Yesterday, the lineup for the 19th incarnation of Indio, California’s Coachella was announced, and, as usual, there isn’t that much for hard rock and metal fans. That’s not that much of a surprise, as the festival always has tended to favor indie rock and alternative music. This year, however, they’ve pivoted a bit, in that the three headliners for the festival are R&B and hip-hop, with Beyonce, Eminem and The Weeknd topping the bill. Like most years, after the initial headliners, as the fonts get smaller, you’re more and more unlikely to recognize any of the artists for the fest, which takes place on consecutive weekends from April 13-15 and 20-22. This year, there is a small rock and metal representation, with A Perfect Circle, The Bronx, X Japan and Greta Van Fleet appearing. That’s about par for the course, although they have hosted the likes of Motorhead, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Tool and Nine Inch Nails in previous years. This year, there aren’t even that many heritage alternative bands, which is a marked departure from years past. In fact, David Byrne is the only vintage act we’re immediately seeing.
It’s not like anyone is expecting the fest to suddenly embrace heavy music, but even prior attendees are probably noticing that this isn’t their father’s Coachella, as R&B and hip-hop is having a moment. It’s easily the most-streamed music, and while indie rock hasn’t fallen out of favor with Coachella attendees, the fest is trying to mirror popular music. The event will likely sell out both weekends, and tickets will go on sale this Friday at noon via coachella.com. General admission passes are $429, including fees and taxes, while the Festival Pass and Shuttle Combo is $504. VIP Festival Passes are $999 and VIP parking is $150. Have fun if you’re going. We won’t be.
