Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Traffic was insanity. Arrival was madness. The desert is intense. Showers sucked....get in line early (if not bottled water is essential) or bring your own! I loveeeeeed it all. I loved being immersed in music madness 24/7! Dance all day long! Take a nap. But not for too long!!! The layout could be improved. Remember where you camped! Do not attempt to find your tent drunk, alone, and at night. You will not find it! Experience as much as possible. Go as many times as you can!

Wasn't expecting to go to Coachella, I was expecting to work. However we got VIP last minute for Saturday and Sunday and it was the unbelievable! I've been to tons of venues and shows and Coachella by far is the best! I was very hyped to see Kanye West but Duran Duran and The Strokes were so amazing too and I'm not even a fan of theirs but I am now! Superb show! Nas and Damien Marley were unforgettable, the vibe is amazing, no riff raff. I highly suggest getting VIP, it's an oasis away from the general crowd with nicer bathrooms.

I LOVED IT. WAS AMAAAAZING. CAN'T WAIT FOR IT NEXT YEAR. LAIDBACK LUKE, AFROJACK, KANYE, FREELANCE WHALES, SKRILLEX, DFAB1979, THE FOALS, CRYSTAL CASTLES, DUCKSAUCE, WIZ KHALIFA, WARPAINT. THEY ALL WERE EPIC.

I've been going since 2005, my husband since the beginning. We've never been more disappointed with the festival. With the two hour waits (even after people had wristbands), over crowdedness making it impossible to get close to the stage (unless you camped out early, but who wants to sit and listen to nothing at Coachella?) The overcrowded polo grounds were unpleasant to say the least. And then the force of nature canceling acts from abroad, along with a Sly Stone no-show made it feel, challenging rather than a blockbuster event.

Definitely a young persons sport. My feet were killing me at the end of every day, but the music and the parade of humanity were amazing. Acts performing on the Gobi stage during the daytime are difficult to see. perhaps a stage back drop would be helpful. Probably no way to enlighten those arriving late for a performance and thinking they are more entitled than everyone else, and pushing their way through an already packed as tight as sardines bunch of fans. The amount of litter is disconcerting. Can't everyone find one of the several garbage cans? maybe vehicular traffic could be minimized by offering perks to those who arrive by bike. To fit in next year I'm thinking of buying a fedora, getting a tattoo, wearing short shorts and knee high cowboy boots, and taking up smoking. Just kidding! Rock on!

This was probably the best Coachella experience I have had to date. I like that there are more vendors to sell food and the like. Things should not be as expensive since Coachella pretty much has a monopoly. Overall, the event was great. The staff that worked the event was however horrible. The crowd control was poorly planned. The attitude and respect towards the concert goers was little if any at all.

Wow, holy cow...the entire weekend was an amazing experience. Everything was well done, the bands were all amazing, some bands specifically rocked super-hard including Them Crooked Vultures and Muse, and overall, the weekend was incredible. This was my first Coachella and I'm hooked!!!!!

i had a great time at Coachella this year! The venue was well laid out, very open and easy to get around. The music was fantastic, great variety and amazing talent! I had the VIP pass which made getting food and drinks so easy! My only complaint would be traffic control seemed a little unorganized. Other than that it was a great time!

There was a bad situation with long lines when we got there Friday. It took an hour to park after 2 hours of traffic and then another 2 hours in line to get in. Saturday and Sunday went smoother, but they could have used more signs. I didn't like having the vendors outside the entrance. I don't know if this is a new change but it sucks not having cool stuff to look at in between sets. They should reduce the number if beer gardens and put more art and cool stuff. Other than that, the music was amazing I loved them crooked vultures, muse, mgmt, gossip, matt & Kim, Phoenix, raveonettes, sia, club 75, and she & him. The crowds were big, though, so getting near the stage was a lot harder than before. This was my fifth time at this event, but I hadn't been in three years so I'm not used to the changes yet.

From Hot Chip, to Gossip, to Ceu the show was amazing, Muse was in a category of its own, it rocked hard! I would totally recommend going to Coachella at least once in your life :D Just one piece of advice, arrive early on Friday, it took us three hours to park.

The event was amazing! The only negative is that sometimes there eas too much background noise from the other stages on the main stage. That stopped when Muse hit the stage - they were unbelievable! Probably the best band out there right now & proved they can handle the big arena! Tiest was good, but I think Muse should have been the last band on that stage! All in all a great event!

The place was a giant landfill. There would be three bands playing at he same tim I wanted to see, then no one of interest for an hour or two. Parking, as always, was a nightmare. Would not recommend. Maybe if they bring back 1 day passes, but three days of this at this price is not worth it.

Bands were awesome. The two hour wait to get in when the ticket scanners went down was not so awesome. Not being able to drink a beer unless it was in the beer garden was also not so awesome!

I left early. There were a lot of people around the campsite on some serious drugs and people were defacating and urinating by our tent. The festival was alright but the campng left much to be desired. She and Him were great.

Jay-z was incredible, and gave his all pulling out all his best songs, and losing his voice in the process. Muse was unforgettable the next day, but i was especially stoked by the performances of some of the lesser known bands, (white rabbits, tokyo police club, matt and kim, vampire weekend etc) who seemed to give their best performances just for the sake of music. Definately will be going again next year.

Everyone was absolutely great except for 2 bands that i thought lacked. Julian Casablancas really dropped the ball his voice was out of key or the equalizer wasn't working correctly he's one of my favorite artists and his performance was sub par. La roux also wasn't very good either. Sahara tent was amazing everyone in it especially Deadmau5, Kaskade, Dirty South, David Guetta, Bassnectar were all awesome.

The VIP upgrade was a joke. Apparently, many VUP (very unimportant people) infiltrated! It was far too crowded. Should have had more seating and better bathrooms. I did like the staff at the bar...that got the solo star.

It took at the minmum an hour and a half to get wrist bands the first day in the hot sun and then all the streets were blocked off each night so the walk to get out was 10 times longer than it had been in past years.

