This is the best festival in the states and hands down my favorite week of the year. I'm having major post Coachella blues now and hate that there is a whole different group of people partying in the desert for weekend 2. I'll be counting down the days until the 2014 presale begins. read more

It was my first time at Coachella, in fact any music festival, and I am a big fan! It was a spontaneous decision for me and my girlfriends. We opted for the hotel package because we are not campers. We were very happy with our decision. We paid about $820 per person that included the GA tickets, 3 nights of hotel and the shuttle between the hotel and Coachella, which I think is a great deal. The shuttles are extremely well organized so unless you are drunk or high, there is no way you will go on the wrong bus. Once you get off the shuttle, it's about a 10 minute walk to the actual festival grounds. There are those bikes with the carriage that would carry you for the walk (not sure how much they charge) but imo they are not worth it unless you are about to collaspe. Depends on which line you are on, I have had security that was a joke and security that was like empty your pocket or you are not going thru. Most people are chill and cool and they do apologize when they step on you (but they will step on you). A lot of second hand weed smoking when you are there. Bring an empty water bottle and fill it up when you get there. Rent a locker if you are not camping so you can leave your sweater there during the day. Food is expensive as expected but honestly wasn't as good as some people are raving about. Bring a bandana, or better yet buy one from the merchandise store as a souvenir, because you will need it during windy times. Those dust could really get you. Too bad they didn't have the caterpillar this year but the ferris wheel and the other art installations were cool. They make great meeting points since cell service gets spotty when there is a big crowd. Because of their reputation, the line up is most likely going to be amazing each year. Definitely going back but not every year. I do need to fly across the country there. read more

Always a great time. This year was no exception! Super hot, overpriced food, no shade and disgusting bathrooms, awful parking. It's all a part of the experience! The food is amazing, the sound systems at all the stages is great, the Do Lab provides plenty of misting hoses to cool you down, the parking attendants help direct you to closer lots if you flirt a little, and security lets you bring in whatever you like if you're nice to them :) The lineup will always be amazing. Even if you aren't thrilled with the headliners, the smaller acts will definitely make up for it. I recommend camping for the full Coachella experience, but be prepared to be up until 4 am with the bass from the Dome pumping full blast through your body, then waking up by 8 to sweltering heat. Seriously, though, it's all so much fun. There will be time for rest and hydration when you get home Monday night :) read more

For my 400th review.... i wanted to make it a special one. First of all- i cant believe i have never been to Coachella before. I was a Coachella Virgin for way too long, and i am happy to say- that my cherry has been popped and i am one happy girl. Coachella was amazing. Like- i have no words to describe how awesome it is. You just have to come and experience it for yourself. Secondly- I think the way it was organized was fantastic. I thought it would be a little more chaotic, but it really wasn't. One suggestion i do have, is to place night lamps throughout the venue, because at night it gets really dark. And kids on E are always bumping into you. I made so many memories at Coachella. I will never forget it. It was amazing. read more

Amazing! Amazing!! Amazing! It's nirvana, truly! I'm ready for next year's already. I cannot get enough if this event. I stay in a family condo, and drive in every day, eating a large meal before getting there. Yay! More money to drink! My friends and I had DDs every day, and it was no problem. Also, bring an empty Nalgene fo water. Don't wear sandals. Wear boots or sneakers. My friends and I used walkie talkies as opposed to cell phones, and we had no problem communicating. Don't wear pricey shades because they will get destroyed. Wear cute cheapies. Bring cash. Don't bother with the ATMs. Be aware of undercover cops. They are out there. I love Coachella-Ella-Ella read more

Each year that's I've gone, I've gotten the chance to listen to music that I might have never listened to. Artists from different genres get down for an entire weekend while they entertain huge crowds of people that are dancing on a nice green polo field. It's a great crowd also and not to say that it doesn't happen, yet I've never seen a fight break out. This year there was plenty of room so you could really get loose. It does get crowded and food could be more affordable yet it's like that at most concerts. Coachella is freakn awesome and I can't wait for next year's concerts. I recommend this to weekend warrior event to anyone that loves music. read more

This was a lot of fun and on a somewhat beautiful location. Great music. Great food. We didn't camp, we stayed at a hotel in Rancho Mirage, but I am glad we didn't and all the shows we wanted to see were in the evenings anyways, so it worked out well with the heat. The parking situation was a bit ridiculous and hopefully has been choreographed better since then. read more

Best music festival, bar none. We go every year and have never been disappointed. People complain about the price of tickets, but they are cheap considering the value they bring. Wouldn't miss it for any price. See you next weekend, Coachella! read more

