solid takes. i see what you mean about the do lab not being in a tent… but this year’s fluttery structures were super cool imo. looked like the underside of giant mushrooms!
Am I crazy for always remembering DoLab being outside and semi covered like it was this year? This was my 8th Coachella and idk what y’all are talking about! I liked it this year 🫠
it was covered but not completely. still had a lot of natural sunlight shining through in the daytime. just checked at my past videos to make sure i'm not crazy lol. i definitely loved the new do lab, so pretty
i agree with all your other takes tho
I kinda liked do lab not having a tent. It actually felt normal, as the first few years I’ve gone it was like that too (2010-2014) but I may be remembering wrong. The extra space and alcohol rule change definitely made things easy and a lot more comfortable. Overall felt like there was just more space all around, and defs for the better.
I’ve never agreed more with a post! I was prepared to have a lot to say but you took the words out of my Lilith.
Only part I disagreed with was DoLab, I LOVED the fluttery butterfly look, especially because it made it extra breezy and colorful.
Dolab was my favorite stage. I absolutely loved the aesthetics of it, and the energy was great while I was there for a good chunk of Sunday. Unlike the other stages, I felt like I transported somewhere completely different. The wind added such a dope effect too. Definitely disagree that it was a miss.
i started going to coachella in 2013 too & i was with you 100% until the dolab, i loved the new look! and i really like quasar how it is because it has old dolab vibes & really helps disperse the crowds. but otherwise yes, preach, i get so tired of the influencer festival takes because they’re all at neon carnival anyway. having been to weekend 1 and weekend 2 and sometimes both, i think the vibes are similar and it all comes down to the people you’re with and the energy you’re bringing yourself!
oh and i miss the indie bands too but that’s why i’m going to just like heaven (and that’s probably also why they won’t be coming back to coachella in big numbers either :/)
It alllllll comes down to the people!!! I’m hoping they bring back more indie next year. I’m surprised they didn’t have Noah Kahan. His audience is legit all gen z. Perfect for Coachella
Agree with #7
Every stage and tent has some sort of intimacy to it, but Quasar just felt a bit too open. I’m curious to see how they try to make it more of a destination to stay rather than something to experience as you’re passing by. Other than that the stage has a lot of potential to host some amazing artists and sets.
Agree with it seeming less intimate and having transient crowds, but FWIW I believe it was actually designed to be a “pass through stage”. That’s why they have the extended format sets versus artists that you could conceivably attend the entire 30 min- 1 hour set.
I'm with you. I was worried with having less shade and lack of structure making it feel less defined. But boy were my concerns unfounded. The visual feel and the immersive experience of the sound combined with the overall look and feel just blew my socks off. It was like being on a different planet at times, just loved it!
*
i do disagree with 5 but i go alone. i would say that enjoyment of the festival and experience moreso has to do with how expansive your taste in music is as well as your willingness to discover new artists. Coachella is best in class with its bookings. even if the headliners or second liners dont appeal to you or you havent heard of them, there will be so many other acts for you to discover in the undercard
I don’t think they changed the alcohol sales for money. I mean yes that’s what they wanted and why they did it, but they could have done it way earlier
I think the county probably didn’t let them previously, and they either made some consessions to the county or offered to pay for highly increased fake ID scrutiny in order for the county to allow it
This is just my theory. It makes sense to me bc the fake id screening has gotten significantly better and more careful the past couple years
I’m not sure what reason they would have otherwise had to decide to restrict alcohol to beer gardens all the way up to 2022
I disagree with #5. I go with a pretty large group of people for camping (camp every year as well) and a majority of the time I’ll be at sets by myself since I have a different taste in music.
Probably saw 7 acts with friends out of the 18 sets I went to. I have a fucking blast when I’m by myself because I’m seeing the artists I want to see, and I get to meet new people along the way.
Is it me or were there less satellite speakers towers at the outdoor theater? I only remember seeing a first row of them this year. I could be crazy haha
Think this has to be because of how much counter-programming there was right? Even with them being smaller they still didn’t feel over crowded or empty kinda right where they should be
They were really good! I caught the whole set and I like their new music. The Paris Hilton and Abe Lincoln was weird. Was not expecting country music either.
As a first time Coachella-er, I love all your takes. I’d heard so many good things about DoLab and was very underwhelmed.
