Critics lauded headline sets from Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott during the opening weekend of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

The Goldenvoice-promoted phenomenon made its return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, from 11–13 April, for a 24th instalment.

This year’s bill also features the likes of Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, solo performances from BLACKPINK‘s Lisa and Jennie, Benson Boone, the original Misfits, Zedd, The Prodigy, Clairo, Enhypen and more.

Gaga closed the festival’s first night with her second headline set at Coachella, following an appearance in 2017 when she filled in for a pregnant Beyoncé. Friday night’s career-spanning, two-hour set earned rapturous reviews across the board, with The Guardian calling it “one of the best the desert has ever seen” while Billboard hailed it as a “genius commentary on fame”.

Green Day, one of the rare rock acts to headline Coachella over the last decade or so, helped to close out proceedings on Saturday, using their set to address the atrocities in Palestine and take aim at Donald Trump. Rolling Stone sumarised the set as “a career-spanning, best-of montage, packed with hits that crisscrossed the decades”.

Travis Scott, billed as the fourth Coachella headliner, occupied the same spot on the bill that No Doubt did in 2024. Backed by a 60-person strong marching band, the Houston-born rapper delivered a 29-song set which delivered on the promise of a “new chapter,” according to Billboard.

The Guardian called Lady Gaga’s Friday night headline set “one of the best the desert has ever seen”

Critics also applauded Saturday sets from Charli XCX – who brought out Lorde, Billie Eilish and Troye Sivan for her highly-awaited performance – and Weezer, who were added to the bill last week and delivered an afternoon set at the Mojave tent.

Elsewhere, Irish hip-hop band Kneecap made headlines after leading an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant, with fans reporting the online stream had cut out shortly after.

Post Malone closed out weekend one with his first-ever headline set at Coachella, having topped the bill at sister festival Stagecoach last year. The US star accidentally leaked the Coachella’s lineup in November 2024, prompting organisers to publish the lineup ahead of schedule.

The Sunday night set saw Malone bring his country repertoire to Indio, with a set modeled on a sprawling Formula 1 track. Variety described the 90-minute offering as “an interactive hang with your best buddy whose music you happen to love” while The Guardian deemed his performance “charming and energetic”.

Although the first weekend of Coachella sold out, passes for the second weekend are still available. Tickets are divided into three tiers and priced at $539–$549 for general admission and $1,199–$1,399 for VIP. Camping passes start at $149.

Despite reportedly selling approximately 80% of the 250,000 tickets available for purchase this year, the festival remains the most-attended and highest-grossing annual festival in North America.

Coachella 2025 concludes from 18–20 April.

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Goldenvoice has announced its annual lineup of sideshows for this year’s Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival.

Goldenvoice Presents April comprises more than 30 intimate concerts by artists due to perform at the 125,000-capacity festival in California.

Jimmy Eat World, Djo, Lola Young, Basement Jaxx, beabadoobee and Beth Gibbons are among the artists lined up for the concert series, slated for the fortnight before Coachella in venues across Southern California.

Participating venues include The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre, Fonda Theatre, The Novo, Fox Theater Pomona, The Glass House Pomona, The Orpheum, Sound Nightclub, Belly Up, Music Box, and The Sound.

Coachella will return for a 24th instalment between 11–13 and 18–20 April at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, headlined by Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott.

Goldenvoice Presents April comprises more than 30 intimate concerts by artists due to perform at Coachella 2025

Malone has been confirmed to close out both Sundays, following his headline performance at Coachella’s sister event Stagecoach this year.

It is Gaga’s second time as a Coachella headliner, following her appearance in 2017 when she filled in for a pregnant Beyoncé.

Green Day will play Coachella as a band for the first time, although frontman Billie Joe Armstrong performed as part of the Replacements in 2014.

Scott is billed as the fourth headliner, occupying the same spot on the poster that No Doubt did in 2024 with the tagline “Travis Scott designs the desert”.

Other major acts lined up for Coachella 2025 include Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, solo performances from BLACKPINK‘s Lisa and Jennie, Benson Boone, the original Misfits, Zedd, The Prodigy, FKA Twigs, Clairo, Enhypen and more.