The bands were awesome. The logistics were awful. Traffic was so poorly managed on Friday, with a blinking light slowing up everything and very little direction or guidance from event staff or local police. Then, we had to wait in line for 60-90 minutes in the heat just to get IN to the festival (missing two fave bands), because the bag search was completely understaffed and very disorganized. The event staff were unhelpful and even rude in this situation, yelling at ticketholders to get in line even when there was no clarity on how or where to get in line. Then, once we were in, there was no way to get water if you had brought your own empty water bottle - a fact that I consider nearly criminal. However, after we got past all these hurdles, the sound was great, the bands were awesome, the crowd was cool, if over-hip, and the bathrooms were tolerable. So I would still recommend it if you have extra cash to spend and want to see a lot of great music in one weekend.

It was my first time and I will repeat for sure... Amazing bands... amazing people... almost started crying on the car on my way back because I didn't wanna leave!!! I can only talk bad about two things: 1.- SOLD OUT... Friday was crazy... if the festival never sold out before... why this year it did? More people? I don't think so... no one-day passes... that was a problem!!! very big problem!!! Hope next year things change!!! 2.- Muse between Kaskade and Tiesto... Everybody was high energy after Kaskade... Muse was too low for that... on Muse stage a lot of people was laying down and having rest while waiting for Tiesto... Long wait by the way... and too much Muse and very few Tiesto... The BEST... I highlight THE NEW FRIENDS FROM SEATTLE THAT I MADE!!! WILL NEVER FORGET THEM!!! Amazing Saturday night!!! I wish I could go back on time!!!

Coachella Music Festival is definitely not to be missed! There are lots of negatives just due to the size of the event like walking miles to get to ANYTHING, the ungodly heat, the dust, not enough showers and no running water to cool off from the heat. That being said it was still so very worth the hassle to see so many amazing bands (albeit for only 4 or 5 songs each because the sets are so short.) so many great people from everywhere and a great sense of everyone having sometimes too good of a time! Running water 24 hours would really have helped though!!!!

Such a great time, well planned event. One thing could be improved---call service. T Mobile was pretty unreliable there which made meeting friends very difficult other than that a great event!

disappointing -- too many people, facilities lacking,

Best festival of my life. It was my first time going and I will never miss another Coachella ever. Worth $300 for sure!!!

This event is not organzied well at all. As a concert goer, your main source of direction and information is other concert goers. You would be very hard pressed to find someone that works there that can offer directions or assistance. Also, If you have a regular job and need be at work on Friday and Monday, there is no way you can enjoy the full 3 day pass. We should be given the option of purchasing only 1 day

From Tiesto to Phoenix to Gorillaz and DJ Craze, this event has everything in terms of music. The people are an eclectic medley of all the different music enthusiasts, with the added bonus of tons of hot girls!

Everything was amazing and I had one of the best times of my life. I will definitely be going back next year.

This event is quite expensive, but well worth your dollars - should you choose to spend them. Recommend finding close hotel location or buy camping pass early. Venue is rich in art, music, and people, they get you good on food and water, beware.

Was best festival ever!! Bands, people, art, and food all couldn't be better. It was an amazog time.

Coachella is not just music and hot weather. It's an event that must be done by every person at least once. Great music, fun people, and good parties afterwards.

Let me first say that I am a Coachella for-lifer! The first time I went to coachella back in 2005 I was blown away with the art, music, stages/ tents, organizations/ sponsors ect. I had never seen anything like it! It is my favorite festival of the year. (by far!) If you have not been, trust me it is a must.

Three days of total bliss. The people, the music, the scenery, it's all good.

I think watching BAD after a bunch of years of not seeing them live was really my moment when I really knew we made the right investment in coming. I had the same moments sweating to DEVO and PIL the year before and every time I've see THE CURE perform even when the power was cut and Robert and the boys were still up there making what noise they could until it was just the audience I could hear singing old favorites after the video screens dimmed. Every year has its moments when everything is worth it. Sometimes I think it's the discovery of a new band I never heard of, jumping around to my favorite bands, running into old friends, running into returning Coachella friends from years past, dancing my legs off, or just sitting there absorbing all that young energy. I've only missed one Coachella the year I was unemployed and I still pain over it because I feel like it's the one time of the year I can truly cut loose. This year, I took my pedometer with me and after 3 days I had accumulated 51 miles worth of walking and dancing only 5 weeks after tearing my calf right muscle. Every year is awesome, some years more awesome then others, but right now I'm lingering in the high of this year's fantastic adventure.

Tight!! Only got four stars cuz I was sick Friday (my bad) and I missed Sunday. But it was wonderful on Saturday being with my new Coachella family. I only ran into one chick (literally) with a stupid attitude but forget her. Everyone else was mad cool and the bands were simply amazing. PS. Cee-lo Green get your act together and get off that CP Time! It's all good though.

This is definitely the best festival I have ever been to in my life. Not only does it bring in HUGE acts every year but the art is simply amazing and was so much fun to observe and interact with. It turned into a completely different place at night which I LOVED. My friends and I definitely had the best weekend ever. The food was DANK! The people were friendly and the staff was helpful most of the time. I liked having water stations around, but the only problem was the map was not a good representation of where the water filling stations or the bathrooms were. Overall, the festival was INCREDIBLE! I'm definitely coming back year after year.

This was my 8th year attending Coachella, and it was far and away the best experience I've had. The partnership with the Creators Project paid such grand and subtle dividends that I haven't been able to put how amazing it was into words for those that didn't attend. The 1 mile radius and wristbands made for easy transportation in and out as well as for spacious roaming/dancing on the grounds. The line up was up there with the best yet, closely following 2007. And maybe my favorite aspect of the festival this year was the overall vibe and energy. Attendees were happy and energetic, and I chalk this up to the fact that security and the overall aesthetic were top priorities. I pray that Goldenvoice rides this wave of momentum into every year here-on-out. Thanks for an epic weekend.

It's coachella, everybody is going there including the countless number of celebrity, although I didn't see any. Maybe I'm eligible enough to say it is one hell of an amazing event since this is my very first coachella, but I really couldn't wait for the next coachella!! Everything was lovely but not the food, the foods were all carbs, fat, and cholesterol (and, yes, I've gained some weight). The theme and the vibe of the venue brought you to another world with their music and their interior. So, it's a perfect 3-day weekend getaway, but don't get carry away. Get back to yourself on the very next day!

