Since the inaugural festival in 1999, the three-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Coachella) has featured some of the biggest names in the music industry and offered perhaps the most diverse lineup of any festival around. Coachella 2012 is no different.
The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) Live, the promotion group that puts on Coachella each year, tried making this year’s event the biggest yet by bringing in acts that will satisfy nearly any musical taste.
The three headlining acts for Coachella this year are The Black Keys, Radiohead and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, performing on the first, second and third nights respectively. The Black Keys have gained popularity recently, especially after the release of their latest album “El Camino.” Radiohead and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg have been around and selling out arenas for years. These acts alone nearly make the event worth the price of admission.
Along with the announcement of headliners, another big reveal came on January 9 when hardcore/punk band Refused and At the Drive-in decided to get back together to play Coachella. The two are considered some of the most influential bands from the 90’s for alternative music.
“ATTENTION! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence. THIS STATION IS…NOW…OPERATIONAL,” At the Drive-In said via Twitter.
Aside from the huge announcements by Coachella this year, there is just a fabulous lineup of bands to play the festival. The lineup is a mix from hip-hop to folk bands, which includes Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Grammy winning act Bon Iver, The Shins and The Head and the Heart. Other acts include The Hives, David Guetta, Manchester Orchestra, Explosions in the Sky, Florence + the Machine, The Arctic Monkeys and many, many more.
AEG Live did all that they could to make this the most memorable Coachella to date. Some attendees are very excited for what this festival brings.
“I am really happy with the lineup this year,” Nick Tehada, who is attending Coachella for the first time this year, said. “There are a lot of bands I want to see and there is a good amount of variety.”
While some attendees believe this year’s lineup is the best ever, others are not completely sold just yet.
“The line up is really a gamble and I don’t feel like I hit the jackpot but I came pretty close,” Ian Roos, who is also attending Coachella for the first time, said.
Coachella 2012 takes place over two consecutive weekends, each being identical, due to last year selling out in the first week of tickets going on sale. The first weekend took place April 13-15 and the second will take place April 20-22. This year’s event sold out both weekends only four days after the lineup was announced.