Goldenvoice Presents April dates are as follows:

Wednesday, April 9 – Blonde Redhead – Belly Up (San Diego)
Wednesday, April 9 – The Dare with Kumo 99 – The Glass House
Wednesday, April 9 – The Go-Go’s – The Roxy Theatre
Wednesday, April 9 – Thee Sacred Souls with Los Yesterdays – Fox Theater Pomona
Thursday, April 10 – Eyedress – El Rey Theatre
Thursday, April 10 – Jimmy Eat World with Glixen – Fox Theater Pomona
Friday, April 11 – Alok presents Something Else – Sound Nightclub
Saturday, April 12 – Sparrow & Barbossa – Sound Nightclub
Monday, April 14 – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 + Los Mirlos – The Roxy Theatre
Monday, April 14 – Still Woozy – The Glass House
Monday, April 14 – Together Pangea with Prison Affair – El Rey Theatre
Tuesday, April 15 – Afrojack presents Kapuchon – Sound Nightclub
Tuesday, April 15 – Djo with Post Animal – Fox Theater Pomona
Tuesday, April 15 – GloRilla with Real Boston Richy – The Novo
Tuesday, April 15 – Lola Young with Bob Vylan – Fonda Theatre
Tuesday, April 15 – Miike Snow – The Glass House
Tuesday, April 15 – Speed with HiTech – The Roxy Theatre
Wednesday, April 16 – Djo – The Sound (San Diego)
Wednesday, April 16 – DIXON + Jimi Jules + Yulia Niko – Sound Nightclub
Wednesday, April 16 – Hope Tala – Music Box (San Diego)
Wednesday, April 16 – julie + Fcukers – The Glass House
Wednesday, April 16 – Maribou State with Shermanology – The Roxy Theatre
Wednesday, April 16 – Parcels with Ginger Root – Fox Theater Pomona
Wednesday, April 16 – SAINt JHN – The Novo
Thursday, April 17 – Basement Jaxx (LIVE) – Fonda Theatre
Thursday, April 17 – beabadoobee with Pretty Sick + Keni Titus – Fox Theater Pomona
Thursday, April 17 – Beth Gibbons with Bill Ryder Jones – The Orpheum Theater
Thursday, April 17 – Dennis Cruz + Beltran – Sound Nightclub
Thursday, April 17 – El Malilla + Judeline – The Roxy Theatre
Thursday, April 17 – Kneecap with Soft Play – The Glass House
Thursday, April 17 – Medium Build – El Rey Theatre
Thursday, April 17 – Underscores – Music Box (San Diego)
Friday, April 18 – Eli Brown – Sound Nightclub

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AEG Presents is debuting a one-day alternative music festival at The National Bowl, Milton Keynes.

Forever Now will launch on 22 June next year and will be the UK sister event of US festival Cruel World, with lineup details to be revealed next week. Tickets start at £85 (€102).

Dedicated to post-punk music, fashion and literature, the gathering will feature two music stages, as well as a third stage, The Echo Chamber, hosted by music journalist John Robb.

“We are delighted to present a festival that reflects the rich heritage of artists in the alternative music field,” says AEG UK CEO Steve Homer. “The day will feature some amazing artists, unique sets, and collaborations not seen on a UK stage before. As the birthplace of alt counterculture, the UK is the perfect home for a festival to pay homage to alternative creative artistry.’’

The Echo Chamber stage will explore the artistry, movement and culture through in-depth discussions with renowned artists.

“If you feel a nostalgia for an age yet to come whilst still seeking the classic and have a curiosity for the next wave, then this will be a day to get immersed in,” says Robb.

Manchester’s Outbreak Festival will form part of the lineup for AEG’s new Lido Festival in Victoria Park

Presented by AEG’s Goldenvoice division, the promoter behind Coachella and Stagecoach Festival, Cruel World is held annually at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Its fourth iteration is slated for 17 May 2025, headlined by New Order and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Other acts will include The Go-Go’s, Devo, OMD, Death Cult, Garbage, Madness, ‘Til Tuesday, She Wants Revenge and Alison Moyet.

Earlier this year, AEG partnered with Yungblud to launch one-day festival BludFest, also at Milton Keynes Bowl. Prices were capped at £49.50 for the multi-genre event, which was headlined and curated by the singer-songwriter.

Meanwhile, the firm has revealed that Manchester’s Outbreak Festival will form part of the lineup for its new Lido Festival in London’s Victoria Park next summer. Described as “the biggest outdoor event led by hardcore acts that the UK’s ever had”, the 13 June gathering will be topped by a UK exclusive performance by Turnstile, as well as acts such as Alex G, Sunny Day Real Estate, Danny Brown, Fleshwater, Have A Nice Life and Knocked Loose.