Typically everyone that snagged a ticket before they sold out . That's not me bragging. That's me being grateful that I bought my ticket in time and camped with the best people ever. Friday was momentous due to a mind blowing (and sweaty) OFWGKTA set in the Sahara. Even Pharell showed up to help Tyler spit. Saturday was just as amazing, because Empire of the Sun decided to stun the already tired crowd of Coachella with a choreagraphed spectacle along with their driving beats and gorgeous visuals. Then Sunday, I witnessed one of the most humbled Kanye performances he's given yet and for that I am so proud. Drawn to tears in fact, when he closed out with "Hey Mama". The whole weekend was a blast especially with all the car camping and extra goodies for campers this year. It's hard going back to reality but in lieu, I'm saving for next year already! COACHELLA!

The event is amazing and the fact that it is pulled so eloquently is even more spectacular. I encountered some traffic issues on the first day of the show but other than that (even with 70, 000+ attendees) i waited in line for nothing. The music seemed to be carefully selected and skillfully scheduled; i enjoyed and was able to see more than I had expected to. Merchandise, food, and art were sparsed out over the grounds and the beer gardens were (as usual) a perfect spot for relaxing and watching bands from a distance. Sound from all main stages was incredible, and did not seem to be much affected by interference from other stages. Overall, this year's festival was very enjoyable and worth every penny... i swear it.... The music alone would be worth it but, in addition, it was run beautifully and it makes me want to come back every year that it will have me. :)

I have to say this was one of the best experiences ever. Every time I head down for Coachella its a new story for me. I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND anyone who's a fan of music to head down here one year. even if you're only here for one band.

God, it was hot and I'm used to the high desert here in Western Colorado. You can never have enough water, sunscreen, and shade at Coachella, where they get 3.5" of rain per year with 100 degree days during the event. First timer but will definately be back. I don't think I would go if I couldn't get car camping for the event. Unlike Austin City Limits last year and other 3 day festivals in the past, they didn't oversell tix for the event so you weren't packed like sardeens into a small space. Good sound, good acts. Read the blogs about car camping before you go, though (they say free showers, for example, but the lines are hours long) so you can get the most out of the event. Don't miss the Tesla coils in action... just have a seat and wait for them to fire up.

This festival never ceases to amaze me. This was my fourth year and, believe it or not, I had very low expectations. Boy, how glad I am to be wrong! Even though I have no idea who will be performing next year, I can guarantee you I will be there. Thank you, Coachella!!!

Unbelievable ! 150+ bands with the likes of Mumford, Chromeo, Paul VanDyk and everything in between. Electric atmosphere, great crowd! IF you have one concert to go to next year, pick Coachella!

No matter the lineup, I have always had so much fun at Coachella. 3rd year in a row for me and I wish I could say I have gone to more. I never hesitate to spend the enormous amounts of money cause it is all for an unforgettable weekend.

Hands down, the best three days of my life. No joke. From start to finish it was epic. The grounds were perfect, the lines weren't an issue, every single act brought their best, and the people watching couldn't have been better. I will be buying my 2012 tickets .5 seconds after they go on sale.

I've been a huge live music fan since my first show Adam and the Ants when I was 14 and i've never looked back. Music is my life. Coachella is the place for people like me and believe me when I say "There are many like us". Putting a bunch of music fanatics together in a beautiful setting such as the desert and and stocking the the polo field full of todays and yesterdays cream of the crop artists. Usually the bar is set high and they will blow you away with a unique Coachella only set(See Prince 2008). I can't explain it but I've been going since 2004 and every year is better than the last. If you don't go you are totally missing out on a one of a kind experience you will never get anywhere else. Trust me. Coachella is a must for music lovers.

I've gone the past three coachellas and anyone who loves music festivals should check this one out... it's gotten more popular every year, so why not follow the trend?

It was such an amazing experience! We didn't get to see full sets of all the bands we wanted to see because of the overlap, but it was still awesome!! I can't wait until next year!!

I had a blast! Even though there were more people, the vibe was incredible. The art was awesome, the whole experience once again superb. I am already making my plans for 2011.

I arrived Friday at 4am to see the stampede of wild Bison from all corners of the world waiting to settle into the Coachella grass. Just wondering that my cousin better get his ass inside there so I could catch the shows with the guy. Magic as he is I was able to hang out with the guy during the whole event. All day the crowed is coming in a long stretch. Feeling the wind like the it was the music. Seeing the sun shine from the fronds of the palms and listening to the music feed our souls. I was there in 03 and great it was to be back in the Coachella playground. The best people in the world come together and turn into waves. I could write all day about this freaking amazing event. I'm hungry to see the list for the next art festival.

Coachella is and will always be an incredible show and an awe inspiring experience. The line up was great this year, especially Benny Benassi (woo) and seems to just get better and better as the years go on. If you're thinking about going to Coachella it is worth it to save up and dish out the money to camp there for the weekend because it completes the experience. You meet fun, unique, outrageously cool people that could potentially become life long friends...at the very least they will become festival friends that you can reconnect with every year at Coachella. ps. the art at the festival is always worth seeing. Bottom line= GO TO COACHELLA. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

This was my first Coachella, and first US festivall. As a veteran Glastonbury/Oxegen goer I was really excited to experience a festival with SUNSHINE not MUD! The Car camping is genius, the loo's where spotless, the line for the shower was way too long, so we stayed dirty and had a great time. I loved the arena, the cooling dance area, and the open 'tents', being irish,I hated the bar enclosures! let them drink beer!, but the music ruled. JayZ was spectacular, Muse where stunning, Vampire weekend drew blood!. But the Ladies stole the weekend, Zooey Deshanel, La Roux and Florence blew me away. Well done on a great weekend.

I realize this was the first year for car camping, but the event was very poorly planned on that front. You should have accounted for the influx of traffic that you would get all day Friday. It took us 6 hours to inch through 5 blocks of traffic along our approach to the polo grounds. I noticed something was wrong when the four lanes of traffic heading to the festival were crammed, and then on the other side of the median strip there were 4 lanes open. You should have arranged with the City of Indio to commandeer two lanes of that opposite direction flow and allow traffic inflow to the festival to travel in that direction. Then again, that probably wouldn't have helped the situation because even if the cars were allowed to flow more quickly to the festival, you probably did not have enough security lines for getting into the campgrounds.

