By Brent Warnken
Indio, California does have much that would draw a lot of tourists. It’s very a very hot, sleepy desert town. Those who visit and have allergies probably won’t remember much past how hard it was to breathe.
But once a year, it transforms into a musical Mecca. Indie rock fans from all over the country swarm the place, some even coming from other countries to experience one of the biggest music festivals in the country. Coachella has become a big deal since starting in 1999, when the festival was founded. Since then, it’s grown considerably, with multiple stages, dozens of bands on the line-up, and all kinds of interesting art installations, from film screenings to exhibits set up on the polo fields where the festival is held.
On top of all that, it’s also for a good cause. A portion of all the money that the festival raises goes to the Indio Youth Task Force, a program that aims to develop positive skills and characteristics in the young people of Indio. Part of that has included setting up a boxing club with the Boys and Girls Club that has been running for nearly a decade, as well as monthly teen and youth dances. This valuable events give the young people of Indio a place to go and things to do.
Every year at Coachella, the lineups are a major attraction, with fans looking them up online and planning their trip far in advance. This year will be no exception. The biggest star at this year’s line-up will undoubtedly be Paul McCartney, who is headlining the first night on Friday, April 17, with Morrissey and Franz Ferdinand opening. Classic singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen will also be there, along with Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst, who recently embarked on a solo career. Beirut, an indie-folk outfit helmed by Zach Condon that often takes influence from Eastern European and gypsy music, will also be a big attraction. Aside from the major indie rock bands, there will be plenty for electronic enthusiasts to take in, including mash-up master Girl Talk, techno group The Crystal Method and indie synth-pop bands Ghostland Observatory and Crystal Castles.
Saturday features more major headliners, with The Killers at the top and soulstress Amy Winehouse and trip-hoppers Thievery Corporation coming on before them. Indie rockers TV on the Radio, Band of Horses and folksters Fleet Foxes are sure to be big draws. Hip-hop fans will want to take in the clever flows from Atmosphere, while metalheads will be checking out Mastodon.
The final night promises much, with The Cure headlining. But My Bloody Valentine will probably be the biggest attraction, as the band spent more time in 2008 playing the East Coast, and it’s been more than a decade since anyone saw them perform live. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Peter Bjorn and John and X should all prove to be hot bands to see as well. If you haven’t already, move quickly to grab your Coachella Music Festival tickets and secure your place on the campgrounds!
This article was written by Brent Warnken and sponsored by StubHub. StubHub sells Coachella Music Festival tickets as well as sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.
