Coachella and Stagecoach Canceled for 2021

Hold off on getting out your Coachella and Stagecoach outfits because two of the most popular music festivals have been canceled again.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival will not occur this year. According to the latest public health order released on January 29, 2021, from the California Riverside County.

The health order states both music festivals are “music concerts and gatherings of an international scope, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees from many countries, including several disproportionately afflicted by the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic.”

The order continued, “If COVID-19 were detected at these festivals, the scope and number of attendees and the nature of the venue would make it infeasible, if not impossible, to track those who may be placed at risk.”

Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsome lifted the statewide, regional stay-at-home order; that had been in effect since the middle of December. In a virtual news conference on Monday, January 25, 2021, Governor Newsome stated the “hospitalization rate was down nearly 20% in the past two weeks.”; He continued, “Everything that should be up is up, and everything that should be down is down; case rates, positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICUs.”


Photo Credit: Escape Velocity at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash

2021 marks the second year in a row where both of the popular music festivals are canceled.

Both festivals were scheduled for April 2020; Then postponed to October 2020 due to COVID-19.

In June 2020, the county canceled both festivals. Coachella and Stagecoach festival operator; Goldenvoice did not provide a statement as of January 30, 2021, regarding the festivals for 2021, and neither did official festival organizers.

Last year, Coachella headliners included Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, and Rage Against the Machine. While stagecoach headliners included Thomas Rhett, Carrier Underwood, and Eric Church.

Which festival are you missing more right now? Coachella, Stagecoach, or both? Sound off by hitting me up on socials @MikeStarkCA on Twitter and Instagram.

Written By: Mike Stark | @MikeStarkCA

Cover Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Ferris Wheel by Aran Mtnez on Unsplash

It’s Festival Season: 2020 Music Lineups

Looking for one weekend to see a ton of great artists? Let’s analyze some 2020 music festival lineups. Most of these are in California, with a few exceptions in case you want to travel a bit. 

Coachella: Indio, CA, April 10th-12th & 17th-19th

There’s nothing like Coachella, surrounded by desert mountains and endless palm trees. On the lineup is Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris, Rex Orange County, Brockhampton, Flume, Disclosure, DaBaby, Lana Del Rey, and more!

Rolling Loud: Miami, Florida, May 8th-10th

Downtown Miami with some great performers, what could be better? On the lineup is ASAP Rocky, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Playboi Carti, DaBaby, Sheck Wes, Blueface, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Tyga, YG, and more!

Lovers & Friends: Los Angeles, May 9th

New festival “Lovers and Friends” in downtown LA is a great way to see some amazing artists in some sunny weather! On the lineup is Ms. Lauryn Hill, Usher, TLC, Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker, Megan Thee Stallion, Nelly, Sean Paul, and more!

Lightning In A Bottle: Buena Vista Lake, CA, May 20th-25th

Get groovy in the desert and camp with your friends this Memorial Day weekend! On the lineup is Kaytranada, Sylvan Esso, Griz, Big Wild. Doja Cat, James Blake, Bob Moses, Justin Martin and more!

Bottlerock: Napa Valley, CA,  May 22nd-24th

Ready to drink some wine, look at some art and jam out to some classics? If so, this one is for you. On the lineup is The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Anderson.Paak, Khalid, Zedd, Janelle Monae, Of Monsters and Men, Empire of the Sun, and more!

Governors Ball: New York City, June 5th-7th

If you’re looking to get away, this is the place to be. On the lineup is Tame Impala, Missy Elliott, Flume, Vampire Weekend, Stevie Nicks, Solange, Miley Cyrus, Ellie Goulding, Rufus Du Sol, H.E.R., Summer Walker and more!

Bonnaroo: Manchester, Tennessee, June 11th-14th

Again, a bit of traveling, but the artists are well worth it. On the lineup is Tool, Miley Cyrus, The 1975, Glass Animals, Lizzo, Flume, Oysterhead, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend, Leon Bridges, and many more! 

Written by: Delaney Weidner

Maggie Rogers “Heard It From A Past Life” Album Review

Heard It From A Past Life

Sharing her life story through strategic songwriting, Maggie Rogers rises to fame as her debut album “Heard It From A Past Life” continues to dominate the charts.

Appearing on festival lineups like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and the 50th year anniversary return of Woodstock, singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers is on her way to the top. The 24-year-old pop artist experienced her rise to fame immediately after sharing her song “Alaska” to Pharrell Williams during a masters class at New York University. She wrote and produced the hit song in under 15 minutes, and blew away one of the worlds most renowned producers. While I had heard many amazing things about this young, female artist, I had yet to listen to her debut album, Heard It From A Past Life.