Coachella 2010 was the best weekend of my life. I went the year before and it was a blast, but this year blew me away. I loved the Car/tent parking, it made the whole camping experience more enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised by the rollerskating rink just outside of my tent :) The allowance of ins-and-outs also made this year at Coachella more enjoyable, my crew had a "power hour" each day that allowed us to run amok during the day and rest up for the night ahead. It was awesome that each headliner was a different genre. I loved Jay-z, Muse, Faith No More, and Tieso- they were all amazing!!!!!

Coachella was the most life changing thing I've ever experienced. The music, the people, and just the over all atmosphere makes this a must see and must experience event. 120% planning on attending next year. And the next. And the next.

This years Coachella line-up was definitely a different one than usual. There was a lot more hip-hop, and a lot more electronic. Although I will admit I was skeptical going into it, I had a seriously AMAZING time. There were so many wonderful guest artists too! It was definitely an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life. I met so many wonderful people and made so many great memories.I'm so glad I was a part of the largest festival attendance ever! I can't wait until next year!

Coachella was absolutely amazing this year. I wish I could have seen all the shows but I had to pick and choose. I LOVED Them Crooked Vultures... that's all I have to say. I wanted to see Thom Yorke??? but I stayed in the front of the main stage to see Gorillaz. I tried to watch PIL and Jay-Z at the same time. Muse was probably the best of the main performances and I ran over to see Devo after. Vampire Weekend didn't fail and Little Dragon was a great surprise. I saw bands I would pay to see individually. Great, great, great... The only thing that I hated was walking through the huge puddle of pee and whatever else leaked out of the port a potties. As we were leaving, like walking out of the venue, we started singing... "Na na na na na, na na na na... hey, hey, hey, goodbye." It was so much fun. I love going every year.

2010's Coachella was absolutely amazing! FRIDAY- Proxy, Wolfgang Gartner, Pretty Lights were all so awesome!! Jay-Z was great too - cool of Beyonce to make an appearance. Deadmau5 was great too, but super crowded! Was such a process getting out of the festival that night because everyone was leaving at the same time. There were some people who just don't have any manners and are pushing through the crowd of people, when everyone is trying to get out too. Thank you to all the chill, calm, patient people. SATURDAY - Bassnectar killllllled it! His performance was incredible - so much energy, the sound system in the Sahara tent rocked! Waited a long time to see Bassnectar - amazing. MGMT was good too- real crowded, sound sucked because it was clashing with the better sound coming from main stage. Muse is my favorite band and they were sooo good! SUNDAY - words really can't describe.... The Sahara tent was off the chain for hours on end! Paparazzi rocked out for 2 & a half hours since Talvin Singh didn't make it - props to him! He kept the crowd going! Rusko = amazing! Dirty dubstep, he had so much energy in his performance, definitely knows how to drop the bass and make you dance regardless of if you want to or not! Glitch Mob was wonderful too - very ambient, spacey, trippy sounds with beautiful bass! Again the Sahara tent's sound system is amazing. And Club75 was good too! I didn't know what to expect because they are so new and underground, but it was awesome. Definitely had the crowd nonstop dancing... Thom Yorke was beautiful too.... and the headliner: GORILLAZ = INSANELY GOOD! What an amazing performance by them. The visuals were so crisp, clean and sharp, the sound was great, the energy of everyone on stage performing.. was expecting Snoop Dog to actually be there, but oh well. They're performance was very spiritual. I loved how they pretty much told a story through it - it was really moving. Best show I have seen since Daft Punk in 2007! It was kind of a short set, would have loved if they played ALL night long! Camping was good. Shower lines - way too long. Def not enough shower trucks for a sold out show of 75,000 people... ease of getting in and out of the festival and campgrounds. Food vendors were awesome! Weather was great. THE DO LAB is the place to be!!! Every artist that played there was SO AWESOME! That place was always poppin! It would have been cool if they posted the line up of who plays there on the websites lineup page along with all the other stages/tents because I had no idea some of my favorite dubstep/electronic artists were going to be there.. It wasnt until the last day that I flipped through all the pages of the little program book and saw the Do Lab's line up.... It should be posted. Even near the do lab itself. Cant wait for Lightning in a Bottle in May hosted by the Do Lab! <3

This was my first Coachella experience and it was life changing! I had a blast! I will definitely be coming back!

pure euphoria. amazing music (12pm-2am).. sunshine.. great people.. free arts and crafts.. camping def recommended (inexpensive, fun neighbors, can go in & out of gates to recharge at camp when needed)

the campsite was awesome, the people amazing and everyone was looking to have a good time. The shows were incredible and the different stages offered something for everyone, even if that meant losing the group for hours. THANKS FOR CHEAP WATER and awesome arts and crafts. CANT WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR.....

BEST MUSICAL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. It offers everything you could ever want in a music festival. Indie rock. Crunchy base. Alternative. Rap. Chill Wave. Electronica. DJs. Reggeaton. Magic Show. Rock. Pop Rock. Dub Step. Hip Hop. Great Food. Tons of Mixed drinks. Beer. Visuals. Art. DOLAB (for a water party during the hot day). Ferris Wheel & club tents. Etc etc etc. I camped out. Wasn't bad at all. Had a blast with multiple friends from all over the US. I doubt Coachella will be able to top this line up. I really hope they prove me wrong & pull off a better line up (2011!?!?)

it took 2 and a half HOURS for us to drive maybe 7-8 miles just to park!!! it made us miss out on a lot of great music, it was ridiculous!! you would have thought that this was the first year for them to have the festival! once the festival ended it took us a good hour to find our car because parking guides were all giving us wrong information. the traffic situation needs help and there probably should be less people allowed in, but the music was great.

This festival was one for the books. Everything worked out, the artists were great, the venue was great, camping was awesome, the coachellites were the best!! Great experience and environment, miss it already. Can't wait for next year!!! really, I can't..

Great festival - really tight - except PLEASE NO LATE NIGHT TECHNO IN THE CAMPING AREA. That SUCKED. And more showers and all hours... make it a pay $ shower $ - no protest - I just dont want to wait in line for 2 hours only to be denied... Jay Z rocked my whole entire world. Jonsi was beautiful... King Khan lifted me higher --- The Specials had us all dancing. LCD = awesome. Echo & the Bunny Men - apparently too old to rock...(sad face) Vampire Weekend was perfect... xx disappointing - love the album though... Devo KILLED it, I heart Jack White but The Dead Weather is medium... Phoenix was fabulous!!! Thank you so much!

