In past years, there’s been some sort of announcement of the Coachella lineup by now (like last year, when I spent several hours tuning into an internet feed for a Mexican indie rock station), but I haven’t even heard an announcement of an announcement regarding this year’s lineup yet. And there’s been the total silence on Goldenvoice’s blog and nothing on longtime festival sponsor KROQ’s site. Of course, that lack of official word hasn’t stopped one blog or another from “confirming” acts through mysterious anonymous sources. And according to someone on ohnotheydidnt, the Britney Spears appearance that seemed so preposterous a few weeks ago is actually going to happen, with the singer allowing lots of lazy scribes to make “dance tent”/”circus” jokes:
Although the official line up has not been posted, the names of most performers for this years Coachella Music and Arts Festival (a 3-day music festival in Indio, CA) have been released. Amongst these rumored artists stands Britney Spears. I was (quietly) informed by a friend at Goldenvoice that Britney is a 100% confirmed headliner. The dates for this years Coachella are April 17th-19th, allowing Britney to do her Circus tour as planned. Her Southern California tour dates are set during the same week as Coachella. Britney does not have any booked dates on Coachella weekend, in order to headline either saturday or sunday at the 65,000 guest festival.
EDIT: brit brit isn’t headlining but she will be performing. probably a short set in a tent.
I think Britney might want to practice dodging plastic bottles in preparation for her set. But this rumor raises another question—a few years ago, which Coachella announcement would you have found more peculiar: One saying that Britney Spears would lipsync a few tracks in the dance tent, or one announcing Paul McCartney as a headliner?
Earlier in the day, an independent confirmation of multiple Grammy Award- winning English singer-songwriter Sir Paul McCartney playing Coachella surfaced on music website Consequence of Sound. The aforementioned website recently provided a substantial glimpse (now totaling some 36 “rumored” artists) into what is shaping up to be the hottest festival this year. And although McCartney is expected to cycle through his usual bevy of hits, it’s safe to say that his performance will focus primarily upon 2008′s Electric Arguments, the third collaborative electronic effort with producer Youth under the moniker the Fireman. Expect an official line-up announcement straight from the horse’s mouth in the coming days.
Maybe there’s something to be said here for the fracturing of the indie market, but there’s an element of McCartney headlining that’s actually bringing Coachella a little closer to the booking aesthetic of its British counterpart Glastonbury, which usually boasts at least one “classic” act. Then again, maybe the audience isn’t quite the same. When Rage Against The Machine headlined in 2007, Crowded House, who had the delightful task of warming up for De La Rocha & Co., had to perform amidst booing and assorted thrown paraphernalia. It’s possible the contingent willing to hang out in the desert for a weekend isn’t quite as informed or tolerant as UK audiences.
Rumor has it that the actual announcement will come down on Monday, so here’s your last chance to seem like a savvy prognosticator. Feel free to take a stab at the boldfaced acts for the three days of Coachella, with a place in your heart reserved for disappointment.
My “best” guess, complete with days (for extra inaccuracy):
FRIDAY: Basement Jaxx/Pavement/Nine Inch Nails
SATURDAY: Primal Scream/The Killers/Paul McCartney
SUNDAY: Franz Ferdinand/Blur/Kings of Leon
Britney Spears to perform at Coachella Music Festival! [ohnotheydidnt]
Confirmed: Paul McCartney Takes On Coachella [LAist]
I heard they’re announcing it via twitter at or around midday today (Pacific time). It’s total speculation so I wouldn’t hold my breath. Take this comment with a giant mountain-sized grain of salt. I heard through a friend who heard through a friend of a friend…so probably Monday it is.
So no Blur speculation anymore? Have they confirmed they’re not playing?
my guesses
Fri Morrissey
Sat U2/Killers
Sun No Doubt
I admit the longer it drags on the more I wonder “So the economy is taking this out too, eh?”
@Ned Raggett: Yeah, I sense the delay has something to do with them not being able to get the bands they want.
How bout Leonard Cohen, rumored to begin his US tour April 2 in Austin?
I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for the Specials reunion…
I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for the Specials reunion…
…And Leonard Cohen would be rad! But is Coachella that rad? Questions, questions…
…And Leonard Cohen would be rad! But is Coachella that rad? Questions, questions…
Hearing about The Crowded House hate makes me very sad.
A Pavement reunion is just about the only thing that would justify hauling myself to the other side of the country and missing a week of work for this.
“Then again, maybe the audience isn’t quite the same. When Rage Against The Machine headlined in 2007, Crowded House, who had the delightful task of warming up for De La Rocha & Co., had to perform amidst booing and assorted thrown paraphernalia. It’s possible the contingent willing to hang out in the desert for a weekend isn’t quite as informed or tolerant as UK audiences.”
I would hesitate to characterize the behavior of Rage fans as indicative of the festival’s attitude as a whole. There were so many reports that weekend about those assholes causing problems in the camp grounds and elsewhere, doing their best to turn the place into Woodstock 99.
The festival programmers, on the other hand, made a HUGE mistake by putting Crowded House up before Rage. That slot should’ve been saved for either a harder, or slightly more anonymous act.
@Cos: My personal experience has been that there is always a weird fratboy contingent at Coachella year-in/year-out that attends merely to see one or two acts, so while it’s probably a little unfair to assign an attitude to the festival based on boorish Rage fans, I found fans of Tool and Nine Inch Nails just as ridiculous and singleminded on other Coachella occasions.
I know it’s been thrown around, but Morresey’s got a new record out. I don’t see why he is any less likely to be there than anyone else.
morrissey’s u.s. tour dates end in new mexico a couple of days before coachella.
No Pavement
No U2
No Blur
Hispanics love Morrisey.
Fri: Killers
Sat: Morrissey
Sun: No Doubt
Kings of Leon as sub-headliner. Animal Collective get a prime spot.
Jack Johnson is surfing on a pile of money in Hawaii.
True– but there’s a large subculture in LA as well.
Chuck Klosterman Spin did an article in Spin a while back where he visited a Smiths convention in LA— you may be able to find it online somewhere.
@A Roach: Hispanics love Morrissey.
Yeah, but that love is mostly Mexican.
Does Basement Jaxx have something coming out in the next few months?
The lineup cannot contain too many goodies cuz I blew my wad to attend last year and will lose my shit if the likes of Paul McCartney shows up now.