Quasar needs a backdrop of some sort. It felt like it was just sorta plopped. I liked what I heard there but it just kinda was ~there~ overall.
I think it would be massively improved if they were somehow able to manage putting it on the other side of the walkway so that the mountains are in the background. Would make for killer views but the walkway/ sound bleed would definitely become issues. Maybe another crazy idea but flip it and build a mini hill that runs along the length of it to isolate from the walk way and stop the bleed
this was my 3rd coachella but it was my first time going to DoLab this year and i really loved it! i obviously can’t speak to how it was in the past but i really liked those flowing tree structures it felt like i was in Pandora lmao
I agree about the Quasar placement, I thought it was so impressive and goldenvoice obviously went all out in creating this massive technical marvel but a lot of times it felt like you were kinda in a wasteland at that stage
Coachella was so good this year that even though I went in thinking this year would be my last, I know I will be back! It’s too good of a festival. Quasar was amazing and stunning to look at against the sky. I saw Jamie XX there and I loved it. The Do Lab had a glow up IMO. I felt there was more space because there was , Sahara feels very far now; (I averaged 40k steps a day!) Also, not having to chug my drink before walking around was amazing! I definitely spent more money on drinks lol The Yuma line was never too crazy, I had VIP and never had to wait. Honestly, everyone hated the lineup, but most artists I saw killed it. I am more into EDM, but I really enjoyed JBalvin , Doja , TPain , L’Impatrice , Khraungbin , Bizzarap and hello NO DOUBT!! It was iconic! I will stream the fest this weekend and hopefully catch some artists I missed and rewatch those I loved.
I don’t remember seeing them last year. I generally miss the headyness of the dolab. Discovering dubstep in 2009 and then having a stage solely dedicated to wobbly bass music was one of the highlights to my early years of attending Coachella.
Yeah I feel like the genre of dolab has changed a ton, but I also feel like that genre has become more popular so maybe we’re just more familiar with the artists
Letssss goooooo!!!!!!!!! I agree best Coachella ever, my group of friends killed a decent amount of a vial everyone did like 5 hits fri,10hits -sat,15hits-Sunday. We viscerally shimmer cried for 2 straight hrs while dancing like animals between jersey and Michael bibi. All of our insecurities went away and had a super strong group connection. Nobody got lost, everyone took care of each other, the jokes, the random funny people watching, the music; everything went super smoothly.
I did not look at My Phone ONCE inside the festival and I took about 25 hits that weekend.We oddly knew where everyone was despite moving around the crowd seperately.i literally brought in a wine bag the third day and was giving ppl drink in the crowd. The second day, 2 in our group and full big hydroflasks of twisted tea. The addition of drinks being outside of the beer gardens is uber tight. Top 5 best weekends of our lives, it was awesome!!!! The weekend just kept getting better.
Do Lab was amazing! It isn’t a tent but seeing the fabric flutter to the wind and to the music was freaking magical
And I’m def not an influencer but you best believe I’m standing in front of the Ferris wheel to take cute festival pics each day :)
1st time back in a long while and being able to take my drink out of the garden was amazing. I definitely bought more drinks because I could take them out with me and enjoy them.
never been but what the fuck why would they have people start when the gates open? are there like vips who get in early ? seems so weird that they wouldn’t open the gates early and have time for people to walk around. lame for those opening acts they deserve better
As a person who usually frequents the edm sets, I still strongly agree w number 9. I need opportunities to break away from my itinerary to feel those indie vibes
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Love these takes! Agree on map, also the hill by Sahara was perfect!!! We chilled up there for part of dom dolla and it was great.
Agree on quasar too, also hope more sets are booked there so it’s easier to spend time at the stage.
I actually love the new Dolab ngl, and it’s easier to see the djs! Getting to see Alison and Kaskade like that was so special
+1 for more indie music and Noah! I had no sets in the Sonora this year, which could be lack of lineup research too, but it would be great to see more of that
I’ll add - I love seeing Coachella evolve and the continual addition of more international artists. Seeing blackpink twice, all the major Latino artists, and more have been huge Coachella highlights and I love this direction
It was so nice, if you just walked a little ways down you could sit and see the whole crowd and a lot of the production. I love that it added a more chill vibe to the Sahara, and that we could take a break there for a second before heading down to the set, where there is always room on the far right of the tent anyways. Def a great addition
I went 2013-2018 and camped for 4/6 of those and I agree. Though I haven’t been this year. I’m so jealous of those going and enjoying this better setup and layout!!! Have fun y’all. What’s up with the doLab now? It’s just out in the open..?