I'm a college student in Flagstaff, AZ and had heard of this festival after researching MGMT tour dates, after seeing the setlist and seeing the price for it all we knew we had to go. 3 days of music and really good times, there was not a dull moment whatsoever, every band sounded amazing, and everybody that we met was extremely friendly and happy, no doubt I will be bringing a larger group down with me next year and years to follow, I recommend going, even if you are not on spring break, it's simply worth it.

If you want to feel the love, try out a Coachella. camping and concert. Yes, after day two, it's filthy dirty, but I didn't see one person complain or be hateful to anything. For over a couple hundred thousand people attending. That's a huge statement. The shows that I saw were some of the highlights of my life, and the experience was all around awesome. They know how to run the event well by now (ok, the showers this year were a bit rediculous, cuz of their organization) but all in all, everyone I talked to had an amazing time and are already thinking about next year. Every night had something for everyone, my highlights were, Echo and the Bunnymen on Friday night, Jack White (the dead weather) & Tiesto on Sat. Thom Yorke and, of course, The Gorillaz closing the festival on Sunday.

Coachella offers so many performances that you bound to get your money's worth with this event. Jay-Z was unbelievable. The weather was perfect. The DJ tents were insane. I mean, what more could you ask for? It was a weekend I'll never forget. Thank you Coachella!!

For starters, the weather was great. Friday and Sunday night were nice and cool. Brilliant performance by Pavement. Exceptional sets by The Dead Weather (Mossheart was phenomenal) and Them Crooked Vultures (John Paul Jones--pure legend). Jay-Z and the Gorillaz were great--all in all, an incredible event! (the number one question in my mind was: What was Damon Albarn thinking of, regarding Iceland?) Oh...and were those Grensons on his feet? There was some madness Friday night with the parking situation, but they seemed to have straightened that out the next two days.

Coachella was EPIC! The number of bands in this one place is almost impossible to imagine, and seeing everyone is just as impossible. I picked my faves and killed time checking out the others. So many good bands out there and I had no clue they existed until Coachella. I've made up my mind to go back next year!

Can't get any better really... maybe if it was Blur / Radiohead? Jay Z's performance was excellent but the crowd he drew in were pushy (literally) and I ended up knocking some British bix around a little.

coachella was AMAZING!!! all the music was amazing. everyone was soooooo niiice. i'm going back next year.

As my first year at Coachella I was blown away by the line up and pure awesomeness of everything. Everyone was really nice, especially the security and personnel. The art and food vendors were amazing. Car camping was insanley fun, my group and I made a lot of new friends with all our cool neighbors. My feet hurt like hell and I'm burnt as a lobster but it was worth every second and every penny! I can't wait till next year!

This year had to buy a three day pass first time going all three days. The days were hot and the lines were cruel. The Bands were excellent. By the third day we were exhasted but Phoenix was worth waiting for.

First time at Coachella and definitely would go back next year. Only thing I would change would be for there to be additional showers and better organization in the shower area. Other than that, everything was awesome!

was a great time camping....1st day showers were a 5 hour nightmare..cant walk around with drink in hand....great fun if you are 25 feet from stage..and have a good buzz..

I went to Coachella to get my mind off of everything and it was an emotional overload of sadness and then joy, and then 100% bliss...I will be back for next year and enjoy the experience even more...thank you so much for putting on such a good show.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is the BEST music fest in the WEST of the Mississippi - perhaps in the USA. There is music for everyone, and it's well worth the money and time. This year's car camping will be great fun! The best part is that Coachella is GPS approved!

took me almost 10 years to get my act to together and get out to the desert for this, and wow why did i wait so long?!? half way through day 1 i felt like i had gotten my money's worth. everything after that was an added bonus (including duran duran, OMG, duran duran). accidentally got into VIP once or twice without realizing it..the only benefit is having the beer/liquor closer to the seating area so you can drink while enjoying bands from afar. can't wait for next year. who's the headliner?

A getaway from all the clutter of urban life into a musical retreat.

I would highly recommend anyone go to Coachella if/when they have the chance. Car camping was truly a unique experience and our amazing neighbors made the weekend even better. I am now a fan for life and plan to attend every future Coachella if life allows. I have already bought my tickets for 2012 without the lineup being released, if that tells you anything. We drove from the Panhandle of Florida in 2 days to make it to Cali on time...and what an unforgettable trip it was. 2012 OR BUST! :)

