COACHELLA v. Other Festivals

[jesscobean]

I have been to Bonnaroo for the last three years, I did Sasquatch last year, and a bunch of one day fests. I consider myself an experienced concert goer, and I always camp. I would like to go to Coachella this year because the line up is amazing, but I don't want to be disappointed by the atmosphere and any stupid rules. I'm used to Bonnaroo where everyone is very friendly and kind including all staff - no one hassles you. Most people camp, and you can go back and forth to your tent all day, plus the music goes until 4 am.

My questions:

If I am camping, can I go in and out of the concert area during the day, and how far will I have to walk? Or is there a shuttle?

Seriously what is the deal with water bottles? Can I bring in an empty Nalgene and fill it at a fountain?

Are the stages set up well? Are people dancing or sitting? Is it impossible to see popular acts?

What in the world goes on after midnight?

If someone were to smoke a bowl, would they be the only one, get looked at funny and then be escorted out?

Are the water trough facilities for campers decent?

Thank you!!

[C DUB YA]

maybe you should stick with Bonnaroo?

Just kidding - I have been to both and every year COACHELLA is by far the better of the festivals, then again, I'm not high trying to groove to a 20 minute guitar jam by John D Hippiesmell.

To me COACHELLA offers more music to my liking - I can't be bothered with the likes of Rusted Fucking Root, Dave Crappy Mathews, or Blues Shitty Traveler, so the one time I've gone was for Radiohead, and I had to put up with a lot of shit (literally) for them.

I do like the laid back nature of Bonnaroo, though.

It is very hard to see popular acts.

After midnight depends on your hotel.

Camping is decent from what I hear - but 4 days in the desert = stinky people, no matter how much they shower. Plus the weather can get cold at night and buring during the day

I do see a lot of weed at Coachella, but remember if Andy Dick can get busted for it, so can you.

[Glamour Damaged]

I have been to Bonnaroo for the last three years, I did Sasquatch last year, and a bunch of one day fests. I consider myself an experienced concert goer, and I always camp. I would like to go to Coachella this year because the line up is amazing, but I don't want to be disappointed by the atmosphere and any stupid rules. I'm used to Bonnaroo where everyone is very friendly and kind including all staff - no one hassles you. Most people camp, and you can go back and forth to your tent all day, plus the music goes until 4 am.

My questions:

If I am camping, can I go in and out of the concert area during the day, and how far will I have to walk? Or is there a shuttle?

Seriously what is the deal with water bottles? Can I bring in an empty Nalgene and fill it at a fountain?

Are the stages set up well? Are people dancing or sitting? Is it impossible to see popular acts?

What in the world goes on after midnight?

If someone were to smoke a bowl, would they be the only one, get looked at funny and then be escorted out?

Are the water trough facilities for campers decent?

Thank you!!

When you camp, its on the polo fields, so its SHORT walking distance.

I dont see why you wouldnt be able to bring in an empty bottle.

Most everyone in the front of the stages is standing/dancing. it would be awkward for someone to sit. but there are people sitting/lounging everywhere..

After Midnight (and your not exhausted) you can go to the Casinos..

Everyone smokes there. Just dont make it obvious. When I was in line to get in it smelled like weed VERY STRONGLY and one of the people doing the searching said "damn, that smells better than my stash!" as she was laughing...

[I_am_138]

If I am camping, can I go in and out of the concert area during the day, and how far will I have to walk? Or is there a shuttle?
Camping is right next to the entrance, but you CAN'T go in out of the festival throughout the day.

Seriously what is the deal with water bottles? Can I bring in an empty Nalgene and fill it at a fountain?
Actually, for the last couple of years I haven't seen them take anyone's bottles away. I always bring a full, sealed bottle and haven't had any problems. Same with my 55 friends.

Are the stages set up well? Are people dancing or sitting? Is it impossible to see popular acts?
The stages are set up VERY well. People are going nuts! Coachella has a fantastic environment and is an overall favorite. Every person I have taken has agreed that despite the heat, Coachella has the best atmosphere out of all the festivals. I too, have been to many festivals including Bonaroo, Redding, Leads, SummerFest, etc.

What in the world goes on after midnight?
Oh, well it depends who you are and where you are. Spin has an AMAZING after party every year. Some times they have wristbands sometimes not. The location varies. I'd look on the boards closer to the date. You'll meet TONS of people at Coachella who will tell you where to go. As far as the local area is concerned, there is nothing, but Coachella brings EVERYTHING


If someone were to smoke a bowl, would they be the only one, get looked at funny and then be escorted out?
No one gets looked at funny for doing this. Normally the person next to you will offer you a hit, but no one goes walking around doing such. I have never seen anyone being escorted out for this, but I guess it depends how dumb you are while doing it.Like don't smoke next to the 500 lbs security guard with a Bush pin on his shirt.