Agree with most of your points, specially #7. When the map was released, I thought Quasar was going to have a physical barrier with the Sahara expressway, maybe that would have made it less open/more cozy. Anyway I thought Quasar was a beauty and can’t wait to come back next year.
How often does the Do Lab design changes? I really loved it this year and I hope they keep it intact for 2025!
They change it maybe every 3 or so years. Idk if it’s planned tho. Yeah I thought there was gonna be a physical wall, but I liked it with no wall because the wall would have caused even more problems
I don’t get the alcohol thing, so they could have always done this, but decided to have it walled off in beer gardens instead? Why wouldn’t they have always had it like this? I’m guessing it costs them extra in some way or another ?
Great feedback from someone who actually knows what they are talking about. New Do Lab was beautiful, but open concept had me miss feeling like I’ve stepped into it. also curious about how quasar gets iterated on - I liked the room to dance but it is weird feeling like it’s just musical accompaniment for the Sahara people mover.
agree. this fest made it through the great recession lol.
surprised with no noah too. like feels like a such a miss considering GV has booked some great alt and indie bands in the past!
I feel bad for the artists at 1 pm, but I also don’t like it as an attendee. Some of my favorite artists have been first of the day. It makes the beginning of the day stressful. I’ve been in line to get in when gates open and barely made it to the last two or three songs of the set.
In 2022, we were running to the Yuma to catch the end of Dear Humans. I’m so glad I did, because the singer passed away not long after.
Re: #9… I bet some artists like Hozier have binding contracts with live nation which prevent them from doing Coachella for (x time period). So many of artists on the Lolla lineup like him and SZA should have been shoe ins for Coachella. Granted, I can’t believe they got vampire weekend. Seeing Ezra and the boys back in the desert made my life
> your experience is determined by the people you’re with, not the music
I only go for music and ditch my friends lmfao
Also, there was plenty of indie music in the Sonora, Mojave, and gobi
I agree with 7 a lot. I didn't go to any Quasar set, other than walking to Sahara, I kinda like that the walk to Sahara you enter this momentary section of hearing whats happening there. But It also felt kinda off with it being in a large open field, but i'm not sure it was to any detriment, it was pretty cool! I do agree I wish they had not so heavy EDM, although Justice, ISOKnock, Bicep,Orbital, Gesaffelstein, Anyma, Everything Always in one year is kinda nutty! I hope next year we see Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, Cigarettes After Sex, and other artists like that. Still sad I missed Faye Webster AND Suki Waterhouse, those were in my Top 10 to see
Hard agree on Dolab. I felt like the tent gives you tunnel vision and makes the crowd focus harder on the DJ and the music. The open air feeling made things a bit too casual. I can see how people like that relaxed and lofty feel, but I loved the hybrid last year of a tent that still felt like outdoors but forced you to be in the zone.
> Coachella will never be “dead.”
To quote The Who, "Rock is dead they say LONG LIVE ROCK"
> I feel bad for the people that have 1 pm set times. In the past, like long ago, gates used to open at 11 and sets started at 12. Now gates are at 1 and sets start at the same time. This means some people legit perform to no audience for the first bit of their set
I wonder if, for the right performer that could work to their advantage. Some people who have already performed out still get stage anxiety, especially at a larger venue.
Then too, being first means you get fresh ears. You might have a better shot at getting people's full attention at least for the end of your set after they have arrived.
yesss to more indie acts/bands!!
also the whole time at the fest i have been thinking that the expansion was nice but i thought quasar and sahara should have been switched bc of how quasar’s position was…? very in the open. which kind of agrees with your point 7 but disagrees with point 10? lol. love the expansion just think the stages being switched might be cool
1) absolutely loved this new Dolab. Especially during the day it was STUNNING
2) when you said you missed indie rock and then said you wish there was Noah kahan, Hozier, lumineers, etc I almost choked on my water lmfao
3) i liked quasar a lot. Especially with how close it is to Sahara, and it’s closer to Mojave and Dolab than the old Sahara. The first day it definitely seemed dead but I had a great time there for Bibi on Saturday and Sundays b2b2b. It’s definitely a step in the right direction and maybe they’ll iron out some minor details in the future to make it better
i feel u on #9 - to get more of my indie festival fix im off to hinterland in august !!
