A – Art :-
Coachella isn’t just about music and fashion…. the ART is major! Kaleidoscope patterns, giant astronauts, dancing hippos, temples – Coachella are experts at switching it up! Giving us festival goers something new to see, besides seeing your favourite artist! Coachella have evolved from renting pieces, to having a budget of over $2m to spend on epic commissions.
Escape Velocity by Poetic Kinetics (Tyler Hanson) (2014)
https://www.instagram.com/p/mrPDvqQ4OG/
Some of our favourite pieces over the years have been;
- Lotus Flower by Poetic Kinetics (2012)
- The Power Station by Dedo Vabo (Derek Doublin and Vanessa Bonet) (2013)
- Caterpillars Longing by Poetic Kinetics (2015)
- Besame Mucho by R & R Studios (2016)
- Spectra by Newsubstance (2018)Returning Favourites – which will now be a resident piece
Returning Favourites;
TRASHed: Every day recycling bins, turned into works of art.
Balloon Chain by Robert Bose – 6 years of attending and we finally got to fly them with Emerson in ’18. .
The Do Lab:- One of our favourite things about Coachella. Colourful, weird and vibey! With a banging setlist. Also home to the outstanding Lucent Dossier Experience. Dancing in the desert heat, being sprayed by water guns and seeing Justin Martin hand out Pizza is a memory that we won’t forget.
Get to the Do Lab for sunset!
See this post from Artsy.net on the 2019 art
B – Beychella :-
Us & Bey were pushing out babies in 2017, so both missed Coachella. Fast forward a year; Sir, Rumi, and Emerson had landed and Beyoncé was ready to take Indio, and the world by storm! She had some making up to do, and woah did she make up for it! The WHOLE festival was at the Coachella stage for DJ Khaled to declare the festival as Beychella! The next 105 minutes went down in history, so much so theres a netflix doc; Homecoming , and her pyramid stage was on display in 2019.
C – Cantina (The) :-
The Cantina, our little secret is the Polo grounds restaurant. Access is through The Beer Barn, avoid the revellers, and the temptation to buy a craft beer then you will eventually reach the clubhouse feel of The Cantina. Grab a short, a cocktail, some food and get some shade. The big draw though? Real toilets! Ok, not much of a big deal now… but pre the 2015 permanent block this was mega.
D – Dust :-
When you think of Coachella, you think sunshine, beautiful people, palm trees, mountains. What you don’t think of is Dust! Pack a bandanna because theres a lot! Heading East on the I-10 to the “City of Festivals”, one of the first signs that let you know you’re close to dancing freely in the desert are those windmills. They’re not just Coachella markers, or a great photo opp. They’re there because there is a lot of F’in wind, and with wind comes dust. The worst year has to be 2014, Pharrel couldn’t sing, and I had multiple nose bleeds.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEH5nFDQ4L_/
E – Escape Campervans :-
We love car camping! and would suggest to hire a camper van. That is if you’re not ultimate goals, and already own one. The 5 times we’ve camped at Coachella we’ve used Escape Camper Vans,they have the most epic selection. Each van is spray painted with a different design. Our favourite is our first sweet little ride; VanGo. Dali’s Persistance of Memory on one side, and Van Gough’s Starry night on the other.
We have picked up and dropped off in LA, and Vegas, but they have locations all over meaning you can plan the most epic road trip around Coachella. Is there a better way to get over Coachella, than Vegas? We’ll be doing a post soon on the places we have visited pre and post Coachella. Including Calico, Bombay Beach, Slab City, & Lake Havasu, and the time we drove 4 hours out of the way to see the Kill Bill church.
https://www.instagram.com/p/JV4lRxw4Nc/
F – Ferris wheel:-
Le Grande wheel is one of the most photographed structures during the month of April. When you’re rolling up to the festival, it’s what you’re looking out for to know you’ve made it to Coachella. It’s your homing beacon at the end of the night, your marker to navigate the stages, and the meeting place of choice when you’ve lost your pals.
