Coachella Diaries 2013 (Part 1 of 5) - Introduction - “An Artistic And Musical Oasis”

• External publications:

  • Assembly Radio (Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Bangers And Nash (Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Brandalism (Cape Town, South Africa)

From the 19th to 21st of April 2013, I attended the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, USA. This is part 1 in a series of 5 articles, introducing the festival and line-up.

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A glittering oasis springs to life every April in the Coachella Valley of the California Desert. Music and art are celebrated and expressed in the midst of the baking heat, bringing pilgrims from all over the world together. And I will be one of the many making the journey.

In its 14-year history, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has become one of the world's most popular music festivals. Its impressive reputation was on display in 2012 when over 80,000 people per day passed through the Empire Polo Club just to get a taste from Coachella's musical melting pot. Over the years, the festival has built a strong, diverse following by combining acts from multiple genres, ranging from mainstream to more alternative.

And it's not just the music that brings people there en masse. The event presents the best that rock, indie, hip hop and electronic music genres have to offer, as well as sculpture and installation art from the visual arts community. Fans can enjoy live music on several stages dotted around the polo grounds, ranging from the massive main Coachella Stage and Outdoor Theatre to the smaller Gobi and Mojave tents.

Coachella is famous for showcasing both established and up-and-coming musical acts (especially reunited groups). With the rise of EDM (electronic dance music), top-tier DJ sets have also become an integral part of the Coachella vibe, broadening the appeal and variety of the event.

Since 1999 (except for 2000), the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, California, have hosted the desert royal ball of alternative and indie music. Radiohead, Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, Rage Against The Machine, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys are just a few of the many previous headliners, with each year providing a smorgasbord of support acts, numbering 190 during the 2012 edition.

The Empire Polo Club – host to the Coachella Music Festival

This year's event will continue that tradition, with British legends Blur and the Stone Roses, French indie rock band Phoenix, and local lads Red Hot Chili Peppers, performing as headliners. Because of increased demand in the late 2000s, the festival now rises from the desert soil twice a year, offering the same stellar lineup each weekend:

• Friday features British brilliance from Johnny Marr, Alt-J and Palma Violets, as well as exciting North American talent in Passion Pit, Band of Horses, Beach House, and Japandroids

• Saturday has the likes of The xx, Postal Service, Bat For Lashes, and Biffy Clyro up its sleeve

• Sunday shows no signs of slowing down, placing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, and The Gaslight Anthem on the bill

Camping is a big part of Coachella culture, with the festival providing attendees what amounts to a temporary village, allowing them fully immerse themselves in the three-day experience. Among the amenities available are general stores, mobile phone charging stations, and an internet cafe with free Wi-Fi.

Sustainability initiatives are also built into the festival's design, with organisers involving employees and attendees alike in lowering Coachella's carbon footprint through recycling stations, carpooling, and energy-saving education.

After a month in the United States, I will return to South Africa to recount and review my experiences at this year's Coachella, specifically the second weekend that I will be attending from April 19th to 21st.

You can expect a South African perspective on this global festival, including live performance summaries from each of the three days of musical magic, as well as comparisons of its forward-thinking initiatives to my own country's current festival scene.

Once again, this oasis of art and sound will appear, accompanied by gorgeous weather, stunning scenery, and many hours’ worth of music acts.

Add to that one intrepid music journalist, and you’ve got a recipe for a potent desert dissertation.

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