The inaugural London edition will be followed by a two-day event at Outbreak’s usual home of Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester on 14-15 June, headlined by Knocked Loose & Alex G.

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Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival organisers have announced the full line-up for the 2025 edition, headlined by Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott.

The Goldenvoice-promoted festival (cap 125,000) will return for a 24th instalment between 11–13 and 18–20 April at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

The lineup announcement comes two months earlier than usual, following reports that Post Malone would headline the Californian festival.

Malone has now been confirmed to close out both Sundays, following his headline performance at Coachella’s sister event Stagecoach this year. It will be his first time as a Coachella headliner, though he performed at the festival in 2018 and has made several guest appearances over the years (most recently with Bad Bunny in 2022).

It is Gaga’s second time as a Coachella headliner, following her appearance in 2017 when she filled in for a pregnant Beyoncé.

Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and Travis Scott top the bill for next year’s edition

Green Day will play Coachella as a band for the first time, although frontman Billie Joe Armstrong performed as part of the Replacements in 2014.

Scott is billed as the fourth headliner, occupying the same spot on the poster that No Doubt did in 2024 with the tagline “Travis Scott designs the desert”.

In a press release, Scott’s representatives state he is slated to headline the main stage on Saturday night “where he will debut an entirely new era of music to the world”.

Scott was scheduled to headline in 2020 before the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic. He was booked again in 2022, but was taken off the lineup following the fatal crowd crush at his own Astroworld Festival in 2021.

Other major acts lined up for Coachella 2025 include Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, solo performances from BLACKPINK‘s Lisa and Jennie, Benson Boone, the original Misfits, Zedd, The Prodigy, FKA Twigs, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Enhypen and more.

This year’s festival was headlined by Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, No Doubt and Tyler, the Creator.

 

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All Things Live has named Coen ter Wolbeek as Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective November 1 2024.

Wolbeek brings over 30 years of industry expertise, having co-founded Agents After All, one of the largest independent companies in the Dutch live entertainment market.

The Amsterdam-based promoter, which is involved in more than 1,500 concerts annually in the Netherlands, was acquired by All Things Live in December 2022.

Wolbeek will continue to co-manage the careers of several Dutch artists through Agents After All alongside his new role as Group COO at All Things Live.

“Exactly 20 years after founding Agents After All and growing it into the powerhouse as it is today, I am ready for the next chapter,” he says.

“Agents After All and All Things Live started their cooperation in 2022, and I’ve witnessed its rise as one of Europe’s most exciting independent live entertainment companies. The Group is well-positioned for further international expansion, and I am eager to contribute to its growth by creating more opportunities for the talented artists we represent and working alongside the ambitious team and co-owners.”

Gry Mølleskog, Group CEO of All Things Live, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Coen ter Wolbeek to our Management team. His extensive experience and proven track record in the live entertainment industry will be invaluable as we continue to expand our business across Europe. Coen’s strategic insight and passion for industry will help drive our growth and strengthen our position as a leading independent player.”

“Coen’s strategic insight and passion for industry will help drive our growth and strengthen our position as a leading independent player”

Since All Things Live was founded by Waterland Private Equity in 2018, it has expanded to 28 companies in eight countries. The company’s portfolio ranges from musical productions to music festivals and standup events to stadium concerts, with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, The Rolling Stones, Eminem, and Rammstein among its clients.

Elsewhere, AEG Presents subsidiary Goldenvoice has announced a slate of promotions for several talent buyers across southern California.

Becky Rosen-Checa, talent buyer for Roxy Theatre and El Rey Theatre, will segue from those venues to oversee bookings for the Fox Theater Pomona in addition to one-off LA area shows for Goldenvoice. She will also be contributing to Goldenvoice’s catalogue of shows at Los Angeles State Historic Park and Brookside at the Rose Bowl, as well as festival properties Palm Springs Surf Club and Desert Air.

Henry Huerta, Rosen-Checa’s booking partner, will continue to handle booking duties at the Roxy and El Rey, alongside newly-promoted talent buyer Montreh Nariman-Hassanabadi. Nariman-Hassanbadi was most recently a talent buyer assistant at Goldenvoice.

Chavanté Flakes, who joined AEG Presents in 2022 and segued into the role of booking manager at Goldenvoice this year, has been promoted to talent buyer at The Novo, the Downtown LA club that is a key hip-hop and R&B destination in the city. Flakes joins current Novo talent buyer Gaston Leone in this role.