This is my all time favorite music festival I have ever attended. Every year, I patiently anticipate the limeup, and the team at Golden Voice never fails to book not only a handful of incredibly talented well-known artists, but they also do an amazing job at booking talent that is up and coming and on the rise to being huge stars. i have been attending this music festival for 4 years in a row now and for example, the first year I went they had Alt-J playing in Gobi tent, the smallest tent available with somewhat of a small crowd. This year, alt-j was playing right after sunset on the main stage and has completely blown up ever since. The atmostphere is really what makes this festival amazing for me. The food is outstanding and there are lots of options to choose from, never typically waiting longer than 5-10 minutes in line. Also, the artwork this festival brings truly captures the essence of what a festival shoudl allow you to feel while you are there. It shows such grace and elegance while generally being eco-friendly. Lastly, the stages are all amazing and different in their own ways and attract so many different people to bring them together to all watch the same amazing music. Overall, this festival is amazing and I count down the days each year until it comes back around :) read more

It was my first time attending coachella this year and I was impressed by the level of execution in all areas with the festival. From the point of arrival to getting camped out and even entering the festival it was all well planned out. I never had to wait in line for anything for more than 10 mins and there was a TON of people there. read more

2 Stars for everything that happens outside of the venue. First, getting into the venue is a nightmare, specifically 2015. There were two separate security check points to go through (if you had a bicycle). Why? Second, the temperature was in the high 90's and the entrance by the camping area was only half open, yet had a full security staff who were mingling about at the side of the entrance. Why? This was especially concerning because of bottleneck that had formed and the heat (I ended up passing out 30 minutes later - a first for me and I am a 20 year Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer...if that highlights how ridiculous this was). Third, Front Gate Tickets (ticketing vendor) is absolute TRASH. Something really needs to be done with their user interface, customer service, payment options and payment service. Dear, Coachella: Front Gate Tickets represents YOUR brand and is the first interface between you and the consumer. You might want to consider holding them accountable or find a better service provider. 4 Stars for everything that goes on inside the venue. I would have given this a 5 star rating, but again there would some 'inexplicables' about how Coachella handles the event. One of the biggest was the amount of overt security. I've been to plenty of music festivals and this was one that had me shaking my head. Ironically, Stage Coach, held just a few short weeks later, did not have the same amount overt security. I guess those that like country music just aren't as dangerous or into drugs. Lastly, the VIP area is so far away from the main stage that there really isn't much "VIP'ness" other than paying VIP prices for food and beverage (i.e. way more money). read more

Attended 2007, 2013, 2014. It was amazing expirence every year. Even with sand in my eyes I still enjoyed theR.H.C.P. performance!!

I love how there's a review about the event itself! Coachella was a beautiful nightmare. All the bands that were playing this year were amazing. The camping situation was all right for my friend and I. Unfortunately our Canadian tent neighbor got robbed blind but it STILL hasn't deterred him from going. Now that's what I call love! I feel the same way to be honest and any negatives has still not stopped me from loving this festival. Sure the bathrooms are grotesque and the food selection after the second day can look bland but there are tons of businesses outside the venue that can be visited. My friend and I have never cried so much in seeing a Jack in the Box and a sanitary gas station bathroom. Which btw gets props because they did not complain one bit about the amount of people coming from Coachella. Would I camp again? Maybe. Would I attend again? DEFINITELY! This is one experience that can not be missed. Now that I have been my first year I will be fully ready for the second! read more

Consistently one of the best weekends of the year. Great music. Great people. I would dock half a star if I could cause it gets miserably hot. As in, if you're camping, prepare to be up at 7 with the sunrise. Other than the heat, this festival continues to impress. DO LAB! read more

I've been to Coachella twice. It is by far the best music festival I've been to. I really like the fact that it's so diverse. You have both big-mainstream musical acts as well as up-and-comers sharing the same stage. Moreover, just about every kind of musical genre is represented. On the day that I went (Sat.), I got to see Ghostface Killah, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Tiesto all in the same evening. There aren't too many places you can do that. The crowd is young, fun, and pretty friggin' crazy. No doubt, there was plenty of hard-bodied, bikini-clad, eye candy everywhere. I heard that Jessica Alba even showed up, but I'm sure that I was too wasted by then to care. Overall, the vibe was positive and everyone was pretty cool. I did see one verbal altercation, but security quickly intervened and resolved the situation. The festival takes place on this expansive polo field w/ stages, food courts, restrooms, lounge areas, funky exhibits, and etc. throughout. Although there were tons of people around, you never got the feeling it was too crowded. There was always plenty of everything to go around and I never found myself waiting in any line for more than 10 to 15 minutes. Parking was also plentiful. I would definitely go back. read more