Sunday 17th April * 1pm Gobi: Plan B. I first heard 'Stay Too Long' about a year ago and instantly loved it. The Defamation of Strickland Banks is a cracking album and won a Brit award. He's got a high billing at UK festivals this year, so to see him in the Gobi this early in the day was always gonna be special. We weren't disappointed. We were treated to a human beatbox rapper to introduce the band who were all in suits and ties and we got a bit worried about the skinny guitarist who was using his inhaler after a couple of songs later walked side stage to pour a bottle of water over his head. Ben Drew wasn't happy about the monitors after a few early squeals of feedback however it didn't damped his sharp, wicked tongued delivery. After throwing himself at each band member in turn the last song degenerated into a human pile up - great entertainment.Top songs were 'She Said' and 'Stay Too Long'. * 3:50 Gobi: Angus & Julia Stone. My research had highlighted 'Big Jet Plane' as a real favourite and possible Coachella highlight. It's a languid, laid back song that reminds me of The Carpenters. They didn't play it. The brother and sister looked like your stereotypical summer of love hippy couple and the songs they did play were unimpressive. I didn't like her drippy student voice or for that matter the beads and flowers in her hair. Disappointed. * 4:50 Outdoor: Jimmy Eat World. I'd heard these guys described as like Foo Fighters without the ex Nirvana member. I reckon the singers voice is just a little clean for the music they play but I really enjoyed their set. Heavy guitars and sing along lyrics. Top song - 'My Best Theory'. * Conflicts #1 & #2. Death From Above 1979 (Reformed Heavy noisemerchants) or Best Coast (Debut album Summersonic Beach Boys) or Tinie Tempah (The darling of UK Hip Hop). The new bands would aways win the day, but we compromised our american bands first principle due to the hype back home surrounding Tinie Tempah. * 6:00 Gobi: Tinie Tempah. He went on late and we were worried that the set might be curtailed. It wasn't, but then he was only scheduled to play 30mins. Loved it loved it loved it. Great beats, great energy and rapid fire rap. Confidence is not a problem for this guy and his performance justified every drop of it. At one point he asked the crowd to crouch low and the entire Gobi complied before bursting into a bouncy on command. Great gig. Top songs: 'Wonderman' & 'Written in the Stars' for which Ellie Goulding, who preceded TT on the Gobi stage, made an appearance. A minor highlight was seeing The Hoff getting a reprimand form security for attempting to crowd surf. * Conflict #3 The National or Trentemoller. Scandinavian curiosity unfortunately had to take second place for the band that has been growing on me like a developing suntan since the line up was announced. * 7:25 Outdoor: The National. They didn't play my favourite 'Mistaken For Strangers' but that is the only minor gripe I could possibly have, everything else about the set was perfect. Great melodies, powerful, controlled music at Sunset on the Outdoor stage and a full Moon in the eastern sky opposite the mountain backdrop. Did I say earlier this is Heaven's music festival? The National play with a restraint and confidence that comes from maturity. They are modest anti-heroes. No requirement for excessive chat and the singer's a beardy. The music says it all. Top songs: 'Brainy', 'England', Anyone's Ghost', Bloodbuzz Ohio', 'Fake Empire' & 'Afraid of Anyone'. Just got tickets for the gig in Edinburgh in August - delighted we'll get to hear a full set rather than just 50 mins. * 8.55 Main Stage: The Strokes. We managed to ignore the fat boy four (Duran Duran) as we made our way to take up the same front section position we'd had for Kings Of Leon. I didn't know an awful lot of The Strokes' material before research began but I was looking forward to this one having enjoyed their set (on TV) at Isle of Wight last summer. They were more talented musicians and more 'pop' than I expected which was probably something a bit less organised and punkier. Tight bass & drums underpinned their signature guitar sound and Julian C's distorted vocal. Distinctive driving rock that never got samey or boring. The new album was reviewed as a return to form and I expect this gig was too. Visuals were great - 3 huge white draped chevrons on both sides of the stage focused the band and captured the light show. Highlights - 'Reptilia', 'Juicebox', 'Last Nite' & 'New York City Cops'. * 10.30 Main Stage: Kanye West. I couldn't tell you the name of a single Kanye song. No research completed, no expectations, this was an experiment in forming an opinion from one show - what's Kanye all about? 2 and a half hours later I wasn't really sure. 2 and a half weeks later I'm no further forward and have lost interest. As showtime approached the whisper was that Kanye was sitting with his back to the barrier opposite us with a hooded top on prior to his appearance on what looked like a raised walkway. That cant be him ... he's wearing gear that I would wear to nip down to the shops for a pint of milk. Sure enough he pulled his hood down and proceeded to mount the end of the walkway which rose into the sky and circled 360 degrees as he sung 'Can we get much higher?' (Dark Fantasy). A massive grey backdrop depicting romanesque sculptures filled the rear of the empty stage, save for banks of keyboards on one side and decks and a laptop on the other. The music: Rapped verses, lots of grandiose strings and orchestral dramatics that sounded almost operatic - Hip Hopera. Choruses seemed to revert to the style of 80's ballads (e.g. Dark Fantasy) whereupon Kanye ceased rapping and started trying to sing. Dear oh dear, he can rap but he most certainly cannot sing and he made this point clear over and over again. I didn't hate it but by Act 3 I was anticipating the end. The final song put the tin lid on it. By this time I'd been told the story of his mum. I thought it extremely self indulgent and arrogant to use the final song on the final night at Coachella to send a boring message to his deceased mum. If this was rap I prefer Eminem, if this was hip hop I prefer Tinie Tempah. It just wasn't that entertaining, the dancers hired from Caesar's Palace were a distraction rather than a treat. Glad I saw him but I wont spending on his back catalogue.

