Whenever we talk about massive international music festivals, they are often associated with names like Redding, Lollapalooza, Summersonic, Primavera and Sonnemondsterne.

However, one festival that always finds itself amongst big names like these is the now legendary Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival….or as it has become known, Coachella.

This is a truly immense festival! Coachella brings together a range of musicians, which would reduce any live-music fan into foaming mess of ecstasy.

Even though this music event is staged in one of the hottest places in the States it still pulls in a colossal crowd, selling around 50 000 tickets a day. That is just plain crazy.
Not to mention the camping grounds hold a whopping 20 000 people.

The line-up is honestly a joke….the good kind that is!
This amount of ‘big name action’ is more than South Africa would smell in 5 years.
Some of the names that immediately jumped out at me are acts like, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Radiohead, Amon Tobin, Black Keys, Bon Iver, Florence and the Machine and David Guetta.
WOWZERS!!!

Check out the full Coachella line-up….let the droolage begin.

Besides the amazing music, there are also plenty of mega unique art installations and visual treats to keep you entertained. I also hear their food stalls are brilliant, serving just about every kind of chow you can imagine - word on the street (or dunes) is that the Thai coconuts are beyond description and keep you hydrated and moving even in the scorching desert heat.

2012 will be the first year that Coachella will be held over two consecutive weekends. (April 13-15 and April 20-22). Both weekends will feature an identical line-up of artists.

I know they are catering for a big crowd, and yes, you have to give them respect for raising a crowd that has to be satisfied over two weekends, but is this not diluting the essence of this festival in the face of moneymoneymoney? Well, I suppose at the end of the day you don’t host these things purely for kicks. What do you think about this double-whammy weekend of wonders?
Perhaps it’s just rad that more people get to see the bands they love!

All I know is that one day, hopefully soon, I will get to make the pilgrimage out to Coachella and revel in the oppressive heat with thousands of sweating moshers and make memories that will be etched into my brain forever…I cant wait!