I LOVE COACHELLA. One of the best music festivals I have been to. I had the best time there due to the friendly people, great music and awesome environment. (The heat was miserable but thats what you get for it being in Indio) In saying that I do have a few issues with the management. So I guess at the Empire Polo Club they have a bee problem. A swarm of bees flooded and attacked my car. Apparently they are attracted to the car's shade and coolant. Thats fine, things happen. But I had to talk to at least 4 different people before I was directed to the person in charge. It seems everyone is clueless. Finally they said that they will send an on-site bee keeper to out campsite. Apparently it has been happening a lot to other cars. We waited 2-3 hours for someone to come but no one did. So we just had to leave for the festival and hope that they leave at night. They definitely didn't. By the time we left they were still there. We called for another bee keeper and they still didnt come within an hr (mostly everyone had left on monday so we expected a faster response) Just wanted to share this poor experience and hope that it doesn't happent to you! read more

It was a pretty spectacular experience. We enjoyed every show we watched and were pleased with how accurate the set times were. We were a little put off by the shuttle service. It literally took us over an hour to get to the festival the first day and at least 45 minutes to return to our resort every night. The only thing I would suggest is more bathroom areas and easier access to water through the out grounds instead of on the perimeter. read more

This was my 5th Coachella, but my first not camping. We did luxury-chella and stayed at a hotel with shuttle. It was GREAT - a shower,comfortable bed and clean toilet. The shuttles were hassle free & the Westin was great. This is the first year I experienced REALLY BAD porta-potties. I mean BAD. All the prior years have been shockingly clean & usable. The porta-potty mess in the festival was disgusting. Then I heard Coachella will increase attendance next year - they better figure that out. It was really hard to get into the beer tents - a single line mash pit trying to squeeze into the tent - we didn't bother. I would have spent much more time getting a beer & hanging out - but it was a cluster-fuck trying to enter. Coachella needs to figure out crowd control, especially if they are increasing attendance numbers. read more

I like this. The music is always really great! I try to go each year but sometimes I can't go because I have to work. If you want to go then you should. Me and my friends try to go a little early so we can meet people that go there. read more

COACHELLA!!!!!!!!! I went 2015 and 2016 and Im so hyped for 2017! I cannot wait, it is the best weekend of your life everytime you go! If you are not sure if you should go or not.... Im telling you now. Go. You'll never have that much fun in your life, im sorry but its true. COACHELLA 2017! read more

i am officially experiencing post-coachella depression and withdrawal... and my body is completely broken from walking 33+ miles and countless dance parties in 3 days. but regardless, coachella 2015 is another one for the books. what i liked (other than music, duh) 1) brick and mortar bathrooms: honestly, i don't even know what i would do without these bathrooms. this is the first year i'm experiencing coachella as a "commoner" aka ga pass, and not having to deal with porta potties was a blessing. the bathrooms even have black lights at night and was always kept clean with plenty of stalls for the ladies. i never had to wait in line too long. 2) the crowd: the coachella vibe was just... awesome. i know everyone's probably extra high and tweaked out but seriously, everyone's down for a serious good time. felt like everyone was there to free their minds, body, and soul. positive vibes all around. yes, there are plenty of young below 20's kids, but the beer garden is good enough to separate the youngins. 3) shuttle: we got the shuttle pass and thought the transportation was exactly what we needed. i heard it definitely improved from last year. we never had to wait in line for the shuttle (though we did time ourselves pretty well to depart right before last show ended to beat the crowd). it took about a total of 1 hour to get from hotel to the entrance/security check of coachella. but seriously, after 12 hours of walking/dancing/substance abuse, i'd rather pass out on the shuttle bus on the way back to ps than to drive irresponsibly. 4) the setup: same set up each year, 2 outdoor stages, 3 outdoor open tents, 1 enclosed tents, plenty of beer garden (including craft beer garden). the stages didn't seem too far away from each other, but we easily walked a 1/2 marathon each day walking from stages to stages. 5) the food: albeit super expensive, but there were enough options that i didn't feel like i needed to starve myself or gorge on carnival food all weekend. some reputable food vendors, but some are only accessible by vip-ers. what i didn't like: 1) heat: this is definitely an uncontrollable element of the festival, but we seriously lucked out this past weekend with highs in low 90's. and there aren't that much shade provided :( 2) crowdy: i don't have too much a problem with the outdoor stages because there are plenty room for everyone, but when it came to the gobi / yuma / mojave, there were plenty of shows that had excess spillage of bodies out of the tents because they were just too small. i honestly think it would've been better if they were sahara tent sized. 3) reception: good luck trying to stay connected on social media. i had verizon and it was dead pretty much the whole time. i was definitely able to make phone calls though, but texting and data transferring was terrible 4) the trash: we got to the festival grounds at 1 pm friday and the grass was still luscious green, no trash. by friday night you can see plenty of trash everywhere even with all the trashcans set up people are just too darn lazy. i do like the recycling program that kinda helps motivate festival goers to clean up. must sees/do: 1) performance: florence + the machine, stromae, alabama shakes, ac/dc, tourist 2) do: do lab super soaker parties + amazing dj's 3) dj's: oliver helden, martin solveig, duke dumont recommendation: 1) bring cash: the wifi was down for some time so all the vendors weren't able to accept credit cards. if that's the case, you're forced to use the atm machine (if you even had your atm card on you) and pay a fee. 2) bring water bottle: bottle of waters at $4/bottle? best to just bring your own water bottle or camelbak to stay hydrated. 3) comfy shoes: serious amounts of walking / dancing. best to treat your feet well. 4) light sweater/jacket: some nights do get chilly. i was freezing on night 2 and was wrapped up in my sarong. 5) research/plan: unless you wanna just wing it and watch whoever sounds good, but we did extensive research on which artists we wanted to see and knew when to be exactly where we need to be. i'm personally not a regular concert go-er. i much prefer to music binge for 3 days annually than go to concerts every so often. coachella is seriously the best place to music taste, discover new artists, enjoy old artists, and experience eargasms for 3 whole days. honestly, i didn't feel like coachella is what a reporter described as an "oasis for douchebags and trust fund babies" and "should be avoided at all costs", everyone we met were all super chill and nice. i've only seen one fight all weekend (2 asian scrawny guys, shame on you guys), but that's about it. i can see why people go both weekends because there are seriously too many artists to be able to leisurely plan your schedule accordingly. we had to stage hop all of saturday/sunday night and not being able to catch all the artists we want to see sucked :( read more