Coachella Fact: It’s the worlds largest transportable ferris wheel, and measures over 150ft, designed by the ferris wheel don Ronald Bussinik.
In 6 years we’re yet to ride the wheel, but apparently the best time is during a headliner set where you can see the true enormousness of the festival.
Coachella Tip: Buy a ticket $8-10 as soon as you arrive, then go back later to ride -forfeiting the ticket queue
G – Goldenvoice :-
Coachella was born from Goldenvoice, a promotions company founded in 1981 by Gary Tovar. A drug smuggler who was paramount in the punk scene. The name came from a strain of weed, that was so strong that it felt like you were being spoken to by angels. Goldenvoice are responsible for promoting some of the first concerts by Nirvana, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and in 86 Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen joined to make this company even more epic.
These 2 geniuses gave birth to the idea of a festival in the desert. Visiting Glastonbury ’97 armed with leaflets showing palm trees, sunsets and the empire polo ground, they pitched the idea of Coachella. They were laughed at .. this was the famous Glasto “Year of the Mud”.
2 years of hard planning Coachella 99′ was brought to life. Held over 2 days, with Beck headlining. 50,000 festival goers attended, which resulted in a $850,000 loss. Thankfully they were persistent.
H – Headliners:-
Headliners are the big draw for any festival, but what’s special about Coachella is the crossover of artists, and the surprise performances. We have Paul Tollet to thank for booking some of the greatest acts. Reunions are his specialty; The Pixies, Outkast, Guns N’ Roses! Tollet explained in his recent LA Times interview the hoops he jumped through in 2016 to get Axl and Slash on board.
I had a list of 13 people that I had to get through. You’ve got to go in order. If you go out of order you can piss off the wrong person.
We’ve seen Madonna lapdance Drake, R Kelly perform with Phoenix, and Rhi Rhi come out with Calvin Harris. Artists work their whole career for a headline slot, and go out of their way to push boundaries. In 2019 Kanye pulled out as his Yeezey plans were just too big for the festival to handle. Classic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUJk7bgl75/
I – Ice Truck :-
Coachella is in the desert, and that morning sun roasts the camp site. The cool box of beer isn’t going to stay chilled for long, the need for ice is real!
Get it from the store then lug the giant bag on your shoulders back to your spot, or if you’re lucky you can catch the Ice Truck! Driving through the camp site in a pick up truck, megaphone in hand, entertaining and heckling as he goes.
J – Jump leads:-
Coachella’s campground is a festival in itself. The fact you’re able to park your ride next to your tent, means you can bring the party to the party – literally !!
Every year we’re blown away by the super camps, with their mini rigs. With no electrical hook ups these set ups are powered by the battery in your ride. Which brings us to Jump Leads. Pack them! Be the Hero come Monday. Don’t be that guy who is all party but can’t leave.
K – Keep Hydrated
With Coachella being in the desert, drinking water is a given. Add miles of walking, alcohol, lack of sleep dancing, and you’re a fool to not stay hydrated.
Coachella is big on sustainability, and encourage you to bring your own bottle (as long as it’s not steel, metal, aluminium, or glass). Or you can RECYCLE 10 empty bottles, and get 1 fresh bottle of H2O for your trouble.
L – Liquor
We’re British, and us Brits do festivals slightly different. We were pretty shocked in 2012, when we realised we wouldn’t be down at the main stage watching Arctic Monkeys with a paper cup of booze in hand. At Coachella you can only drink in the designated areas, that you gain entry with an ID wristband.
If you’ve seen the camping rules you know its 1 box of wine, and 1 case of beer per person. No “Hard Liquor”. Even for the average drinker that isn’t very hardcore, and if you’re British probably not going to last you Thursday night. There’s plenty of imaginative ways to smuggle in booze. We’re happy to share our secrets, drop us a message.