In addition, Candace Mandracia has joined the company to help book shows in the San Diego area. Mandracia, who worked most recently at AEG Presents’ Las Vegas office and Live Nation San Diego before that, will now book shows at such venues as Rady Shell, Humphreys, and the venues at Pechanga Casino. She joins the booking team of John Wojas, Lea Swanson and Jenn Liebelt.

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Goldenvoice booker Stacy Vee has discussed country music’s growing influence on the wider music scene ahead of this weekend’s Stagecoach Festival.

Launched in 2007, the sold-out Californian gathering returns to Indio’s Empire Polo Club – the home of Coachella – from 26-28 April.

The genre has reached new audiences outside its traditional heartland in recent years with the advent of streaming and events such as Europe’s Country to Country, while pop superstars such as Beyoncé and Kylie Minogue have released country-tinged albums, with Lana Del Rey set to follow.

“Obviously it’s ushering in so many new fans, but also new voices,” reflects Vee, speaking to the Los Angeles Times.” People who never thought they’d make a country record are making a country record. New people are giving Nashville a chance, and in Nashville, people are giving other things a chance.

“A lot of artists are embracing it and putting their own interpretation on it. That’s something I’ve been intentionally focused on with Stagecoach, giving it its own identity, a California sound and my own interpretation of what country music is.”

“I’d love to think that we’ve been a pioneer in ushering in new voices”

Headlined by country icons Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Morgan Wallen, Stagecoach will also feature the likes of Post Malone, Diplo, the Beach Boys and Nickelback.

“I’d love to think that we’ve been a pioneer in ushering in new voices,” says Vee. “I really rolled the dice booking Diplo for the first time. I didn’t know what Stagecoach fans would think of something like that, but he was just wildly embraced. And in 2022, I booked Nelly, and I’m like, ‘What are people gonna think about this?’

“We really do approach Stagecoach with a Coachella brain. People are really excited about the things they don’t ask for. It’s really encouraging, and I think that country music fans are much more open minded than maybe they get credit for.”

She continues: “[The Nickelback booking] is taking a chance. And I gave Post Malone a big slot on the main stage. But I don’t think I’ve read one negative comment on our socials about it. Every single person embraced Post with open arms, that he’s stepping his foot into country music. That’s what’s drawing in people like Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey. Everybody’s discovered this country music thing is really fun.”

“We’re focused on creating the country culture of tomorrow”

Stagecoach’s 2024 bill also includes Jelly Roll, Elle King, Willie Nelson, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, Carin León, Dwight Yoakam, Megan Moroney, Paul Cauthen, Clint Black, Ernest, Charley Crockett and Leon Bridges, among others. The festival will again be livestreamed exclusively on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video.

Vee, who was promoted to EVP at Goldenvoice last summer, started with the AEG subsidiary in 2002 and oversees the booking department alongside fellow EVP Jenn Yacoubian.

“The approach I take to booking Stagecoach specifically is I want to deliver to every type of country music fan,” she adds. “There are my beloved loyal Stagecoach fans who’ve been coming since 2007. I want the top-streamed, most-airplay acts selling out stadiums. I want songwriting. I want what I call ‘country curious’ people to give me a shot. People who are like, ‘Well, I don’t really like country music, but there’s Wiz Khalifa and Diplo and Post Malone and Dillon Francis and Nickelback, what’s going on over there?’

“We’re focused on creating the country culture of tomorrow. It’s the best part of my job and some responsibility, but it’s also a blast.”

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Critics have delivered their verdicts on the opening weekend of Coachella 2024.

The Goldenvoice-promoted phenomenon made its return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, from 12-14 April, headlined by Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator, Doja Cat and No Doubt.

The bill also features the likes of Blur, Peso Pluma, Lil Uzi Vert, Justice, Bizarrap, Deftones, ATEEZ, Everything Always, Peggy Gou, Ice Spice, Gesaffelstein, Sublime, Jungle, Dom Dolla, Bleachers, Grimes, Jon Batiste and Le Sserafim, J Balvin, Jhené Aiko, Khruangbing, Carin León, Anyma, John Summit, Lil Yachty and DJ Snake.

Innovations for this year include a new stage dedicated to dance music – the Quasar stage – which featured extended sets running for three to four hours on both weekends.

But the 125,000-cap festival had been hit by reports of slower than usual ticket sales in the run-up. Once known for selling out on the same day the lineup was released, this year it took considerably longer, leading the Los Angeles Times to question whether Coachella had “lost its shine”.

