Let the lineup speculation begin - the tenth annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will be held April 16-18, 2010.
While concert promoters Goldenvoice haven't announced any acts for the eleventh incarnation of America's most acclaimed music festival, they have confirmed the Coachella weekend and have officially begun selling pre-sale ticket packages, including layaway plans. Visit www.coachella.com for details.
Though nobody has been officially confirmed for the three-day festival - which will be held on the same weekend as last year, which included headliners Paul McCartney, The Cure and The Killers - many artists have already started talking about their plans.
DEVO have stated in an interview that their 2010 tour will kick-off at Coachella, while TIESTO told me in a recent interview that he is talking to organizers about a return engagement (I will post interview this week, stay tuned). THE BEASTIE BOYS have mentioned that they're talking about a possible Coachella appearance in 2010, and MUSE is also being speculated by many, as their U.S. arena tour is currently scheduled to end the week before Coachella in Arizona, with no Southern California date scheduled. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN are perennial rumor-mill fodder, and will likely be this year, as well, as they are rumored to be touring America in spring.
Also early favorites throughout speculation circles include reunited acts FAITH NO MORE and PAVEMENT, with SMASHING PUMPKINS making a lot of sense as well, given the fact that the band have begun releasing new material. GORILLAZ - who are planning the release of new album Plastic Beach for 2010 - have also been bounced around.
The biggest rumor so far? THE ROLLING STONES. Following headlining sets from Roger Waters in 2008 and Paul McCartney in 2009, the Stones wouldn't come as a surprise. Personally, I'd rather see DAVID BOWIE anchor the bill as the festival's legendary name, but that's what is so great about speculation - we can all do it!
My wish list? Faith No More and DAFT PUNK headlining Friday night, an improbable TALKING HEADS reunion followed by FATBOY SLIM on Saturday night (Heads frontman David Byrne and Fatboy Slim joined forces for Here Lies Love, a collaboration to be released Feb. 23), and Bowie sending us all home happy with Sunday evening's closing set. I know that's not going to happen, but let a man dream...
Who would you like to see on Coachella? Leave your wish-list below, and be sure to visit the Coachella message boards, where there is a running list of rumored an unofficially "confirmed" acts.
In 2009, the official Coachella lineup was released January 30.
As has been the case since the festival's inception, the three-day concert will be held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, about 20 miles east of Palm Springs, CA, and two hours east of Los Angeles. This year's festival will include expanded camping options for cars, RVs and traditional tents.
The first Coachella was held in 1999, then the festival skipped a year before beginning its annual run in 2001. The festival transformed from a two-day event to a three-day concert starting in 2007.
Follow National Music Examiner Paul Gargano on Twitter: @PaulGargano
Comments
Its gonna be Muse, Rolling Stones and Gorillaz.
Faith No More. With all due respect the Rolling Stones were a decent bar band about 35 years ago. That would drain far too much money that could be used elsewhere, for better acts, for a far better value.
I really want Street Sweeper Social Club to make an appearance.
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