M – Mountains:-
Coachella has a 360° view of mountains, and is one of the reasons we’ve returned year after year. They shape the most incredible sunsets alongside the 100’s of palm trees, bordering the polo fields.
Mountains store a shit load of energy! Which might explain why being surrounded by them, in the middle of the desert, whilst listening to your favourite artists makes you feel so damn GOOD.
N – New Friends :-
Before we had attended Coachella, we were apprehensive of how pretentious it was going to be. We needn’t of worried. From the moment we rolled up, there were greets of “Happy Coachella”, high 5’s and beer bongs. Don’t be fooled by the press, the campsite is on a vibe.
Each year we’ve been blessed with amazing neighbours that we’ve partied with pre and post festival. We come away with new friends, who we’ve met up with again. The world is a small place, and connecting with likeminded festival goers who share the same love of music, art and vibes is a must.
O – Organic:-
One thing Cali does well is Health! We always come home healthier after a trip to LA, and Coachella is no different. If you want nutritious healthy food you have your pick, and if you’re Vegan you’re in the majority. Us Brits are used to cheesy chips and breakfast rolls to keep us going. At Coachella, you’re treated to avocado on tap, kombucha, and endless vegan treats.
As much effort is put into Coachella’s food lineup as the music. You could spend your days just eating, and still be totally satisfied come Monday. The Indio Food Central Market was not only a place where you could get some shade. It has over 15 vendors, with freshly sourced ingredients, that will help fight any festival fatigue.
P – Pearl Jam :-
Without Pearl Jam, there may have not been Coachella. Bold statement, but Pearl Jam were the first band to ever play at the Empire Polo club. 25,000 fans saw them perform on the 11th May ’93. Which opened Paul Tollett’s and Rick Van Santen’s eyes to the potential this desert venue had. Pearl Jam along with daft punk feature on the rumour list each year.
Q – Queen :-
Coachella comes at the beginning of festival season. All eyes are on the festival to see what trends will be discovered, a lot of planning goes into the outfits, and the ‘Coachella Style” has been duplicated all over the world. Queen of Coachella style is Vanessa Hudgens, who makes it her goal each year to keep that style crown. Every look has been covered; 70’s hippy chic, bindi vibe, double braids, tassels, as Paper quoted “this Queen was planning Coachella outfits in the womb”.
R – Rose Garden :-
One of Coachella’s VIP areas, and an area our very un VIP asses are yet to experience. We’ve peeked over the white picket fence which makes us qualified to write about it. Right? A quaint garden full of rose bushes that is on par with a picturesque English Country garden.
It’s exclusive, but not so exclusive that you can’t buy your way in. It’s no Berghain, but for just under $1,000, you can live the Celebchella dream. Shimmy straight to the bar, or to the restroom without a queue. Watch main stage acts, or listen to the sounds of the Mojave tent whilst relaxing on day beds, or a cabana.
Food trucks arn’t going to cut it for the Californian elite, so Outstanding In The Field provide a 4 course outdoor feast. Book a place at this exceedingly long table and bag entry to the Rose Garden.
S – Sahara :-
The mighty Sahara Tent is a megastructure like no other. If you’ve visited Coachella over the years, you’ve seen the evolution of the Sahara. It’s always hot, crowded and hard to get out of. So 2018 they made it bigger and rotated it, giving more room to dance.
Covered in 100’s of LED panels, The Sahara allows artists to showcase videos visuals across the whole dome. A far cry from the pitched tent that we saw in 2012. The Goliath of dance tents keeps getting bigger and more epic each year.
T – Tupac Hologram :-
The 2012 lineup was the best Coachella we have experienced, and one of the best lineups we’ve ever seen at a festival. It was the year of the ‘Tupac hologram’ , and the first time that Coachella made headlines globally. Rumours were rife throughout the festival that there was going to be a hologram of Tupac. We first heard about it when we ventured outside to Vons to pick up essentials for our camp (Vodka), and the checkout girl told us.