A Time article, meanwhile, investigated claims that the event had descended into the “Influencer Olympics”, given its popularity with online content creators.

Nevertheless, reviews of weekend one have been largely positive. Tyler, the Creator’s Saturday headline slot, which saw him call upon special guests Donald Glover, A$AP Rocky, Charlie Wilson and Kali Uchis, was hailed by the Guardian as “an exhilarating, high-stakes spectacle”.

The reunited No Doubt, who were joined on stage by Olivia Rodrigo, were similarly trumpeted for their “joyous, high-energy” performance by the publication, which declared the band’s singer Gwen Stefani as “MVP of Coachella so far”.

“There’s a whole generation of new stars waiting to be minted, and Coachella gives them the opportunity to make their case”

Lana Del Rey introduced Jon Batiste, Jack Antonoff and Billie Eilish on stage for her Friday night showing, duetting with the latter on Ocean Eyes and Video Games. Billboard summarised the set as “perplexing – and profound”.

Elsewhere, Uproxx described Sunday’s bill as “a bit thinner on must-see artists” but was full of praise for Doja Cat’s headline set, which featured guest appearances from A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage and Teezo Touchdown.

“Doja Cat, like Lana Del Rey, Tyler The Creator, J Balvin, and a slew of other artists to rock the stage, showed the potential still remaining to be wrought from the platform provided by Coachella,” it concludes.

“What she – and they – demonstrated was that it doesn’t take flashy streaming numbers or worldwide name recognition, so much as the imagination to prove that they belong. There’s a whole generation of new stars waiting to be minted, and Coachella gives them the opportunity to make their case.”

Other surprise guests included Shakira, who appeared during Bizarrap’s DJ set, Becky G, who guested with Peso Pluma, Paris Hilton, who joined last-minute additions Vampire Weekend, and Wizkid and Justin Bieber, who performed with Tems. There was also a Fugees reunion of sorts as Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean performed alongside Hill’s son YG Marley.

And in one of the festival’s more unexpected turns, reggaeton star J Balvin brought out Will Smith for a rendition of Smith’s 1997 smash Men In Black.

Meanwhile, a clip of Blur’s Damon Albarn went viral after large sections of the crowd apparently failed to follow his cues to sing along to the British group’s 1994 hit Girls & Boys. “You’re never seeing us again so you might as well fucking sing it,” complained the frontman.

Grimes also attracted attention for the wrong reasons after screaming into her microphone with frustration during her DJ set due to experiencing “major technical difficulties”.

“I want to apologise for the technical issues with the show tonight,” she later posted on X. “I wanted to come back [really] strong and usually I always handle every aspect of my show myself – to save time this was one of the first times I’ve outsourced essential things.”

Coachella 2024 concludes from 19-21 April.

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Coachella festival has announced a partnership with NFT marketplace OpenSea to launch a series of unique collections that promise to “usher in a new paradigm in the live event and ticketing industry”.

Coachella Keepsakes will serve as an “all-access pass” to exclusive festival experiences and products, utilising the Avalanche blockchain network to turn “digital assets into real-world benefits”.

Each collection pairs collectible Coachella IP artwork with benefits ranging from access to exclusive festival areas such as the VIP Rose Garden or the new Oasis Lounge, to limited edition merchandise and VIP festival passes.

“Our collaboration with OpenSea begins a new chapter in how we use NFTs to provide unique custom experiences for Coachella in real life and online,” says Sam Schoonover, innovation lead for Coachella.

“We’re moving towards a future where Coachella isn’t just an event you attend, but an experience you can own and shape based on the digital tokens in your possession. We’re enabling this future with OpenSea, a trusted and secure marketplace that helps us safely provide these new opportunities to fans.”

The first collection, titled The VIP Pass + Oasis Lounge Keepsake, launched yesterday (5 March), granting access to a 2024 VIP festival pass and the Oasis Lounge. Priced at $1,499, 1,000 were made available for purchase.

“Our partnership with Coachella represents a significant milestone, uniting the digital with the physical”

Coachella and OpenSea will release the second collection, the Canvas Welcome Box Keepsake, on 25 March, offering benefits including unique merchandise, digital content and access to the Rose Garden VIP area. The third and final drop, introducing an artist collaboration, will then follow in mid-April.