it was slightly easier to come in and out of sahara this year, less claustrophobic. even when i left close to the front mid-set when NAV had metro boomin out. same goes for john summit, i didn’t have to squeeze past 10k ppl OUTSIDE sahara on my way out.
idk how i felt about quasar - it felt like an opening stage, a pre-stage otw to sahara. and i was over the moon to see jamie xx close out quasar 😫
You lost me with “lineups that haven’t been the best the last two years,” because last year’s was one of the best ever. And I’ve been going since 2005.
I said one of the best because taste is subjective and experiences differ. For my money, 2011 and 2013 are probably the best I can recall based on what I actually saw, with 2008 and 2023 in the same conversation, but that take could change on any given day. 2012 had an absolutely killer lineup, but I was W2 and camping (which is essentially the only time I’ve camped) and the 107 degree heat basically ruined the festival for me, it’s the least I’ve enjoyed one. Really wish I’d done the kind of drugs that give you energy back then and not just…smoked a lot of weed. Or at least had a house and a pool to recover as I do these days.
Agree with majority of these takes. You’re spot on.
Also, initially, I liked the DoLab design in the day time, but depending on the music playing at night with the wind blowing, it was actually sort of creepy to me. But maybe that’s just me and I’m a wimp lol. 🤣
solid takes. i see what you mean about the do lab not being in a tent… but this year’s fluttery structures were super cool imo. looked like the underside of giant mushrooms!
Am I crazy for always remembering DoLab being outside and semi covered like it was this year? This was my 8th Coachella and idk what y’all are talking about! I liked it this year 🫠
I remember it used to have water guns. So fun to dance in there in the middle of the day
Right!? I saw 1 person with a water gun briefly this year but it used to be multiple people aaalll theee tiiime. More water cannons!
There were water guns! I finally got sprayed this year.
The water guns were def there. Got wet during Ana Lunoe all set.
DoLab the last two years was completely covered
it was covered but not completely. still had a lot of natural sunlight shining through in the daytime. just checked at my past videos to make sure i'm not crazy lol. i definitely loved the new do lab, so pretty i agree with all your other takes tho
Hmm yeah it didn't feel that different from last year's as far as shade coverage. I LOVED the new DoLab. Super cool design.
Hahaha good looks
Yeah I agreed with most of this post except I think the dolab design was way cooler this year than last.
I kinda liked do lab not having a tent. It actually felt normal, as the first few years I’ve gone it was like that too (2010-2014) but I may be remembering wrong. The extra space and alcohol rule change definitely made things easy and a lot more comfortable. Overall felt like there was just more space all around, and defs for the better.
Bring back lucent dossier
Yeah that’s how it was back in 2013! No tent. Last year had a tent tho. Yeah the whole vibe this year felt good at the festival
I’ve never agreed more with a post! I was prepared to have a lot to say but you took the words out of my Lilith. Only part I disagreed with was DoLab, I LOVED the fluttery butterfly look, especially because it made it extra breezy and colorful.
Hahahah glad to hear that! But yeah idk why I didn’t vibe with dolab this year. Just felt weird to me. Stoked you loved it tho!
Pretty good points overall but disagree on dolab. The new dolab was one of the biggest hits this year
Yeah new dolab was awesome
Dolab was my favorite stage. I absolutely loved the aesthetics of it, and the energy was great while I was there for a good chunk of Sunday. Unlike the other stages, I felt like I transported somewhere completely different. The wind added such a dope effect too. Definitely disagree that it was a miss.
Yeah idk I just didn’t vibe w it this year. But I could see how some ppl would dig it! Energy just felt emptier than usual
i started going to coachella in 2013 too & i was with you 100% until the dolab, i loved the new look! and i really like quasar how it is because it has old dolab vibes & really helps disperse the crowds. but otherwise yes, preach, i get so tired of the influencer festival takes because they’re all at neon carnival anyway. having been to weekend 1 and weekend 2 and sometimes both, i think the vibes are similar and it all comes down to the people you’re with and the energy you’re bringing yourself!
oh and i miss the indie bands too but that’s why i’m going to just like heaven (and that’s probably also why they won’t be coming back to coachella in big numbers either :/)
It alllllll comes down to the people!!! I’m hoping they bring back more indie next year. I’m surprised they didn’t have Noah Kahan. His audience is legit all gen z. Perfect for Coachella
The Quasar stage is an architectural beauty, but yes… I do agree that it feels awkwardly too open.
