Coachella Music & Art Festival

 One of the biggest Music and Art festivals in the North America, Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival brings many different types of people from all around the world to enjoy a variety of music, art, and culture in the hot desert city of Indio, California. With weekend passes selling out within seconds, this festival expanded to over two weekends in April. That is, the same exact festival over two different weekends. Same art, same music, different people.

Coachella 2013 lineup

The 2013 lineup has brought together headliners such as, the Stone Roses, Blur, Phoenix, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. There is a type of music for practically everyone on the beautiful green grass of the Empire Polo Field in Indio, where the festival is held. Coachella has many stages, including a main stage, a smaller outdoor stage, a dub-step haven (the Do-Lab) and four tents. Their most popular tent recently got an upgrade. The Sahara tent, which is the home of all the EDM (electronic dance music), looks as though it is on steroids this year. With a larger rounder roof, a stage with even more lights, and LED lights and screens on the top of the tent. This tent could practically hold its very own festival. Also this year, Coachella added a brand new tent, or dome, the Yuma. This tent is for the festival goers who would like to experience the music of the Sahara tent without all the people. The Yuma is equipped with a wooden floor, air conditioning, and last but not least, a disco ball. The hot desert heat is enough for anyone to want to venture into the cool air of the Yuma.

Bassnectar performing in the upgraded Sahara Tent

Not only is there music at this popular festival, there is beautiful art as well. Each year the art changes, this year there was actual moving art. A massive snail slowly made its way around the entire polo field. No matter where you were you were bound to run into this artsy snail. Furthermore, a very Palm Spring-y style house was on display in the middle of the festival. Not inhabited by people, but videos played of cartoon people dancing in the home. Other art is set up as a nice hang out place for festival goers to take a break under some shade.

The moving art (snail) moving past the Do-Lab at Coachella 2013

 When heading down to the windmill filled desert of the Coachella Valley in your car painted with “Carpoolchella” decals, there are two very different types of places to stay when you arrive. You can either stay in a nice hotel with day drinking by a pool, a nice bed, and most importantly a SHOWER. There are many hotels spread throughout the neighboring cities of Indio. Of course there is also always camping on the festival grounds. Coachella comes with a very interesting camp ground where the party never stops all weekend long. Some say that you don’t really experience Coachella until you stay on the camp grounds, I prefer to stay in a real bed in a room with a shower, but to each his own. Another suggestion for places to stay is actually having friends that live in the valley. You can crash at their place, it saves a lot of money that could be well spent on the amazing food selection on the grounds.

"Carpoolchella" decorated van

Probably the first thing that comes to your mind if you have never been to Coachella is all the celebrities. Yes, the celebrities are mostly just walking around enjoying the festival with you. However, you are definitely more likely to spot them if you splurge on a VIP festival pass. The VIP area is crawling with the rich and famous in their best festival gear. Some regular celebrities include, Vanessa Hudgens, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, and many more.

Vanessa Hudgens and her boyfriend, Austin Butler, at Coachella 2013

I highly suggest going to Coachella at least once in your life. Yes, the pass prices are getting pretty expensive, but the experience is unlike any other. There is always something memorable, such as the resurrection of Tupac at the festival in 2012. The music and vibe of the people at the festival is amazing, one you will never forget. 

My friends and I at Coachella in 2012