Saturday 16th April * A day filled with conflicts. #1 12:50: Francis and The Lights or 12:55 The Joy Formidable. I was really keen to see both of them. On Thursday I was listening to our Coachella playlist on shuffle and twice I had to check out a great song by a band I couldn't name - both times it was Francis and The Lights, so again the Americans won and we'll check out the welsh female fronted group when we get back home. * 12:50 Outdoor: Francis and The Lights. A great start to Sunny Saturday. Great front-man and another excellent voice. Light upbeat guitar led summer sounds. 'Darling, It's Alright' was a standout. Heading towards a cold Heinekein we got ourselves into the Gobi for what I believe was 'Whirring' by The Joy Formidable. An angrier guitarist I haven't seen since Weller. I've never seen a girl play guitar like that. Classic 3 piece. Drummer stage left and side on. Female lead vocal/guitar who is the spit of Wendy James of Transvision Vamp, what a great band. I'll definitely catch them back home, they could be this year's Band of Skulls. * 2:10 Mojave: Freelance Whales. I thought I'd check these guys out as we had a gap in our Coachooser. We didn't stay long. * 3:15 Mojave: Foals. I'd been looking forward to this one for a while as I'd seen a few videos of the band on NME tv. They were pretty good. Chiming guitars and lots of them, not unlike something from The Joshua Tree. They reminded me of Temper Trap last year, not in terms of sounds but song structure (big extended endings) and visually, although there aren't many beardy front-men out there (see tomorrow for The National).'Spanish Sahara' was the best live track. * 5:20 Outdoor: Cage The Elephant. Mental. I remember these guys from '09 - we caught the end of their set in the Mojave and the singer crowd surfed all the way to the mixing desk. This year I'd describe them as a cross between a Nirvana tribute band and the Olympic diving team. The singer wore a red dress and he gave it 110%. He was rarely out of the crowd. Amps & vocals were distorted into songs with one destination - noise central. Musically and visually it was all over the place. Bodies were coming in from all directions. They finished with 2 recognisable singles, 'Shake Me Down' and 'Aint No Rest For The Wicked'. Wicked! * 6:05 Main Stage: Broken Social Scene. We head this band but didn't see them as we were lying star shaped facing the blue sky to the rear of the Main Stage Area. The world drifted by as balloon chains lined up, then ducked and dived in the air. Pretty laid back music, ideal for what felt like the hottest part of the day. 'All To All' was superb and seemed to go on forever. I really enjoyed them. * Conflicts #2, #3 & #4. It was an easy decision to avoid Elbow at 7:30 (take your hands out your pockets Garvey) & Mumford and His Son (Radio Scotland's Sunday evening folk hour) at 8:30 but even so we could only possibly see 2 bands from The Kills, Electric Touch, One Day As A Lion & Shpongle between 7.30 and 9pm. Shpongle were dropped on the grounds that guitar music will always win over dance and The Kills were dropped on the basis that Alison Mosshardt couldn't be as good (and possibly much more erratic) as she was last year with Jack White's Dead Weather Organisation. Furthermore we wanted to get close to our discoveries of 2009, our favourite new band from the mandolin string capital of USA. Electric Touch. However, we need not have worried about being stuck at the back of the Gobi for Austin's finest. * 7.35 Gobi: Electric Touch. The audience was appalling. I counted 30 people in the tent as the band came on stage and four of them were just passing through. A repeat of '09, which happened to be their 2nd Coachella. We had fought our way to the front after Yelle finished ... and then it got lonely. I was so close to the stage I couldn't get the whole band in shot on the flip. Anyway, to the music. Their material isn't available in the UK, so we bought the first album at Coachella 2 years ago. It's a cracker, four to the floor guitar rock'n'roll, with a great English vocal. New album is due this year after the band signed to Island in 2010. Boy do they need some record company support. ET only played one song from the debut in a set of about 12. New material didn't grab me the way the last gig did and I think that's due to the addition of an extra guitar and two more backing vocals which makes the band sound a bit freeze dried. i.e. Songs ready to go, just add stage and crowd. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that the lack of crowd imbalanced the equation. I'm still keen to hear the new record (If it ever comes out). Hopefully they'll get more support at Lollapalooza. * 8.15 Mojave: One Day As A Lion. AKA Zak De La Rocha from Rage, the drummer from The Mars Volta and another bloke twisting knobs on what looked like a Moog. Sounds spicey and it certainly was. The tent was absolutely rammed and the crowd were boppin in sync for most of the show. Brutally heavy stuff, huge deep distorted grooves. We saw about 35 mins of a short 45 min set and it was probably all we could handle. Top song, 'Wild International'. Walking in there after Electric Touch was like going from Palm Springs to Philly's rush hour in 1 minute. * Conflicts #5 & #6 to close the evening, Animal Collective and Arcade Fire on the Main Stage or Suede and Scissor Sisters in the Mojave. Suede was a must see as I hadn't seen them for years and we'd enjoyed Brett Anderson solo last year. In addition we'd seen Arcade Fire in December and although we've seen Scissor Sisters 3 or 4 times, what better place that Coachella to see them again. * 10:40 Mojave: Suede. The last time I saw them was at the V festival in '99. I dont remember the gig. Previous to that I saw them in '94 at The Queens Hall in Edinburgh. Bernard Butler's last gig. Him and Anderson were ignoring and shouting at each other in equal measure until Bernard walked off stage. 17 years later Anderson walks out like Britpop was 17 months ago, he's stick skinny. Cousin keyboards deputising on Bass because Bassman couldn't get a Visa - stick skinny. Drummer - stick skinny. Bernard's replacement on guitar, Richard Oakes, last seen as a teenager ... hang on ... who ate all the pies? Hilarious, I spent the first song laughing at the Guitarist. He might have spent 7 years without calorie control but he can still play, really well. Suede were fantastic. Great versions of 'Killing of A Flashboy', 'Animal Nitrate', 'Filmstar', 'So Young, 'We are the Pigs', 'The Wild Ones', The Beautiful Ones', 'Trash', 'Electricity', 'She's in Fashion' and many more. Anderson whooped, stood taller on the monitors and snapped the mike lead like a whip throughout the show - vocally superb. As were the keyboard-free band. 50 minute set passed in a flash - brilliant. * 11:55 Mojave: Scissor Sisters. We retained our spot 5 rows from the front as the SS inflated long tubular balloons and let them float into the crowd. In a set so over the top they played a stack of songs from the new album we didn't know and didn't notice we didn't know them. Filthy Gorgeous was the standout. We bounced in what could definitely not be described as a mosh pit. They do bubblegum pop like I like it - with some funk and some rock and plenty of front.

