As the sun set on Sunday night and the heat began to cool, Phoenix’s “Lisztomania” blared from the Outdoor Theatre. The enormous crowd grew in seconds, music fanatics rushing to hear the infectious song. As everyone grew quiet, the music sounded flawless and the peaceful aura of Coachella became encapsulated in this one magical moment.
The tranquil and carefree aura is what truly defines the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Everyone is friendly, complimentary, and incredibly free-spirited. Friendships and camaraderies naturally form, as attendees share a common bond: the music.
This year some of the major headliners included Muse, Jay-Z, and the Gorillaz, followed by the unforgettable performances of Passion Pit, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, Tiesto, Kaskade, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes. The music was truly extraordinary as fans gathered and watched in awe of their favorite performers. The most breathtaking performances were those by the XX, Phoenix, and Matt & Kim. The XX opened with the first song on their album “Intro” and a sense of fascination fell over the multitude of people in the audience. Their entire set was impeccable, with a sensational performance of “Crystalised.” Matt & Kim’s set, on the other hand, was undoubtedly invigorating. The enthusiastic pair livened up the audience with their final song “Daylight” which appropriately conveyed the blazing heat of the weekend. Phoenix drew a massive sea of people with their outstanding performance of the top hits from their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, including “1901” and “Love Like a Sunset.” It was the perfect end to the magical weekend.
Goldenvoice made a very intelligent decision in selecting these bands as headliners. As a result, the amount of attendees was higher than ever before. With a record audience of 75,000 people, the 3-Day passes were completely sold out. It was the first time that people showed up ticketless, scavenging and willing to pay considerable prices for extra tickets.
The newly advanced ticket system was a success as well; although the one-day tickets were very popular in the past for the Saturday shows, the three-day passes encouraged attendees to pay the full three-day price and be present for the complete festival.
The crowd was as eclectic as ever—from a woman on stilts to girls with hula-hoops, and many different styles were displayed. The most prevalent trends included the wearing of Native American headdresses, lace clothing, floppy hats, fedoras, and of course, Ray Bans. With the blazing sun beating from above, the heat was almost unbearable. Clothing was minimal and every inch of shade was inhabited throughout the day.
The central attraction, known as the Do-Lab, provided mist, hoses, and shaded mattresses. This area was ceaselessly filled with the most eccentric people. On Sunday, a troop of acrobats performed on the Do-Lab stage; their outfits were beautifully detailed and their talent was awe-inspiring. The newest attraction was the 150-foot-tall, light-up Ferris wheel, which had an incessant line all weekend.
All in all, the 2010 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival was a great success and will always be remembered as a remarkable weekend. I wonder what they will do to make this amazing weekend even more magical next year.
-Kelsey Cameron
