Fans of rock and alternative music will be coming together this April in Indio near Palm Springs to attend one of the largest music festivals in the country. Coachella 2012 is a two day event featuring headliners such as The Black Keys, Radiohead, Calvin Harris, and Snoop Dogg, and hosts fans from all around the world.
This acclaimed festival has greatly increased in popularity and size since its debut 13 years ago, and has continued to evolve. In recent years, the producers of Coachella announced that on site camping is now allowed. This means that fans ages 18 and up may now spend the night on festival grounds as to not miss a minute of the excitement.
This year Coachella will be hosting over 100 performers including Swedish House Mafia, The Arctic Monkeys, Afrojack, M83, Miike Snow, and Florence & The Machine. The full lineup can be located on the official Coachella website (www.coachella.com/).
Although it is still a month away, some Sea Kings have been preparing for their stay at Coachella for months. Sophomore Camille Perry bought her tickets as far in advance as presale in June. “My sister has [been going] for the past 3 years, so I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time,” Perry comments.
These coveted tickets are so in demand that Coachella has been extended to two weekends this year. In addition to the weekend of April 13, fans can catch their favorite bands a second time the following week.
According to hollywoodreporter.com, when asked about the decision, Coachella founder and producer Paul Tollet commented that ‘“[They] had so many people that wanted to go [in 2011] that [they are] trying to create more room for them’”. However even with the extra two days, tickets sold out just hours after going on sale.
“This is my first time, so I have no idea what to expect” recalls PV senior Annika Curren. “I’ve had so many friends who have gone in the past and told me how amazing it is. There are so many bands I am looking forward to seeing, but my top 5 are Madeon,The Black Keys, Kascade, Swedish House Mafia, and Radiohead.”
Whether they have been before, or are going for the first time, many Sea Kings are anxiously awaiting their chance to become one of the 50,000 fans experiencing the music and excitement of Coachella 2012.
Returning festival goer Lauren Frank has big expectations for the upcoming weekend. “I’m looking forward to being with my best friend, and seeing some of my favorite bands. Last year my favorite part was seeing Mumford and Sons at midnight. Everyone was singing along, and there was so much energy in the crowd and onstage”.