Friday 15th April * 1pm Mojave: Hurts. Manchester 'synth-pop band'. Think Pet Shop Boys/ Talk Talk/ Depeche Mode. They've had excellent press in the UK. The sharp suits and ties they wear make them look like waiters in a posh restaurant, albeit a very hot one. We loved their show, the singer has a great voice and despite the 'pretty boy' facade his delivery is aggressive. Particularly good were 'Wonderful Life', 'Illumination' and 'Better Than Love'. Watch out for them. * 3:30 Outdoor: Titus Andronicus. I dont know where these flapjacks are from and I'm not caring either. Thank goodness we were still on a high from Hurts. This is the definition of rock'n'roll noise pollution. If you cant remember the name of this band just write 'sh1t', we'll know who you mean. I didn't see their whole set - 30 minutes of valuable Coachella time wasted - just as well it was sunny! Rant over. * 4:10 Mojave: The Drums. I had gone off these guys a wee bit during my pre gig research phase. I felt they were a bit twee, and kinda lame like Vampire Weekend but we had a gap to fill before Cee Lo, so.. Really enjoyed them. 'Lets Go Surfing' and 'Forever and Ever Amen' were great and again the singer was excellent despite wearing the worst top I've seen since Maurice Johnston was paraded as a Celtic player, before doing an about turn and signing for Rangers shortly afterwards (google it). * 4:50 Main Stage: Cee Lo Green. Hmmm- he turned up 30 mins late and blamed the early timeslot he'd been allocated. They didn't let him overrun his original time, so we got 4/5 lackluster songs riddled with expletives. The sound was shut down right on 5:40 and the Friar Tuck waddled straight off. It's a real pity cos his all female band sounded pretty tight and surprisingly rocky. * 6:05 Main Stage: Lauryn Hill. I wasn't sure how this one would go and it turned out to be one of THE sets of the weekend. She's got a huge attitude and most importantly the voice to match. The set was funky like James Brown, soulful like Aretha and unpredictable - she called the timing for all the changes when it felt right. Her band were fantastic and she seemed genuinely delighted to be there, a real tonic after Cee Lo. * 7:00 Outdoor: Cold War Kids. We didn't manage to see the start of their set. Mr Green is getting the blame for that too as Lauren Hill was allowed to overrun slightly, anyway, what a great band. I'd picked up bits and pieces during my research and was impressed with their stripped down songs and live they didn't disappoint. Again, the singer's voice was a stand out, very distinctive in the upper registers without resorting to falsetto. Also they were the first guitar band of our weekend - I'll be devoting more time to them from now on. Top song 'Bulldozer', not unlike The National. * 8:15 Outdoor: Brandon Flowers. Although The Morning Benders played at the same time as The Drums and Tame Impala at the same time as Lauryn Hill, this slot presented our first conflict as Marina & The Diamonds were also billed at the Gobi at 8:15. Brandon won our time as he's American and we're Killers fans, moreover we should be able to see M&TD at home. Anyway, apart from the single 'Crossfire' which was excellent his set was a bit ordinary, although the 'sunset slot' did add to the occasion. He covered 'Betty Davis Eyes' early on in the set to grab the crowd but I'm not sure it completely succeeded. There was however a big surprise for the encore ... the guitarist & bass player from The Killers took to the stage for ''Read My Mind' and 'Mr Brightside' - that's more like it. * 8:40 Main Stage: Black Keys. We caught the last 20 mins of the set as we moved towards a prime position for Kings of Leon, which in The Black Keys' world meant 5 or 6 songs. They were better than in 2009, possibly due to the addition of a Bass Player - well powerful and pretty tight with it. Brothers is a good album but I still prefer White Stripes much more. * 9:55 Main Stage: Kings of Leon. Far heavier than I expected, which most definitely is not a bad thing. The drummer is a powerhouse (reminded me of the late Darrell Sweet of Nazareth / or a straight-backed John Bonham). A few songs sounded a bit samey but on the basis that they squeeze most of them out in 4 minutes or less, the set moved along ok. A shorter set may have had more impact, but then we'd have missed out on some of their older stuff. Opening with 'Closer' and 'Crawl' additional highlights were 'Mollys Chambers', 'Back Down South', 'Pyro' and of course 'Sex on Fire' and 'Use Somebody'. * 11:40 Main Stage: Chemical Brothers. Unfortunately we were too cream crackered to wait on them coming on, which is just as well as they went on 40 mins later than billed. I've read both positive and negative reports of their foreshortened set.

This was my first time attending Coachella Music Festival, and it was by far the most fun I have had in a very long time! I have never experienced such an amazing, care-free, fun, music experience. From this day on I will be attending Coachella every year because that is just how amazing it is!

I will never miss this event again. This is what life is really all about. I love Coachella.

always a legendary experience, 2011 was an amazing year

Possibly better than '10...if you've never been, go once and it will blow your mind. People say this year the lineup wasn't as good as 2010, but the experience was much better this year!

Everyone should go to Coachella at least once in their life. It's truly an amazing experience. This year ran a lot smoother than last year, but the thing that bothered me and affected my time was the water situation. The filtered water thing sucked this year, it needs to go back to the way it was. They don't want us to get dehydrated, do they? :( Logistics aside, the bands were incredible. Go next year!!!

I would do it all over again right now if I could & I will for sure continue attending Coachella. That is all.

Definitely going back next year. Surprisingly food was good. Porta potties cleaned daily. Heineken beer was the only downfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for fixing the wristband issues from last year. Much appreciated.

I have attended Coachella Music & Arts Festival for 5 years, and this year is by far the most organized, most enjoyable one ever! So much room, so easy to get in and get out, the new shuttles to and from Palm Springs, and the 3-day high-security wristbands made the experience care-free. The music was as awesome and diverse as ever. My personal 5 favorites were Lauryn Hill, Eryka Badu, Duran Duran, The Twelves, and Robyn. So much talent to see and so little time. Thank you, Golden Voice, for all the great changes. I am looking forward to 2012 already. If anyone is reading this - buy tickets early! Use layaway if it is available. Coachella! Hella!

Though the line-up wasn't as strong as in 2010, I still had as good a time this year thanks to the far tighter security, better traffic control, and far fewer gatecrashers. It was much easier to get from stage to stage and also to work my way up to the front rows. The only remaining thing the festival needs to address is MORE SHADE and MORE COOLING. They should do this by installing more pavilions with seating and those large, portable industrial cooling fans that can be rented during the summer months. People were still nearly passing out from heat exhaustion.

Weather was great, party favors were plentiful, raver kids were out in force. The art installations were amazing. My first time going. I will be back every year :)

THE BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD!!! Life changing, pure and simple. The BEST music, the BEST music groups, and the BEST people. Camping was a 24/7 party and being at the venue was %100 excitement every moment I was on the grounds.

We look forward to Coachella every year and it is never a let down!!!!

C Low shows up 1/2 hr late and then bitches about it he was great but loved when you pulled the plug .

We had a great time! The line up was great, the sound was great! The ROSE GARDEN WAS BEAUTIFUL! I think that VIP needs to be more VIP and perhaps a different entrance. No matter how much fun I had there, getting out and back to our shuttle was an extremely long process. I just seemed like we walked and walked and walked. Unfortunately that detered us from getting there earlier and staying later. It would be nice if the VIP was a little more elite. It really still seemed like we were part of the crowd, further away from the stage yet we paid twice as much. For some of the smaller shows it was nice but for main stage shows it was just like everywhere else. Thank you for sticking to set times. It was nice that even though artist were late, you stayed with the set time.

The most beautiful festival I have ever been, From the initial mass of windmills entering palm springs to the monday morning sunrise, everything was a rare treat for ones eye. The line-up did not hold back in any way, every hour of every day there were artists who I was extremely excited about. All was friendly and I had an 'AWESOME' time. Only downside if there was one, was the limits on alcohol being British I really missed standing watching a band with a beer...Although I was distracted with all of the different attractions from the bicycle powered stage, the arts tents, early morning yoga, roller disco...phenomenal I would Coachella to EVERYONE!