Coachella, the world’s largest music festival, attracts thousands of attendees every year. The festival takes place in Indio, California bringing together a multitude of fans, including celebrities and influencers like Victoria Monét, Kylie Jenner, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Every year, this event attracts thousands of fans from all over the world. According to npr.com, Coachella’s diverse lineup, celebrity-studded audience, and ample commercial opportunities for brands and social media influencers make it one of the most popular and profitable music festivals in the world. Sophomore Ayanna Bates had a similar point of view when it came to why Coachella was so popular.
“I think festivals like Coachella especially attract so many people because it’s a good opportunity to mix and mingle with people alike and to show off your personality,” Bates said. “It’s also a good way to exercise, party, and have fun.”
Not only is Coachella a place to see an artist perform, it’s a place that also enhances social interaction when it comes to talking to different people. According to www.craft-music.com, ‘music festivals go beyond the realm of entertainment, acting as vital social instruments that bring people together. They create spaces where attendees can share experiences, celebrate diversity, and engage with different cultures. Sophomore Favour Ebolum believes that social interaction positively affects people as well.
“I feel like it positively affects people because you know, there’s so many people you can meet,” Ebolum said. “You can meet a lot of people like if you’re on YouTube and still see your favorite artists.”
Coachella isn’t just a one day thing, it spreads across two three day weekends, and each weekend has various different artists. Artists like Travis Scott, Lady Gaga, and Billie Ellish, and much more. Lots of these artists attract quite the crowd, while others have a few hundred. Sophomore Makayla Holt expresses why some artists don’t gain the same attraction as others.
“They’ve been doing this forever, and newer artists like Ice Spice or Sexxy Red have only been in the game/music industry for a few months, so they fall off,” Holt said. “She released her song, but it’s not up there, like the top 100 because she fell off after she disappeared out of nowhere.”
In 2018, Beyoncé made history for becoming the first black woman to headline Coachella. Throughout the world, this statement meant something to multiple people. This was the first time a performance like this was turned into a Netflix documentary and special. Bates states why this means so much to females, and why it was so memorable.
“I think that it’s so bold and beautiful, and I love it. Beyoncé being the first choice is also great because she’s brand and amazing, and we love her.” Bates said. “I think she set the track for African Americans at Coachella.”
Although music festivals are fun, they are expensive. Coachella has many ticket passes available, including the full experience of this event. According to www.coachella.com, for general admission the starting cost of weekend 1 is $649 while weekend 2 is $599, and VIP for weekend 1 is $1,399 and Weekend 2 is $1,199.
From meeting new people, experiencing a one-in-a-lifetime performance from a specific artist, celebrity sightings, influencer frenzy, and decent food, Coachella is one of those places that leave a lasting impression and memory on people that last forever. Forming new bonds, discovering new artists, and living life is the highlight of this season.