It took me 10 years to go to Coachella after seeing Coachella lineup posters on my high school math teacher's walls. Since then it has now become The Disneyland of music festivals. If you don't believe me, here is why I say that. 1. Coachella is the music festival to go to like how Disneyland is the theme park to go to in SoCal. 2. Lines for the restroom 3. Prices that make your wallet cry a waterfall ($6 for a churro and $8 for a 16 oz lemonade at Coachella, which is more expensive than Disneyland with a churro being $4.25) 4. Basic people. Taking a picture of you holding a $5 watermelon slice is the same as wearing Minnie Mouse ears in front of Disneyland's castle. Also flower crowns, rompers, metallic fake tattoos is basically Minnie Mouse ears with crop tops and booty shorts with a flannel tied around the waist as a uniform. 5. No selfie sticks. 6. Takes forever to enter and exit if you come by shuttle or parking. 7. Celebrity sightings. Weekend 1 is full of celebs and if you have a good eye, there are celebrities that do go to Disneyland. 8. Instagram worthy backdrops with the exception of this year since the artwork was a bit dull this year (nothing in comparison to the astronaut and butterfly the last couple of years) Here are quick tips on how to survive Coachella. 1. Drink lots of water 2. Bring a bandana. Dustchella is real 3. Wear comfortable shoes 4. Sunscreen, comfy clothes, sunglasses, hat anything to stay cool 5. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint so pace yourselves. 3 days in the desert is hard on the body. If it's your first time, you car camp. It is basically a writ of passage. Unless camping is not your thing at all then prepare to pay a lot of money for hotel or airbnb. Main perk of car camping is having to walk only 10 minutes into the venue. But be prepared to shower at odd times like 3am or wait over a hour to shower in the camp showers. Also, you will very likely get sick. Almost everyone I knew suffered some form of the "Coachella flu". Word of advice is to prep your body a week before with vitamin C and staying well hydrated. Now onto the music. I will be one of those people and say the lineups have gone downhill over time. Even though the lineup isn't up to par as it was say 10 years ago *cough* Daft Punk 2006 *cough*, there is still a good diverse range of music. Next year they're expanding the venue and adding another stage, which means more acts hopefully. I highly recommend looking up the different artists in the undercard and not just the headliners and sub headliners. A good way to do that is Spotify playlists made by users particularly the ones sorted by genre so if let's say rap isn't your thing but you love alternative rock, you'll have an easier time finding what you may like. Also if you want to snag a good spot for a popular artists, definitely arrive there 15 minutes earlier than the set start time. Food is meh for value, taste, and price. Outside Lands in SF has 100000x better food. I will probably come back and do it again. I had a blast this year despite my nose not cooperating at all. I discovered a lot of new artists and caught up with older ones that I haven't bothered to keep up with in the past few years. However that $375 presale price that is probably going to go up this year is a little discouraging. read more

Their organizers are the WORST. Traffic control is HORRIBLE. They don't open the parking lots so you drive in circles. Coachella is mad hype. NOT WORTH IT. read more

Stay at Oasis Palm RV resort. twenty miles south of Palm Springs. Mike and his staff are extremely helpful. Shuttle to stages.

