The Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California kicks off today, so if you’re headed there chances are you’re stuck in traffic right now with thousands of other excited music fans. Fear not, the end result will be worth it.
Coachella is known for packing in some huge names alongside some of the best up-and-coming artists, and this year is no exception. Paul McCartney, Morrissey, The Killers, M.I.A., The Cure, My Bloody Valentine and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs should keep you plenty busy. But be sure to set aside some time for arguably lesser known acts like Silversun Pickups, Girl Talk, Molotov, Fleet Foxes, Mastodon, Glasvegas, Antony & The Johnsons, Lykke Li, Vivian Girls and Supermayer.
If you’ve never been before, get the lowdown from locals here. There are plenty of helpful hints for surviving all the great and not so great things about a huge festival like this one. And stay up to the minute with Twitter.
And iPhone lovers, of course there’s an app just for you. The official Coachella app includes set times, a custom scheduler, venue map, friend finder and a photo uploader. As if it could be any more convenient, it’s also free!
Last but not least, drink plenty of water. The desert ain’t no joke. And don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and earplugs (especially for My Bloody Valentine).