Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
April 10-12/17-19
Lineups are always announced with plenty of time before a festival begins. In a dynamic society, who knows what could happen in the music world during that stretch. Over 6 weeks ago Coachella’s lineup was released, and it looks a lot different today than it did January 6th. Since then, Drake dropped a surprise mixtape and is now a must see, the University of Oklahoma published Jack White’s contract and rider (which he did not take lightly) and will make his first major performance since then, and AC/DC have announced a summer world tour, making Coachella the first stop. How does it look now?
Coachella is always a staple in the summer festival circuit. It starts the season off and is often one of the best. You also never know what’s going to happen. Two years ago saw Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories teaser, and the year before that Tupac’s hologram appeared on stage beside Snoop Dogg.
Located 2 hours east of Los Angeles, Coachella takes place over two weekends. Tickets may be sold out, but you can still find some. This lineup truly is stacked and picking a top 10 was extremely difficult. If you can, don’t miss out on one of the front runners for festival of the year.
Lineup:
AC/DC, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Alabama Shakes, Alesso, Alt-J, Alvin Risk, Andrew, McMahon, Angel Olsen, Angus and Julia Stone, Annie Mac, Antemasque, Axwell x Ingrosso, Azealia Banks, Bad Religion, Bad Suns, Belle & Sebastian, Benjamin Booker, Brand New, Built to Spill, Caribou, Carl Craig, Cashmere Cat, Cedric Gervais, Charles Bradley, Chet Faker, Circa Survive, Claude Von Stroke, Clean Bandit, Cloud Nothings, DJ Snake, David Guetta, Deorro, Desaparecidos, Dirty South, Drake, Drive Like Jehu, Duke Dumont, Eagulls, Erol Alkan, FKA twigs, Fitz and the Tantrums, Florence and the Machine, Flosstradamus, Flying Lotus, George Ezra, Gesaffelstein, Glass Animals, Gorgon City, Gramatik, Haerts, Hot Natured, Hozier, Interpol, J.E.S.&S (Jack Master, Eats Everything, Skream, Seth Troxler), Jack White, Jamie xx, Jason Bentley, Jenny Lewis, John Talabot, Jon Hopkins, Joyce Manor, Jungle, Kasabian, Kaskade, Kaytranada, Kele, Keys N Krates, Kiesza, Kimbra, Kygo, Lights, Lil B, Loco Dice, Lykke Li, Mac DeMarco, Madeon, Marco Carola, Marina and the Diamonds, Martin Solveig, MØ, Nero, New World Punx, Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible, OFF!, Odesza, Panda Bear, Parquet Courts, Pete Tong, Philip Selway, Phox, Porter Robinson, R3hab, RAC, Radkey, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Ratatat, Reverend Horton Heat, Ride, Royal Blood, Ruen Brothers, Run the Jewels, Ryan Adams, Ryan Hemsworth, SBTRKT, Sloan, Slyvan Esso, Squarepusher, St. Lucia, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, St. Vincent, Steely Dan, Stromae, Sturgill Simpson, Swans, Tale of Us, Tame Impala, The Cribs, The Gaslamp Killer Experience, The Night Terrors of 1927, The Orwells, The War on Drugs, The Weeknd, Todd Terje and the Olsens, Toro y Moi, Touche Amore, Tourist, Tycho, Tyler the Creator, Until the Ribbon Breaks, Vance Joy, Vic Mensa, Yelle
Top 10 Acts to see:
1. Florence + the Machine - Ever since they released 2 tracks of their forthcoming album, I can’t stop listening to them.
2. Jack White - He always brings energy, I’m excited to see what more he brings after the Oklahoma incident.
3. AC/DC - Back in Black was one of the first albums I ever bought as a child, and ever since I have dreamed of seeing them live.
4. alt-J - Still my favorite band at the moment. Whenever I can see them on stage, I will.
5. Glass Animals - A close second to alt-J. They haven’t been to the United States much yet, so catch them when you can.
6. Gorgon City - This British garage house duo is taking off quick, and their live show looks fantastic.
7. Chet Faker - How have I still not seen him live?
8. Nero - The drum and bass duo have been around since 2004 and have a new album coming out this year.
9. Parquet Courts - They’re bringing an at times dormant genre (Brooklyn garage/indie rock) back to life, dying to see them on stage.
10. Ratatat - Videos of their live performance speak for themselves.
Honorable Mention:
Milky Chance - Another 2014 breakout act that is selling out shows across the country.
Duke Dumont - This breakout deep house producer is on fire.
Saint Motel - They’re from L.A., could be this years breakout group, and “Just My Type” is currently my happy/can't stop dancing song.
By Ben Lowden