Pay $450 and watch a variety of concerts in 3 days? Why not! Great experience, you get to see your favorite music artist perform and discover new artist. You do have to walk a lot and try not to inhale too much dust, come prepared and you will be fine. Seems like there is a larger attendance every year, making wait times and finding good spot more difficult. Only reason I don't give 5 stars is that they have to provide better restrooms and sitting areas. read more

Whoop-de-do! ...Several days of hot blazing sun, sweating all day, fighting off flies during the day and swatting mosquitoes all night while sleeping outside, using smelly porta potties, standing in long miserable lines for 5 min showers, long lines everywhere for overpriced food and drink, more crowds, loud ear piercing deafening bands and more crowds and wall to wall people.....all this for the extraordinary "bargain price" of $300? I Think having my chest hairs pulled out and all my teeth yanked without anesthetic would be more fun.......it will be hard but I think I'll PASS !! read more

Great music, awesome campsites, nice staff...... tips: *Don't arrive after 2 am to get into the camp site, you will not get in till 8 am the next morning. *hide your pipes and such well. NO glass means no glass. Mirrors too. And the security does a pretty detailed job of gutting your car looking for the goods..... *Cell phone junkies: they have charging stations "downtown" in the camping district, but bring your own charger. there are ones you can borrow (ID required for this), but they run out of them and they break.....the Coachella app is a great tool to navigate the musical line up, but you will have to put the time in to charge your sh!t up so be aware. My suggestion: plan your set list in advance for each day and take a 3 day break from the cell. *watch as many bands as possible, and check out one's you may not know so well. This is a huge musical opportunity, don't miss out! *if camping, bring a portable shower.... the lines are hellish for the camp showers. not to mention 3 hours of roasting in the sun for a ten minute shower is retarded. *baby wipes, deodorant, sunscreen spf 50 are all necessary. *Bring plenty of water, more than you think you'll need. Bags of ice are $10 so just keep that in mind..... *Food trucks were great, the Lime truck/restaurant was pretty spectacular. I had the pancakes with some fresh berry sauce topped with basil, so good! a little pricey but well worth it. *my friend lost her wallet somewhere in the venue and on the last day they changed wrist bands (for the beer gardens)..... she had no ID so this put a wrench in things even though she had the previous wrist band still attached. Joe Willis, one of the staff members, hooked it up and replaced her old wrist band with a new one! way to go JOE! *The Speak easy was pretty sick, and the Heiny tent: both offer drinks inside plus air conditioning. enough said. Day Time Coachella: Not gonna lie, it's hot during the day. Hit up the misting stage where you get soaked. It's the only way to beat the heat. *LOST AND FOUND: My friend's wallet was returned to her about a month later via the lost and found online service Coachella has to offer. everything in tacked. Fan-freaking-tastic. Now, I could go on and on about the ticket purchasing process, but it is what it is. and it sucks. But, if you want to have a life changing experience, shut up about the price, don't even mention the sell out times and tedious process, but get your damn ticket and enjoy the ride! read more

So we didn't have passes this year so we tried to get past the gates to see jingle jangle and of course Radiohead... strange thing was that it was easier to get in that leave. WE WERE CAGED IN THERE! read more

Why Goldenvoice holds Coachella this time of year in 90+ weather is LAME. Why people pop pills and drink too much and end up sick in the nurses station is LAME... The parking does suck... The people on bikes with carriages who will seat three and take you from Monroe street to the event is BRILLIANT! The fact that they were not checking bags thoroughly was brilliant. Got to sneak in a bottle of vodka because the drinks are overpriced here... I do think that the stupid rule of not being allowed to bring in a parasol or umbrella and having to buy one inside is bullshit. I all ready own 4 from previous Coachella shows. We got in around 4 after dealing with parking and then the little bike ride over on a carriage.. Beats walking in the heat. So, the sun was getting ready to go down and the boys convinced me not to buy yet another parasol since the sun would be going down... I was bummed that I missed Sebastian Tellier The main reason why I wanted to come to Coachella this year.. However, I was stoked that I got o see Brian Jonestown Massacre. I love Anton! All in all..... I think the refill your water bottle for a buck is awesome.. But, the parasol rule is stupid. The Cure playing for 2+hours was also rad.. The over lapping of the bands that I want to see sucks. The prices = rip off! read more

