This year I got a little brave – I decided to go to both Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festivals weekends.
For a split second I thought it might be too much, but it wasn’t.
Each weekend was such a different experience and had its own special moments.
What started out as a gathering for friends has turned into a Coachella kick-off party of about 1,500 with live performances, giveaways, open bar, and hip young people.
I’m talking about the Annual Filter Yacht Party which has become an epic Coachella staple.
In its 11th year, it’s been around almost as long as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Anthony Kiedis, of Red Hot Chili Peppers, wrapped up the final day of Coachella on April 14, 2013 (Marilyn Chung/The Desert Sun).
For the third time since 2003, the Red Hot Chili Peppers took to the main stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival – this year as the Sunday headliner closing out the three day event.
The Peppers started their set with “Monarchy of Roses” off their latest album I’m With You released in 2011. They ended just before midnight with their signature up-tempo rock out anthem “Give it Away” off their 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
In between they played a medley of greatest hits that included Dani California, Californication, Other Side, Parallel Universe and Under the Bridge among many others.
Lead singer Anthony Kiedis sported his mustache of late and a trucker hat that read OFF! while Flea wore a knit cap. You can only guess what color his hair was.
For the cluster of tightly packed people directly in front of the stage the wind and chill that picked up as the night wore on, didn’t seem to be a problem.
Continue Reading
According to Ben Guitron, spokesman for the Indio Police Department, there have been 29 arrests as of about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Most of the arrests are alcohol related with a minority of them related to drugs, he said.
“No significant issues with any of the arrests,” Guitron said.
As for the blustery conditions: “The winds have stirred the dust, but no issues,” he said.
Just before La Roux was set to start inside the Mojave tent, people rushed to get inside but there was no room. The crowd spilled outside and many had to endure the blustery winds to watch.
The English synthpop duo started with “In for the Kill” and ended the night with their popular and more widely known “Bulletproof.”
“Let’s (expletive) dance,” yelled Elly Jackson, one-half of the duo, to the crowd before they got into their last song.
And the crowd obliged.
The Yuma tent is new this year. Located in the Terrace area it’s a popular place to dance and listen to some beats.
The line to get in to hear Maya Jane Coles spin some tunes was unbelievably long.
Part of the popularity for some in line was the curiosity to see what’s inside the enclosed domed tent. Continue Reading
Vintage Trouble sits for an interview with The Desert Sun.
Ty Tyler of Vintage Trouble said he doesn’t mind being compared to James Brown, the “King of Soul” known for his high energy performance and exuberant fits of dancing.
But he said there are probably more appropriate comparisons – like Tina Turner.
“My favorite person is Tina Turner and from the Ike and Tina Turner era. That’s probably who I do most of my bowing down to and my spirit as I’m practicing and getting ready for my show,” said Tyler, lead singer of the LA based band during an interview with The Desert Sun.
A year ago Dropkick Murphys drummer Matt Kelly had never heard of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Fast forward to Saturday when the Celtic punk rock group rocked the Coachella stage at mid-day with a performance many fans will not soon forget.
“Amazing” and “best show so far” is how some fans described the experience.
That is probably what Kelly was hoping for.
Prior to the performance in an interview with The Desert Sun, Kelly said people could expect “a fresh little break” from the typical Coachella performance.
He said to expect: “Crazy instruments and heavy guitars. A bunch of screaming maniacs running around the stage.”
Kelly wasn’t lying.
RAICES a grass roots community group in Coachella that works to promote the arts and culture has an art installation on display inside the campgrounds at the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival.
The group debuted the art installation at The Hue, a local music festival, on April 6 and made some adjustments to it for the music festival.
Carlos Gonzales with RAICES said it was a privilege and a boon to be able to have it there in the campground for the thousands of concertgoers to see.
Students from Coachella Valley High School created the underwater scene that incorporates the word Conchilla.
It’s been said that Coachella was originally named Conchilla, but because of a spelling error is now known as Coachella.
There’s car camping at Coachella and then there’s “The Resort” camping at Coachella.
At the resort, people chill out pool side before heading out to listen to the music. Yes there’s a pool, an above ground pool brought in specifically for the event.
Continue Reading
|
|
MyCoachella.com is a blog dedicated to covering the desert music scene, including the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Meet Our Team
For the second year, this year's Coachella Music Festival is two weekends: April 12-14 and 19-21. Stagecoach is one three-day fest: April 26-28.
And visit our sister news site at mydesert.com, the No. 1 source for news in Coachella Valley and owned by the Palm Springs-based The Desert Sun, a Gannett site.
Follow us on Twitter: