It’s once again time to schlep your butts to the sweaty deserts of Indio, California to hear some of your favorite artists perform for scores of young people on hallucinogens. As always, Coachella is spanning two weekends: this year, it’s April 10-12 and April 17-19.
2020 marks the first time there hasn’t been a female headliner at the fest in several years. Lana Del Rey seemed a likely contender, but strangely she is relegated to the second line in the infamous poster design (see it below).
The three headliners this year are Frank Ocean, Rage Against the Machine, and Travis Scott. Rage are one of the only rock bands on the lineup, though hip-hop is having a big moment: Travis Scott is headlining (weird choice, but OK) and Camp Flog Gnaw disappointees can rejoice at long last, because their elusive king Frank Ocean is headlining, too.
There are a few more odd twists: giant pop stars like Carly Rae Jepsen and Charli XCX are in small fonts on lower lines, as is Lil Nas X, whose “Old Town Road” remains the longest-running No. 1 single on the Hot 100….ever.
Also jumping into the fray are BIGBANG, Thom Yorke, DaBaby, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Ari Lennox, Big Sean, City Girls, FKA twigs, Swae Lee, Daniel Caesar, Noname, and Summer Walker. Plus Danny Elfman, who will perhaps wow the crowds with his Nightmare Before Christmas score? To be fair, those Jack Skellington solos slap.
Sadly, Weekend 1 is already sold out. But for the first time, the fest is letting anyone register for Weekend 2 pre-sale passes (which are costly, but come with a payment plan). Head to coachella.com for more info and to register. Godspeed.