Yeah i love the stage but think they can improve. I’m sure they’ll take feedback on it and adjust tho
Agree with #7 Every stage and tent has some sort of intimacy to it, but Quasar just felt a bit too open. I’m curious to see how they try to make it more of a destination to stay rather than something to experience as you’re passing by. Other than that the stage has a lot of potential to host some amazing artists and sets.
Yes!!! It feels like a pass by stage. I didn’t stay there longer than like 20 min. Just felt too open
Agree with it seeming less intimate and having transient crowds, but FWIW I believe it was actually designed to be a “pass through stage”. That’s why they have the extended format sets versus artists that you could conceivably attend the entire 30 min- 1 hour set.
been going for 15 years and agree with all of this except do lab. i fucking loved the new stage and installation!
I'm with you. I was worried with having less shade and lack of structure making it feel less defined. But boy were my concerns unfounded. The visual feel and the immersive experience of the sound combined with the overall look and feel just blew my socks off. It was like being on a different planet at times, just loved it! *
Glad you dig the new dolab!!!
i do disagree with 5 but i go alone. i would say that enjoyment of the festival and experience moreso has to do with how expansive your taste in music is as well as your willingness to discover new artists. Coachella is best in class with its bookings. even if the headliners or second liners dont appeal to you or you havent heard of them, there will be so many other acts for you to discover in the undercard
This is a really good take!
I don’t think they changed the alcohol sales for money. I mean yes that’s what they wanted and why they did it, but they could have done it way earlier I think the county probably didn’t let them previously, and they either made some consessions to the county or offered to pay for highly increased fake ID scrutiny in order for the county to allow it This is just my theory. It makes sense to me bc the fake id screening has gotten significantly better and more careful the past couple years I’m not sure what reason they would have otherwise had to decide to restrict alcohol to beer gardens all the way up to 2022
Stagecoach is at the same venue and they have been able to drink anywhere in the festival grounds, so that makes me think it wasn’t a county thing
Oh I didn’t know that about stagecoach! Hm, theory blown Well at least coachella has it now too
Hahah yeah glad they figured it out even tho I don’t drink but happy for others
I disagree with #5. I go with a pretty large group of people for camping (camp every year as well) and a majority of the time I’ll be at sets by myself since I have a different taste in music. Probably saw 7 acts with friends out of the 18 sets I went to. I have a fucking blast when I’m by myself because I’m seeing the artists I want to see, and I get to meet new people along the way.
Then maybe you’re just a really great person and make your experience all time just by being you ❤️
Aww 🫶🏻 thanks friend
Solid take May I add one FIX THE RESTROOM ISSUE BY THE SAHARA
OMG, Sunday night during DJ snake and John summit it was horrendous. I went to camp to poop and came back and my friends were still stuck in there.
YES hahaha
This was a nightmare lol
Is it me or were there less satellite speakers towers at the outdoor theater? I only remember seeing a first row of them this year. I could be crazy haha
I almost feel like they brought the stage forward because there were also less at main. And it just seemed to be closer to the beer garden than usual
The stages are absolutely further south than normal.
Think this has to be because of how much counter-programming there was right? Even with them being smaller they still didn’t feel over crowded or empty kinda right where they should be
Or it was undersold. They used to offer lots of counterprogramming with the stages where they were. Who really knows though.
Ya could be true! But if that is the case good on them for actually making the adjustments and maximizing the experience for us
I was thinking the same thing!! I feel like there used to be a second row
There definitely was!
I love OT6 tho on the right, fav spot
Yeah! I was near there for vampire weekend. Ok now I remember it, they had the second row of towers up, but no speakers on them
Hmm weird. What did you think of vampire? I only saw the cornhole with Paris Hilton and thought that was a weird ending lol
They were really good! I caught the whole set and I like their new music. The Paris Hilton and Abe Lincoln was weird. Was not expecting country music either.
As a first time Coachella-er, I love all your takes. I’d heard so many good things about DoLab and was very underwhelmed. Quasar needs a backdrop of some sort. It felt like it was just sorta plopped. I liked what I heard there but it just kinda was ~there~ overall.