I am aware that this is a music festival and I love the music at the festival. I feel they really do try to book a little something for everyone buuut this review is not about the music (sorry). Instead I want to answer the age old question of: Are Coachella VIP wristbands really worth it? This review probably sounds dumb to some but I've tried to do research on these before and it's hard finding info on these passes. Most people just complain that they're being oversold or just not worth it. Super helpful guys. So I spent the extra (extra) money to get some to see for myself. Cons First, I had a huge misconception about the "VIP" areas at Coachella. Please note that just because they're called VIP doesn't mean that you can get in them with a VIP wristband. Don't get me wrong you can access the rose garden and the small chill area by the Sahara tent but that's about it. No front of stage, side of the stage or even a fast pass to the front of the line at the Heineken tent. You have to wait/stand with general admission. You must have what I call a GAPPE VIP wristband for those things. GAPPE stands for the 5 other VIP wristbands (1. Guest- which could be of an artist, photographer, Sahara tent purchaser, music producer, someone who "acquires" ones by "ways" etc. 2. Artist - not necessarily a musician the Jenner child had one of these, 3. Production and/or 4. Photographer and the"Golden Ticket" 5. Empire Club - I know someone who knows someone who knows the Haagens, owners of the polo fields). The GAPPE passes have limits too but I didn't have one of those so I can't speak on them. Second, I had a few sucky misunderstandings. I read that there are VIP showers - awe some. Since we were car camping this was a huge plus to me but once there I found out that they are only for the people camping in the Lake Eldorado area. I also read that there was a VIP entrance but this was only if you parked your car in the VIP lot. Since we were car camping we did not and had to use the same long line, security pat-down entrance as everyone else. Third, VIP had extra bathrooms with little to no lines but they were serviced so poorly I'd almost rather use the general admission ones. There were 3 or 4 of the high end a/c bathrooms there that were always being used and at least one toilet (out of 3) in each had an issue. One toilet was even missing its seat and remained that way the whole weekend. Also, and this may have been a problem everywhere, the debit/credit machines kept crashing. Not just the POS machine at the bar during a sale but also the ATMs. It made the purchase of 2 glasses of wine take 30 minutes which doesn't seem crazy but when you have to book it to the next show that adds a little stress. Some vendors just started saying that they were cash only even though we all know Coachella had made this year credit/debit card friendly. If this still sounds ok and I just sound bitter please remember these tickets are more than double the general admission ticket prices. However there were some pros and this is why the experience gets 3 stars instead of zero. The Samsung tent was awesome with free drinks for Samsung phone holders, massages and stations to try their new headphones and vr oculus (virtual reality goggles) Also, this year Coachella had Scratch as one of their pop up restaurants in the VIP area and it was amazing. The food was such a nice change from the other stuff I'd been reluctantly shoving in my face and the chef and staff were all very professional and down to earth. The whole experience was very refreshing, I can't wait to visit them in LA. Last but not least, we ran into Ninja from Die Antwoord in the rose garden and after listening to us jibber jabber about being huge fans he even offered to take a picture with us!! It was exciting to (finally) see someone that we actually considered a celebrity in the VIP section it caught us by surprise and He totally made our day! All in all if you don't mind paying double to be special (like the people that just really, really want to be someone) or possibly meet someone special or famous (every other person in the rose garden section seemed to have an "artist" or "guest" VIP wristband on even though I hadn't seen any of them...ever) then this is for you. If not, and money is a thang, then maybe save a second year and go big with a safari tent with 3 friends. They get "guest" VIP badges (which are more useful) and if you split the cost 4 ways they're about double the VIP price but include an extremely nice camping experience too. read more

Every year in the late spring, droves of music fans descend upon tiny Indio, CA--just outside of Palm Springs--to listen to a great line-up of musicians perform as part of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in the US. It's no Reading Festival, but its line-up is quite comparable to the UK/Euro festivals. Hot new indie acts of the moment as well as seasoned greats like the Pixies and The Cure have graced the stages of Coachella. What frustrates me the most about festivals like these are the schedules. Once the times are published, you find yourself having to choose between 2, sometimes 3, shows you want to see whose sets overlap. I've tried unsuccessfully to catch parts of both sets, but moving from stage (or tent) to stage (or tent), is not as easy as you think it'd be. It's not like channel surfing. Beck. **click** Arcade Fire. **click** New Order. **click** Nope, not at all that simple. You have to walk...in the desert heat...through the smelly, sweaty crowds. I've been two years in a row, and enjoyed both times. While I got to see a lot of great acts over one weekend, I wouldn't say their performances are the greatest I've seen. Quantity, over quality here. I think I'm going to pass this year and catch the acts I want to see as they come through the Bay Area before and after Coachella. The sets will be longer. The venue will be much smaller. The people will be fewer in number. The temperature will be much more tolerable. The shows will be much better. I will be happier. But if you've never been to Coachella, I think you should go at least once, just for the experience. Plus, you might run into one of the actors from The OC or some other young Hollywood star while waiting in line for your $2 bottle of water. read more

Went camping at Coachella this year and had a great time. Made some new friends. Plan on doing it all over again next year.