Are the water trough facilities for campers decent?
Yes, great showers, great bathrooms, and the lines aren't too bad. You can avoid lines by taking showers at 10 AM or late at night. Lines aren't too bad though.

[myxomatosis]

Preface by saying don't get me wrong - there is nowhere I would rather be than at Coachella for the best weekend of the year...

Vegoose in Vegas this past October was pretty cool though simply because it was so undercrowded that you get pretty close for any band you wanted -- i mean i've never seen anything like it, people were really chiill there.

Nevertheless, Coachella 07 is gonna rock like none other!!!

[ryanomalis]

having been to both, as far as crowding and logistics of camping are concerned, coachella is like a cakewalk compared to bonnaroo. bonnaroo camping covers a -significantly- larger area than coachella camping. the only bad thing about it is no in/out. that's the one thing i love most about bonnaroo.

one thing nobody's said.. personally i like to hang out in the campgrounds after midnight. there are lots of people milling about naturally, but it's a lot calmer and more relaxing than the city of bonnaroo. my favorite times at coachella were honestly in the middle of the night in the camp.

but what everyone else said is true, you can find something to do if you're looking. it's as simple as that.

in the end i think the pros and cons weigh out almost even, but the aesthetic of coachella is one of a kind. i love it and i doubt i'll ever miss it, regardless of the lineup.

have fun.

[TeamCoachellaHellYeah]

I have been to other Festivals in Japan and I can say that the Fuji Rock Festival is definitely on par if not better then Coachella..

[smitt12]

Been to the Austin City Limits Festival the last three years....it's pretty damn solid. First Coachella this year & can't wait to get out to CA.!

[Bliargh]

I've only attended Bonnaroo this past year, and had the time of my life. It was such an immersive experience, unlike any of the other festival scenarios i've been in. I've attended the past 5 years of ACL, and the past 3 years of coachella, and some other nonsense here and there, and they've all been amazing for different reasons...

bonnaroo was intense and immersive, and was a 24 hour party that you could not and wouldn't want to escape. Drug-fueled hysteria, so much good music, and some smelly dirtiness on a musical front, more bohemian in nature to some extent, but good hip hop representation, and sasha provided us with one of the most amazing nightcaps ever... a night that never saw sleep... so fun

ACL is a bit more folk and blues backboned, but has been developing an impressive ecclectic array of artists as the years go by. Austin is pretty much one of my homes, so although the fest ends at 10ish, there are a million obvious places to go. VIP access for the past couple years has obviously tipped this in my favor.

Coachella, on the other hand, has been like no other. The polo fields are so beautiful, definitely a much prettier environment than either of the other two festivals. zilker in austin is nice, and the farm in bonnaroo is kind of just... a fucking farm, but empire, with the palm trees, intense-but-dry-heat, mountains, it's gorgeous. The selection has dwindled in grandness over the past couple years, and the fest has been getting a run from its money by others, but this year has completely revitalized the fervor i had before my first coachella a few years ago... my sister lives in indio, so we've always stayed with her.. i've not camped, though am tempted to... bonnaroo was a situation where, although we foolishly got a hotel, most of us never really left the grounds o slept... it's just a constant party... acl and coachella i think are a bit different.. everything shuts down and you kind of have to go looking for a good time... at bonnaroo, excitement is thrown at you in buckets

and as far as the crowd sentiments.... i've had some unexpected encounters at the different fests each year, and i'd have to say that, while there are peripheral groups of fans that are specific to each fest (i.e. honky tonks at acl, hippies at bonnaroo, ravers/pretencious artfucks at coachella), each year has bee more than agreeable and friendly

so, advice is go, you shouldn't be seeking these experiences without an open mind, so as long as you've got that going for you you'll be just dandy...

[shotglass75]

I went to Bonnaroo last year and was pretty amazed at how the security didn't care about anything other than death it seemed. Bonnaroo, you can smoke a bowl and not look over your shoulder or worry about getting busted. Coachella is a little different. You can still smoke up but you knida gotta be watching out for security. They will bust you

[Bliargh]

yes, bonnaroo security didn't search a goddamn thing on me, it was a bit of a joke... we smuggled in booze, pot, and mollies, and other illegalities in with no issue whatsoever... My girl-friend and I were actually rolling our asses off on some mollies we procured in the tentcropylis, and were smuggling more in for our friends, all on our way to sasha... and i mean, we were obviously rolling...giggling, pupils the size of jolly ranchers, the works, and the guard actually found it rather amuzing and just let us pass, watching us gleefully disappear into the tent

a veritable utopica of hedonism, decadence

i love america