When Pac made an entrance on Dre and Snoops set the crowd went wild, we had one dude in front losing his mind (didn’t get the memo), thinking he had risen from the dead.
This post from the Undefeated goes into the trials and tribulations that Dre had before that defining moment.
The king of all lineups
U – Unknown:-
It’s a known fact that sometimes the unknown can be the best thing you’ll experience at a festival. We love finding out who people are there to see, and discovering new artists. Coachella are great at recognising rising talent, and quite often you will catch someone on a smaller stage and a few years later they have blown up.
Our veteran neighbours in 2012 were experts at this! They told us how they were within a handful of fans seeing The Mars Volta when they first performed at Coachella. We’ve seen Calvin Harris, Justin Martin, Gorgon City, and Disclosure all go through the ranks.
V – Villa :-
Don’t fancy camping, & don’t have the dollar for Lake Eldorado? Book a Villa to experience Desert Living. Spend the morning by a pool, then head off to the festival feeling recharged,
Palm Springs; notorious for A-Lister pads means you have an avalanche of villas to choose from. Gram worthy Mid Century Architecture with sleek, modernist designs in pretty hues surrounded by palm trees and mountain views are the property of choice. No wonder Leonardo Dicaprio, calls it home.
After camping at Coachella for 5 years, we deserved some luxury, and we wanted Em’s first Coachella to be as painless as possible. Falling into a king size bed after a long day of partying is bliss, and we’re definitely converts to that villa life. The 45 min coach journey was a chore, the utopia being a villa in Indio, to stumble back to.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhhOGmzBwCI/
W – Walmart:-
We like to leave things last minute, including our Coachella supplies. Thursday mornings are for lazing around the desert before heading to Palm Springs Walmart for those essentials; booze, cupcakes, jerky, and tostitos chips by the truck load.
95% of the Walmart customers at this time are heading to Coachella. You can spot fellow attendees by their eagerness to wear their wristbands, and by the contents of their trolly. Listen to the in-depth conversations about what mixers to get, and debates on the size of cooler chest to buy.
X – Xenodocheionology:-
Xenodocheionology is the love of hotels. If you’re a lover of hotels, and don’t fancy camping, or self catering then Coachella have a choice of hotel packages (including tickets and shuttle pass) on Valley Music Travel.
Dependent on what hotel you pick, you could have access to pool parties, restaurants, spas, casinos, and a round of golf. Want to get a little closer to the action? Check out the safari tents at Lake Eldorado.
Y – Yoga:-
The crowd at Coachella, will happily haul themselves up for 7.30am Yoga, which is just one of the many activities on offer in Car Camping. To be honest making it to these daily classes is pretty easy. The combination of early morning sun, inspiring scenery and freshly squeezed juice can turn any hungover festival goer into a weekend Yogi. You can find more information about this years Flow Space Yoga & Pilates here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEOjh21w4Ok/
Z – Zinc & ZZZZZZZZ’s
If you want to go the long haul, and finish strong come Monday then top up on vitamins and sleep. We found this great blog post on Myvitmains.com that lays down some essential vitamins perfect for a 4 day bender. Luckily Zinc is included, otherwise that would have been awkward.
Sleep. Which is what I feel like doing after this post. #TeamNoSleep is not cool. Catch some Z’s if there is a gap in your schedule, have a snooze in the shade, or try and have a lie in. By Sunday you will thank yourself for it.
And thats a wrap, let us know what you think in the comments. What words would you use for specific letters? Would be great to hear what you think.
Love this piece and the A-Z style. I have never been to Coachella but it is on the bucket list!! This provides great insight! Thank you for sharing! x That Festival Blogger (Sophie)
Thank you so much for reading ♥️
I love the A-Z guide here! Hopefully one day I’ll be able to attend too!
Thank you for reading
Wow at an incredible post. t felt like I was literally there at Coachella. I love all the details of all the wonderful things there.