“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Coachella, a festival that has dominated the cultural zeitgeist for over two decades,” adds Devin Finzer, CEO of OpenSea. “Since our inception in 2017, we’ve been at the forefront of the NFT revolution, witnessing firsthand the expansion of digital ownership and its evolving utilities.

“Our partnership with Coachella represents a significant milestone, uniting the digital with the physical in ways that promise to enrich the festival experience and usher in a new paradigm in the live event and ticketing industry.”

Coachella previously partnered with global cryptocurrency exchange FTX to auction off 10 lifetime passes as part of an NFT series that sold for a combined $1.5 million (€1.3m). The ‘Coachella Keys’ collection granted admission to the 125,000-cap festival in Indio, California every year, along with a unique experience. FTX filed for bankruptcy in 2022.

Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator, Doja Cat and No Doubt will headline Goldenvoice-promoted Coachella’s 2024 edition. The 125,000-cap festival will return across two consecutive weekends (12-14 and 19-21 April) at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

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A new punk-centric festival is coming to the Californian city of Pomona, courtesy of AEG-backed promoter Goldenvoice.

Black Flag, Bad Religion, Iggy Pop, Misfits, Social Distortion, Turnstile and Sublime are among the acts set to perform at the event, dubbed No Values.

The one-day event will take place on 8 June at the Pomona Fairplex, across four stages. Tickets go on sale on 23 February, starting at $199 (£157, €183) for general admission, plus fees.

In the US, Goldenvoice produces several festivals, most notably Coachella, as well as operating 14 mid-sized venues and promoting over 1,800 shows per year.

The unveiling of No Values comes amid a surge of new rock and punk-centred festivals. Goldenvoice last year launched a new hard rock festival called Power Trip, at the home of Coachella.

The unveiling of No Values comes amid a surge of new rock and punk-centred festivals

Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, ACDC, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and Tool performed at the October event at the Empire Polo Club in California.

Live Nation has also launched several new rock festivals in recent years, including Sick New World, When We Were Young, Adjacent and The World is A Vampire – the latter two via subsidiaries C3 Presents and Ocesa respectively.

Elsewhere, Australian promoter Apex Entertainment is capitalising on the genre’s boom with a new touring festival featuring rock and post-punk icons.

Pandemonium Rocks is scheduled to land in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast this April with performances from the likes of Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Blondie, Gang Of Four and Dead Kennedys.

Read more about new festivals launching in 2024 in this IQ feature, published yesterday (21 February).

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Coachella organisers have received criticism from festivalgoers over the event’s revised parking policy.

The 125,000-cap festival will return across two consecutive weekends (12-14 and 19-21 April) at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Under new rules implemented this year by promoter Goldenvoice, only vehicles with four or more people will be permitted into the day car park, “with no exceptions”.

Everyone in the vehicle must have a valid festival wristband and corresponding parking pass upon arrival, while vehicles that do not meet the requirements will be turned away and directed to a “nearby, offsite location”.

Previously, day parking was on a first-come, first-served basis, and the switch has been criticised by some ticket-holders on social media, who have questioned the logistics and rationale behind the move.

Speaking to the Desert Sun, Indio police spokesperson Ben Guitron says the city had no role in the decision.

“Anything Goldenvoice does, we’re in a partnership and want to know if there’s a significant impact”

“Anything Goldenvoice does, we’re in a partnership and want to know if there’s a significant impact… and make sure there are no traffic delays unless there are unforeseen things that sometimes happen,” adds Guitron, who points out that traffic issues often crop up on the opening day of the event.

“[The first day] is something we look at closely because that’s going to set the tone on how the rest of the concert traffic will be. We had two years where we didn’t have the festivals because of Covid, but there were a lot of street improvements, so the flow of traffic is better. We don’t see a strain unless people don’t follow the directions they’ve been given to get to the concert.”

Goldenvoice, which has long encouraged carpooling to the event, has not responded to requests for comment.

Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator, Doja Cat and No Doubt will headline the 2024 edition of Coachella, which has reportedly experienced its slowest ticket sales in a decade.

While No Doubt and Sublime are reuniting for the event, festival curator and Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett revealed this week that he also attempted to get legendary American band Talking Heads back together.

Tollett told Billboard he travelled to the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival for a 40th anniversary celebration of the Talking Heads’ concert film Stop Making Sense to potentially discuss having the band perform at Coachella. Tollett says he met with the group and their representatives, but “sensed there were no shows happening, so I didn’t make an offer”.

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