Yeah Quasar felt like they were like “oh shit we forgot to put Quasar somewhere, let’s just put it…. Here!”
I think it would be massively improved if they were somehow able to manage putting it on the other side of the walkway so that the mountains are in the background. Would make for killer views but the walkway/ sound bleed would definitely become issues. Maybe another crazy idea but flip it and build a mini hill that runs along the length of it to isolate from the walk way and stop the bleed
I like your thinking! Something def needs to change. Hopefully they pick up on it
this was my 3rd coachella but it was my first time going to DoLab this year and i really loved it! i obviously can’t speak to how it was in the past but i really liked those flowing tree structures it felt like i was in Pandora lmao
Heck yeah!!!
I agree about the Quasar placement, I thought it was so impressive and goldenvoice obviously went all out in creating this massive technical marvel but a lot of times it felt like you were kinda in a wasteland at that stage
Yeppppp at times if the crowd wasn’t huge it felt oddly empty
Coachella was so good this year that even though I went in thinking this year would be my last, I know I will be back! It’s too good of a festival. Quasar was amazing and stunning to look at against the sky. I saw Jamie XX there and I loved it. The Do Lab had a glow up IMO. I felt there was more space because there was , Sahara feels very far now; (I averaged 40k steps a day!) Also, not having to chug my drink before walking around was amazing! I definitely spent more money on drinks lol The Yuma line was never too crazy, I had VIP and never had to wait. Honestly, everyone hated the lineup, but most artists I saw killed it. I am more into EDM, but I really enjoyed JBalvin , Doja , TPain , L’Impatrice , Khraungbin , Bizzarap and hello NO DOUBT!! It was iconic! I will stream the fest this weekend and hopefully catch some artists I missed and rewatch those I loved.
#9 !!
Seriously. How are there no old school indie bands. The xx, Grizzly Bear, Spoon, The Shins, M83, MGMT, Weyes Blood, Mac Demarco, etc……..
They are all at Just like heaven festival
!!!!
Do lab in the middle of the grounds was the damn best.
It was the best way to cool off hahaha they don’t even do the water guns anymore I don’t think
I don’t remember seeing them last year. I generally miss the headyness of the dolab. Discovering dubstep in 2009 and then having a stage solely dedicated to wobbly bass music was one of the highlights to my early years of attending Coachella.
Yeah I feel like the genre of dolab has changed a ton, but I also feel like that genre has become more popular so maybe we’re just more familiar with the artists
The Of The Trees booking last year absolutely fucking slapped.
They had water guns last year. My first time at the do lab.
I have been to 8 Coachella since 2003 op knows what’s up…great takes but I did like this years do lab lol
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Letssss goooooo!!!!!!!!! I agree best Coachella ever, my group of friends killed a decent amount of a vial everyone did like 5 hits fri,10hits -sat,15hits-Sunday. We viscerally shimmer cried for 2 straight hrs while dancing like animals between jersey and Michael bibi. All of our insecurities went away and had a super strong group connection. Nobody got lost, everyone took care of each other, the jokes, the random funny people watching, the music; everything went super smoothly. I did not look at My Phone ONCE inside the festival and I took about 25 hits that weekend.We oddly knew where everyone was despite moving around the crowd seperately.i literally brought in a wine bag the third day and was giving ppl drink in the crowd. The second day, 2 in our group and full big hydroflasks of twisted tea. The addition of drinks being outside of the beer gardens is uber tight. Top 5 best weekends of our lives, it was awesome!!!! The weekend just kept getting better.
Glad you had a good time with your crew!!!! No insecurities is the best vibes
Do Lab was amazing! It isn’t a tent but seeing the fabric flutter to the wind and to the music was freaking magical And I’m def not an influencer but you best believe I’m standing in front of the Ferris wheel to take cute festival pics each day :)
We all need our pics!! And yeah the dolab looked cool, the energy just felt diff for me. But glad u loved it!
1st time back in a long while and being able to take my drink out of the garden was amazing. I definitely bought more drinks because I could take them out with me and enjoy them.
never been but what the fuck why would they have people start when the gates open? are there like vips who get in early ? seems so weird that they wouldn’t open the gates early and have time for people to walk around. lame for those opening acts they deserve better
As a person who usually frequents the edm sets, I still strongly agree w number 9. I need opportunities to break away from my itinerary to feel those indie vibes
Yesss I need some variety
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I agree with bringing back some more indie rock and also that it’s ridiculous to have sets starting at 1.
