in 2008 bringing in Prince to headline the festival. In following years headliners have included acts ranging from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney who mesmerized the crowd with “Blackbird to hip-hop megaman Jay-Z, who had the entire audience belting out H to the Izzo.”
Coachella is now a music festival that caters to fans of most types of popular music. The announcement of the festival’s 2011 lineup brought on more hype—both good and bad—than ever in the history of Coachella with headliners such as the rock-turned-pop Kings of Leon Grammy award-winning Arcade Fire provocative rapper slash general rabble-rouser Kanye West and the early 2000’s alt-rock genre-redefining band The Strokes.
All of the controversies surrounding the drastic changes to the festival’s lineup this year did not negatively affect ticket sales but rather helped the festival reach unprecedented levels of success selling out in just five days.
The festival’s hip-hop and straight up pop-dominant lineup is perhaps what stirs up the most hubbub among usual festival attendees.
Some people who usually attend Coachella find the lineup to be a cop out trying too hard to please too many people seeking higher revenues at the expense of a quality lineup.
“The lineup is okay minus the headliners said Serleto. Obviously Goldenvoice wanted to expand the lineup to draw in a wider audience. What they didn’t realize was that they were completely letting down the true Coachella fans who expect Coachella to bring them mostly alternative and indie bands.”
Others have an overall problem with the new direction that the festival is headed such as junior Nathan Trenholm.
“I attended Coachella before it was about big-name pop stars. This year’s lineup has some strongpoints sure said Trenholm. But I feel like it’s overpriced and not very convenient. I mean I’ve already seen most of these bands anyway.”
However junior Alex Miller who has attended Coachella for the past two years is excited for the broader roster.
“The strength of the lineup definitely lies in the rap and hip-hop said Miller. Predicting the popularity of Odd Future and Lil B and enlisting them was a solid move as well as getting Kanye fresh off the release of his most critically acclaimed album yet ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.'”
Junior Austin Winchell is also enthusiastic about this year’s lineup.
“Coachella 2011 has a much more eclectic and varied lineup than past years Winchell remarked. The new up-and-comer in hip-hop Wiz Khalifa will be performing as well as Sonny Moore the singer-turned-producer also known as Skrillex.”
Winchell’s overall exhilaration over the festival’s lineup was evident. “Coachella will be the best music festival of 2011. If you don’t have tickets I’d start searching Craigslist or E-bay.”
The Coachella experience does not come cheap. Tickets which are only available as three-day passes are $269 (plus tax charity and the ominous “convenience charge”). On-site camping (also known as the after party) which some say is the only way to get the real experience is another $75.
“I don’t think I’d even go to Coachella if I wasn’t going to camp there. Camping is for people who aren’t ready for the party to stop after the concert added Miller. You have to go big or go home. You have to be in it to win it.”
Fans have the opportunity to camp on the grounds starting Thursday night before opening day on Friday.
“If you do camp don’t plan on sleeping—or showering for that matter Miller further commented. You have to just give into the dirty inner-hippie.”
Upon entrance into the venue fans find themselves in the middle of the field of the Empire Polo Club. There are plenty of options for fans to feast their both eyes and stomachs. Art installations in the past have included the electrifying Tesla Coils a gigantic geodesic dome a teepee and a humungous Origami-style crane. There is a wide range of food options at Coachella pleasing everyone from the leafy-green-loving vegans to the hardy meat-lovers. The Terrace a new food area by the entrance will make its debut in 2011 and feature plenty of seating and a DJ.
Don’t forget the music—there are five main stages to float between. From the pumping pulses of the techno-driven Gobi Tent to the headliners rocking the main Coachella Stage fans can’t afford to waste a moment—there is always music being played somewhere. In between stages the DoLab is an occasion in its own right with DJs blasting beats to get down to acrobatic performers to be entranced by and water misters to alleviate sweaty fans from the hot desert sun.
The set list will be announced later this week and until then all fans have to do is anticipate and hope there aren’t any scheduling conflicts among their favorite bands.
“There are so many talented bands performing this weekend and I hope I don’t have to make any tough choices on which to see but I would have to say I’m most excited to see Foster the People said junior Hayley Decker, who will be attending Coachella for the first time this year. They’re a fairly new band and I have just recently really gotten into them! Their music is perfect for an outdoor music festival and I’m excited to see them perfo
rm live.”
Fans who previewed the lineup liked what they saw and were lucky enough to have snatched up a ticket before they sold out at record speed should ignore the criticisms because they are in for a treat. Aficionados agree that attending Coachella is the music connoisseur’s equivalent to a weekend spent in the Garden of Eden. The Coachella Valley truly becomes a land of enchantment during the festival captivating and mesmerizing audiences who can bounce back and forth between stages lay in the sun and get misted in the central DoLab.
In just a few days music will fill the Coachella Valley the desert sun will penetrate the skin and warm the soul and fans will see and hear things they couldn’t have conjured up even in a dream. Behold Coache11a.
The Facts
· The first Coachella was in October 1999. Goldenvoice later changed the date to April a cooler time of year in the Coachella Valley.
· In 2007 Rage Against The Machine had the largest crowd for Coachella ever.
· Prince is the only artist to have ever performed at Coachella past 1:00 am. This occurred in 2008.
· Roger Waters’ stage show in 2008 was more expensive than any other artist ever at Coachella.
· In 2008 the first Coachella-related death happened.
· 2009 was the first year that only 3-day festival passes were sold.
· Coachella has 5 main stages: Coachella Stage Outdoor Theatre Mojave Tent Gobi Tent and Sahara Tent.
· Stuffed animals are not allowed at Coachella.
· Carpoolchella – deck out your car for Coachella for a chance to win VIP for life.
· 2011 will be the first year to feature The Terrace—a food center at the site with shade seats and a DJ.
