Weekend one of legendary Music festival Coachella is over and stakes are higher than ever for part II, which will take place from April 17th to 19th. You can attend dozens of music festivals, but to fully understand why this is such an important event, you need to get your feet on the dirt at Indio, California. Coachella is unique in many ways - both fascinating and disturbing at the same time, definitely worth a trip once in a lifetime.
The lineup is pretty good this year, and none of the big acts disappointed. AC/DC played in front of a cheering crowd for more than one and a half hours, Interpol made a spectacular comeback after four years off the stages, Azaelia Banks did what she knows best without controversy, and Madonna even crashed Drake's concert (and kissed him full on the lips) during the closing night.
Hozier begged for someone to take him to church in a very intimate big concert, L.A. natives Bad Suns showed why they're the new alternative darlings and UK's Glass Animals enjoyed massive success in a packed concert on Saturday. Music wise, Coachella delivered all the goods and then some.
But Coachella is not only about the music; it's also about the art. A dozen installations across the Empire Polo Grounds provide an enticing environment - and much needed shade in the brazing heat of Indio - that inspire festival goers. 37-year-old Lindsey told me precisely that: "I like the music, but I like the art too," she said, adding that the kick-back feeling of the festival is one of the main reasons she attends.
This year, there's a giant caterpillar moving around that transforms into a butterfly in the last day. When night falls, the many colourful lights turn the grounds into a spectacular view; it's truly the most beautiful music festival I've ever been to, and I've covered dozens.
Never did I see a food area so neat and clean, so well organised and with so many options (are you a raw vegan?
They've got you covered). There are assistants everywhere, too, for anything you need. And filtered water for free. Maybe all of this explains why tickets sell out in less than half an hour every year, even before the lineup is announced.
But then there's all the not-so-nice stuff. First of all, dust is an issue when walking to and from the venue.
A lot of people turn this into an opportunity to look cool with face masks, but it's terrible if you wear contact lenses or have an allergy problem. Secondly, unless you're camping right outside the grounds, it's a pain in the behind making your way out of there. The taxi line might take two hours and there's a neat Uber centre to help with requests, which come quite quickly; the problem is actually driving out of there with all the restrictions in traffic. Same applies to the free day parking in Coachella lots, and good luck finding your car in the dark, tired and hungry, with very little help. The other option, talking a shuttle, sets you back in $60.
Prices are, actually, other of the negative points of Coachella.
The festival has so many amenities that the prices are now extremely high for the average consumer: $375 for the weekend pass, to which one needs to add a place to stay (hotel prices blow up this time of the year, of course), transportation and food. That might explain why diversity does not abound: most of the festival goers are young, white, and well off. There are the frat boys and the skinny girls with fake golden tattoos; the shirtless hunks and the blonde bombshells. And then there are the celebrities in the VIP tents – but that's a whole another story.
