FESTIVAL: The countdown to one of the greatest music festivals in the world began on January 3, when Goldenvoice released the incredible Coachella 2017 lineup.
By Emma Carson, Staff Writer
Coachella is undoubtedly one of the greatest music festivals in the country and perhaps the world. Hundreds of captivating artists come out to the sweltering Riverside County desert for two weekends to dance and sing their hearts out, while others come to listen to these artists for a fair price. This year, artists such as Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, Father John Misty, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Bon Iver and quite possibly the most exciting 一Beyonce, are taking the stage to elevate the Coachella experience for fans everywhere.
The headliners offer the biggest performances at Coachella. This year, Radiohead will perform on night one to satisfy the ’90s-’00s rock lovers, Beyonce will perform on night two to blow audiences away and Kendrick Lamar will perform on night three to conclude the whole festival and reinforce post-concert depression. The headliners this year pick up the excitement dropped from last year’s: LCD Soundsystem, Guns n Roses and Calvin Harris, who are not necessarily bad, but did not meet the bar that those of 2015 (ACDC, Jack White and Drake) set. Hopefully, this year’s headliners will meet the fan’s expectations.
Ticket sales began on January 4 at $399 for general admission and $899 for backstage access. These are fairly reasonable prices for three days of music, art and opportunities to meet celebrities. Coachella has sold out its 99,000-person capacity with 198,000 total tickets sold every year. Tickets for the first weekend sold out in just three hours.
In addition to the amazing headliners, two other intriguing artists caught many people’s eye. This year might be a “blast to the past” with the ’80s British pop band New Order, who released a new album in 2016. Hopefully they will play some of their legendary songs to bring back the nostalgia. Another fascinating and out-of-the-ordinary artist performing this year is Hans Zimmer, a film score composer whose tunes can be heard in several blockbusters such as the Dark Knight trilogy, Interstellar, Pirates of The Caribbean and many of the Dreamworks movies. Audiences anticipate Zimmer’s performance.
Popular artists bring excitement to music festivals, but there are many smaller bands and artists who will make the experience even better. Artists such as the Xx, Glass Animals, Phantogram, Mac Demarco, Two Door Cinema Club, Local Natives and Future Islands have worked hard to be able to play their music at such a large venue.
The Coachella experience is not just about the music; it is about the food, visual arts and fun with friends. There are many food trucks and stands that add more quirkiness to the experience, and there are many sculptures sporadically displayed throughout the grounds in appeal to visitors’ eyes. Let go of life for a few days and let the free hippie spirits soar.