First off, I'm in my 50's and my BF is 60. It was our first time at Coachella. WE LOVED IT! We came here after having talked to people who had been before and doing a little blog reading. We knew what we were getting into so the bathroom issues and other things people complained of were expected. IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE MUSIC folks! There are always going to be problems. You get 80,000 people per day together and there will be issues. Don't let it bother you. Live in the moment and take in everything going on around you and don't focus on the negatives, like the bathrooms. Just use the porta potty, don't sit down on the seat, use a tiny amount of TP or a Kleenex you should have brought with you, don't touch anything inside, come out and take a hand wipe out of the little pouch you should have brought with you. Voila. Don't think about it again. I thought the process of getting in and out of the festival was very organized and relatively simple, but we took a hotel shuttle to and from everyday. Yes, we stayed at a posh hotel with air conditioning, down pillows, flat screen TV, refrigerator, hot showers, and swimming pools, but we are 50 and 60 and we have worked hard for many years to earn money, so what! geeze. After sleeping in late every morning, we went out for a nice brunch (Frieda and Wilma's was fantastic!) then packed one very small camel back pack with 2 empty water bottles, a lightweight sweatshirt, small bottle of sunscreen, Chapstick with sunscreen, 2 paper seat covers (just in case), a small amount of TP rolled up, a pouch of hand wipes, a 1 oz plastic bottle of hand sanitizer, 2 sets of earplugs, ID cards, shuttle passes, hotel key cards, our playlist lineup (we made a separate one for each day that my BF put on a spreadsheet) with start and end time, stage, band.) we used everything except the sweatshirt on the last night and the earplugs we used in the Mojave? Tent at the entrance where you can dance (music was really loud) and we didn't use extra sunscreen as we put it on right before leaving hotel around 3 everyday. Everyone was friendly and we talked to lots of people. We were likely among the oldest people there but we like the energy of being around a younger crowd. We aren't judgmental about what people wear or don't wear, etc. we actually got a kick out of it mostly. I mean, the guy with the rubber Duckie floatie around him, or the guy with the Indian headdress, or the other guy with a skirt, beads and pink wig or the girls with their bikinis on. Who cares! They're having fun and expressing themselves. Haha, now Burning Man, that will be interesting!! My BF got lots of high-fives and lots of people said we were cool :) SO FUN! Yeah Coachella!!! read more

Coachella - This butterfly was a caterpillar the day before. - Festivals Near Me - Indio, California

The music and bands were awesome, but the staffing was absolutely horrible. No one knew where anything was located nor had any idea as to what was going on. They were rude and killed the good vibes! read more

This will be the third and last time going to coachella. First time I went was in 2006 which was a great experience because I was 18 and really getting into drugs. Second time was in 2009 for day 3; my bloody valentine was amazing but other than that it was pretty mundane. the cure was cut short (right when they were getting to their old old stuff) because the empire polo club charges some stupid rate for every extra hour the festival is there... but why would that matter. They were just raising fees at that point so they must've been making bank on ticket fees & charges & stupid water policies so whats an extra 1000 for them to spend? they literally turned off the electricity on them so the band kept playing faintly for a few more minutes. After that year only 3-day passes were available and seemed so not worth it. coachella selling out of tickets? since when? oh right since theyre terrible people who have made the system work in their favor. I gave in this year to see jeff mangum and at the drive-in because i thought they were gone forever, but have spent an extra 130 for day one when i'm still confused as to why the black keys are headlining. the black keys??? even their old stuff was boring. Plus $44 service fee (complete bull) and $10 delivery fee that they dont even tell you about until the very end (it's the only option even available). It's a whole big scam and it'll only get worse and worse. This will definitely be my last year with them because I think i've run out of bands I have to see before I die who haven't already died first. so unless nick cave decides to pull a Birthday Party, I'll just drink somewhere else and have much more fun with access to a cleaner toilet and less people who like arctic monkeys. so go at least once. preferably when you're younger. it gets old real quick and coachella is turning into mcdonalds. super commercial and evil but tasty late at night when you're too trashed to know any better. read more

Jus came back from coachella 2012. The ticket was around $315 dollars with fees as I purchased the fisrt weekend through a payment plan because that was the way to get first weekend tickets. Coachella has a lot of up and coming bands and pretty much an electro tent. I stayed between the headliners and the electro tent as indie rock is'nt really my thing. expect to pay on average $12 a meal and $9 to 14 dollars for alcohol. I camped and it was an experience. It gets very hot in coachella. I will come back again next year read more