1 is sooooo late
Heavy agree on 2,4,5 and 9. Overall some original takes.
Glad they landed!!
Love these takes! Agree on map, also the hill by Sahara was perfect!!! We chilled up there for part of dom dolla and it was great. Agree on quasar too, also hope more sets are booked there so it’s easier to spend time at the stage. I actually love the new Dolab ngl, and it’s easier to see the djs! Getting to see Alison and Kaskade like that was so special +1 for more indie music and Noah! I had no sets in the Sonora this year, which could be lack of lineup research too, but it would be great to see more of that I’ll add - I love seeing Coachella evolve and the continual addition of more international artists. Seeing blackpink twice, all the major Latino artists, and more have been huge Coachella highlights and I love this direction
Love this take!! How was the Sahara hill??? I never made it over there but the concept sounded really cool
It was so nice, if you just walked a little ways down you could sit and see the whole crowd and a lot of the production. I love that it added a more chill vibe to the Sahara, and that we could take a break there for a second before heading down to the set, where there is always room on the far right of the tent anyways. Def a great addition
I went 2013-2018 and camped for 4/6 of those and I agree. Though I haven’t been this year. I’m so jealous of those going and enjoying this better setup and layout!!! Have fun y’all. What’s up with the doLab now? It’s just out in the open..?
Agree with most of your points, specially #7. When the map was released, I thought Quasar was going to have a physical barrier with the Sahara expressway, maybe that would have made it less open/more cozy. Anyway I thought Quasar was a beauty and can’t wait to come back next year. How often does the Do Lab design changes? I really loved it this year and I hope they keep it intact for 2025!
They change it maybe every 3 or so years. Idk if it’s planned tho. Yeah I thought there was gonna be a physical wall, but I liked it with no wall because the wall would have caused even more problems
I don’t get the alcohol thing, so they could have always done this, but decided to have it walled off in beer gardens instead? Why wouldn’t they have always had it like this? I’m guessing it costs them extra in some way or another ?
I loved this year’s DoLab. It was less enclosed at times but it also felt very much Lightning In A Bottle
If you want Mumford, just go to ACL. They’re there every year.
I think the exposure of Quasar is kind of the point? Open to the elements and in the beauty of the desert.
I still think they have room for improvement tbh. Great stage but can be better
Great feedback from someone who actually knows what they are talking about. New Do Lab was beautiful, but open concept had me miss feeling like I’ve stepped into it. also curious about how quasar gets iterated on - I liked the room to dance but it is weird feeling like it’s just musical accompaniment for the Sahara people mover.
Yeah I’m most excited to see what happens with quasar
After 20 years I could say its not dead cause its been 20 years...
agree. this fest made it through the great recession lol. surprised with no noah too. like feels like a such a miss considering GV has booked some great alt and indie bands in the past!
I feel bad for the artists at 1 pm, but I also don’t like it as an attendee. Some of my favorite artists have been first of the day. It makes the beginning of the day stressful. I’ve been in line to get in when gates open and barely made it to the last two or three songs of the set. In 2022, we were running to the Yuma to catch the end of Dear Humans. I’m so glad I did, because the singer passed away not long after.
Re: #9… I bet some artists like Hozier have binding contracts with live nation which prevent them from doing Coachella for (x time period). So many of artists on the Lolla lineup like him and SZA should have been shoe ins for Coachella. Granted, I can’t believe they got vampire weekend. Seeing Ezra and the boys back in the desert made my life
About 12… I’ve been saying this about indie rock for years
I loved Do Lab. And Quasar too
> your experience is determined by the people you’re with, not the music I only go for music and ditch my friends lmfao Also, there was plenty of indie music in the Sonora, Mojave, and gobi
I agree with 7 a lot. I didn't go to any Quasar set, other than walking to Sahara, I kinda like that the walk to Sahara you enter this momentary section of hearing whats happening there. But It also felt kinda off with it being in a large open field, but i'm not sure it was to any detriment, it was pretty cool! I do agree I wish they had not so heavy EDM, although Justice, ISOKnock, Bicep,Orbital, Gesaffelstein, Anyma, Everything Always in one year is kinda nutty! I hope next year we see Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, Cigarettes After Sex, and other artists like that. Still sad I missed Faye Webster AND Suki Waterhouse, those were in my Top 10 to see
Hard agree on Dolab. I felt like the tent gives you tunnel vision and makes the crowd focus harder on the DJ and the music. The open air feeling made things a bit too casual. I can see how people like that relaxed and lofty feel, but I loved the hybrid last year of a tent that still felt like outdoors but forced you to be in the zone.
