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| Coachella 2013 Lineup |
There are good Coachella lineups and so-so Coachella lineups, but for the festival’s 2013 concert weekends in the desert of Indio, California (April 12-21), they have a great lineup. Coachella 2013 features British post-punk greats Blur and the Stone Roses headlining its first day, France’s synth-rock ensemble Phoenix on its second night, and America’s punk-funk finest, Red Hot Chili Peppers, wrapping up the fest on April 21.
This isn’t exactly the same Coachella Valley Music and Arts Fest that it started as in 1999. What was once known as a celebration of emerging artists and hot new acts has become a spotlight for established rockers, rappers and DJs along with the newbies. Last year Coachella made history when Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's performance featured deceased rapper Tupac Shakur via hologram.
In December 2012, Coachella went for its most established act yet when the fest posted a graphic of the Rolling Stones and the famed lips-and-tongue logo with a question mark for 2013. Having the “world’s greatest rock n’ roll band” certainly would have shown off how far Coachella had come from that first 1999 weekend with then-fresh-faced kids like Beck and Tool. Instead, the Stones declined Coachella’s headlining offer for 2013 (Jagger & Co. wouldn’t be ready, they claimed), as did other rock giants such as David Bowie (not touring) and electro-dance giants Daft Punk (new album not finished by Coachella’s start).
Rock’s elders will still be ably represented at Coachella 2013. Velvet Underground co-founder Lou Reed, Violent Femmes and Dinosaur Jr. are on this year’s bill, as are goth gods Dead Can Dance. Rock’s poet laureate Nick Cave has two ensembles at this year’s Coachella: Bad Seeds, and his garage band Grinderman.
There are also plenty of new and new-ish acts scheduled: the dub-hip hop Major Lazer and the tortured pop of Bat for Lashes, along with avant-garde rockers such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Postal Service. For the most part though, Coachella 2013 is happily booked with 90s giants Trent Reznor (How to Destroy Angels), New Order, Wu Tang Clan and the aforementioned headliners; comfort food for indie-rock lovers everywhere.
For more information: Coachella.com
Posted on Friday, January 25, 2013, 2:55 PM