FEB 01, 2013 | 12:08PM CST Kevin replied: I find your response disappointing and insincere. It is clear that the website server was unable to handle the volume and crashed there by disconnecting me and affecting my priority number. You are able to see where I was in line and should have anticipated the volume with a backup plan to accommodate those affected. Of course the festival has sold out on the first weekend it has for the last 4 years or more and that's why I dropped everything to go online at precisely 10 am. I also took the time to register the night before as suggested. I was willing to pay the extra money for the shuttle that I didn't need or want because that's all that was available. I fine it inexcusable along with a poor and feeble process. I am disappointed the process of purchasing a ticket is so amateur because the festival operates at a high level of professionalism. We have attended for several years and have enjoyed it every time. I was looking forward to attending the festival this year,maybe next year. Kevin Hannah @ Front Gate Tickets replied: We regret that you experienced difficulties in ordering tickets online. Weekend 1 was in very high demand, and very limited in quantity. Weekend 2 was available throughout the day, but that has since sold out as well. I wish there was more we could offer, but unfortunately with tickets being sold out, there is nothing more we can do. Thanks, Customer Support Team Front Gate Tickets 888 512 SHOW read more

simply put...if you never have...you need to. this call goes out to all the music lovers, the music haters, those who need to be around crowds, and agoraphobics alike. you need to go at least once in your life. i've been to every festival since its inception back in '99, and every year it's a new experience. just as i write now, i have so many great and fantastic memories that i want you all to know and understand, but there are just too friggin' many! i remember kissing the person who destroyed me during a new order set. i remember seeing the mars volta in the side tent. i remember first seeing interpol at the side stage...and living through it. this year i spent 71/2 hours in one spot without eating and with only a bottle of water for company. you either love it or hate it...and i loved every minute of every hour...like i said, if you haven't already...you NEED to... read more

I attended Coachella this year for my first time and it was nothing like I had expected. First things first, me and my best friend Alex drove four hours to get to Indio, California for Coachella. We cruise into the festival and a security guard telling us to go to lot five stops us, even though I had a lot two pass. I get to lot five as the man told me and the security guard looked at me as if I didn't know how to read. He told me to go to the lot I had received which was lot 2. We finally get to our parking space after 45 minutes of nonsense and then we had a half-mile to walk with a cooler and two sleeping bags. We get to our camping spot where our friends were waiting for us and that's when the heat had actually hit us. I can honestly say I have never been so hot in my entire life and I grew up in Arizona. We walk into the festival to see some music and I "randomly" got selected to be frisked. When I say, "frisked" I mean I had two guys put me against a wall and check me for drugs or guns or something. I basically got to second base with the security guards. I wasn't digging it but I'm sure they were having a grand time. After being cleared to go in I wanted to buy a drink of water since you're not allowed bring any liquids in the park. Which is complete bullshit, you're in the middle of a desert and can't bring water in, even if its sealed. Coachella is very commercialized which I wasn't to hyped about. They sold one type of water, "Crystal Geyser" for two bucks a pop. The price of water was not as bad as the price of food, I bought a burger that tasted like the unmaintained grill for eight dollars. It was pretty awesome wasting money on horrible food. I was very unprepared for Coachella; I ate once a day because of how expensive food was. I tried leaving the camp with my car to a Wal-Mart or some sort of store to buy some supplies so I didn't die. I wasn't allowed to leave even though I spent 300 dollars on a ticket. The security guard happily said "You can walk the three or four miles up the road if you'd like". The music was awesome; the main stage had so many good acts. Broken Social Scene, Bright Eyes, Mumford and Sons, Interpol, Animal Collective and Arcade Fire all on the same stage was mind blowing. The sound was great, it was very loud and I'm happy to say I got to the very front throughout all of those bands. I waited and fought to get upfront and it worked perfectly. I had thousands of people behind me begging for my spot, I had something they didn't. I was even offered money for my spot but I wouldn't budge for anything. All the bands put on a great show; the smaller acts were just as good. This year was one of the few years Coachella actually sold out. Coachella has so many things going on inside from the music to the arts to the drugs. Every which way you looked somebody was smoking a joint; I hadn't expected it to be that open. Coachella has something for everyone, whether you're old or young, big or small you're welcome. That was the best thing about Coachella; you felt united as one group just trying to have a good time. Yes, it is over priced and hot as hell but I will definitely be attending next year's festival. I guess you have to learn the ropes to be fully prepared. I now know what to expect. read more

Coachella is the most magical place on earth. Weekend 2 changed my life. A huge thank you to the staff who put this together every year. An incredibly well planned event with tons of love for their fans. I will be back every year until I die. XO read more