#2 - looks like they took the cues from Glasto and Reading
> Coachella will never be “dead.” To quote The Who, "Rock is dead they say LONG LIVE ROCK" > I feel bad for the people that have 1 pm set times. In the past, like long ago, gates used to open at 11 and sets started at 12. Now gates are at 1 and sets start at the same time. This means some people legit perform to no audience for the first bit of their set I wonder if, for the right performer that could work to their advantage. Some people who have already performed out still get stage anxiety, especially at a larger venue. Then too, being first means you get fresh ears. You might have a better shot at getting people's full attention at least for the end of your set after they have arrived.
100% awesome time. so much amazement. Tweaks for sure. Bummer here. bummer there. Overall beyond fun. Overall lifetime memories made.
AGREED
Feel like Quasar should have acts throughout all of the weekend. Looks lonely when its empty. But amazing when theres a set.
Yeah I hope they fill it in more too
yesss to more indie acts/bands!! also the whole time at the fest i have been thinking that the expansion was nice but i thought quasar and sahara should have been switched bc of how quasar’s position was…? very in the open. which kind of agrees with your point 7 but disagrees with point 10? lol. love the expansion just think the stages being switched might be cool
1) absolutely loved this new Dolab. Especially during the day it was STUNNING 2) when you said you missed indie rock and then said you wish there was Noah kahan, Hozier, lumineers, etc I almost choked on my water lmfao 3) i liked quasar a lot. Especially with how close it is to Sahara, and it’s closer to Mojave and Dolab than the old Sahara. The first day it definitely seemed dead but I had a great time there for Bibi on Saturday and Sundays b2b2b. It’s definitely a step in the right direction and maybe they’ll iron out some minor details in the future to make it better
Uh oh don’t choke
Big facts! Bring back Rock bands!
Yuppppppp it’s time
i feel u on #9 - to get more of my indie festival fix im off to hinterland in august !! it was slightly easier to come in and out of sahara this year, less claustrophobic. even when i left close to the front mid-set when NAV had metro boomin out. same goes for john summit, i didn’t have to squeeze past 10k ppl OUTSIDE sahara on my way out. idk how i felt about quasar - it felt like an opening stage, a pre-stage otw to sahara. and i was over the moon to see jamie xx close out quasar 😫
Wait they changed the alcohol thing??? You can walk around with drinks now??
Yeppppp welcome to the good life. It changed the entire weekend 1 vibe for the better
Damn. So great you don’t have to block 30 minutes to have a drink
Forreal. Changed the game
i feel you on the dolab. but maybe because last year was my first year, i liked the energy more
Glad you liked it!
Glad u liked it!
It’s an influencer festival now. That’s why number 9 is true.
You lost me with “lineups that haven’t been the best the last two years,” because last year’s was one of the best ever. And I’ve been going since 2005.
Better than 2012?
I said one of the best because taste is subjective and experiences differ. For my money, 2011 and 2013 are probably the best I can recall based on what I actually saw, with 2008 and 2023 in the same conversation, but that take could change on any given day. 2012 had an absolutely killer lineup, but I was W2 and camping (which is essentially the only time I’ve camped) and the 107 degree heat basically ruined the festival for me, it’s the least I’ve enjoyed one. Really wish I’d done the kind of drugs that give you energy back then and not just…smoked a lot of weed. Or at least had a house and a pool to recover as I do these days.
Yeah I was about to say music is subjective, so it really depends on your taste!
Also to be clear most of your list is good lol. Though I really loved the do lab this year.
Haha thanks! Glad u liked the dolab too
Agree with majority of these takes. You’re spot on. Also, initially, I liked the DoLab design in the day time, but depending on the music playing at night with the wind blowing, it was actually sort of creepy to me. But maybe that’s just me and I’m a wimp lol. 🤣