After researching her past, I found that Rogers grew up playing the harp, piano, and guitar all by the time she was in middle school. Her heart has always been in folk music, and the banjo was her primary instrument of choice. She fully kicked off her songwriting career during the summer of her junior year after attending Berklee’s College of Music program and won the program’s songwriting contest. Maggie is a hardworking individual who always put her best foot forward and has never tried to be anyone but herself. 

With as many as 4 million monthly Spotify listeners, Maggie Rogers has already made her mark on the world. As many of my friends continuously rave about her music, I decided to review Heard It From A Past Life from start to finish.

Opening the album with her song “Give A Little,” Roger’s introduces her audience to a light and somewhat dainty beat. She is combining her background of folk music with pop and indie styles of production. The song’s chorus is heart-warming and simple, radiating Haim-like catchiness.

Overnight” is next up, fitting perfectly as she reflects on how quickly things can change overnight. In this track, the synths were made from the sounds of glacier frogs, holding true to her creativity and strong connection to nature.

The Knife” has a unique intro that sets the tone to let loose and enjoy life to the fullest. “Beautiful as it all pours out, after dark, after life” are lyrics that prove her purpose of this song to dance and be free.

Alaska” is the song that gave Roger’s the success she needed to get this album started. The video of Pharrell’s initial reaction to this song fully shows the emotion and creativity behind her songwriting, and it is a beautiful video every fan should watch.

Light On” is another heart-warming track that features light guitar and strong vocals. I can hear the emotion and soul pouring through her voice as she shares her struggles with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by her own thoughts.

Past Life” is a ballad that focuses on the changes that are about to come and take over her life. The slow piano combined with her stripped vocals are enough to bring fans to tears by the end of it.

Say It” combines Roger’s love for electronic production with her love for nature as she uses synths and vocals to paint a picture of the Alaskan mountains and snowy hilltops. She sings about the innocence of having a crush, “every evening, every time, I keep replaying in my mind, and wondering if you do the same.”

On + Off” features smooth bass lines and layered percussions, representing the layers shared within a relationship with someone you love. With an incredibly groovy and catchy chorus, this unique track has to be one of my favorites thus far.

Fallingwater” has an off-beat tempo that captivates listeners from the start, then moves into a vocal progression that might catch you off guard. This track has emotion that takes her voice to new heights as she sings about the challenges of change.

Retrograde” tells the story of struggling between wanting to stay in a dream-state all day, and wanting to give up when things get hard in our everyday lives.

Burning” mixes clapping beats with face-tased percussion as Rogers jumps around vocally as well. This track gives listening to illusion of running through the wild, emphasizing the wild ride relationships can take you on.

Closing the album with “Back In My Body,” this track perfectly showcases her story-telling abilities through songwriting. She talks about her time in London and Paris and the emotional impact those cities have had on her life. This song is powerful, majestic, and the best finale to an incredible debut album.

Final Thoughts?

I am now a full-on Maggie Rogers fan. Initially, I thought that her pop and folk styles of music would turn me away, but after researching her story, reading her lyrics and the meanings behind them, and hearing her creativity pour through her music, I have become pleasantly surprised. It’s no wonder that Heard It From A Past Life reached #2 on Billboard’s charts following the release of the album. Roger’s has never tried to copy anyone’s style; she is unapologetically herself at all times. Her story telling abilities are something truly special, and I can already tell there are big things in store for her future.

Written By: Brittany Roach

KCR’S Coachella Survival Guide

Coachella 2018

Haven’t started packing yet? Don’t worry – KCR’s got you covered. Here are the best tips and tricks to survive Coachella 2019!

There are few things better than spending a weekend in the desert with good friends, good music, and even better vibes. If you’re going to Coachella this year, get ready to have fun, but always remember to be safe and come prepared.

FESTIVAL ADVICE:

With headliners like Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, and Ariana Grande, be prepared for big crowds and even bigger performances. First off, always remember to bring a positive attitude and enjoy everything that comes along with the festival; no one wants to hear complaints while you’re at one of the biggest and best events of the year. Overlapping set-times can be frustrating, but our best advice is to decide in the moment who you want to see and just go with the flow. Festivals are more enjoyable with friends, so stay close to people you trust and remember that every artist has something great to show you.

The heat can be brutal, but staying hydrated is key! Your first stop after entering the festival should always be the hydration station. Thankfully, Coachella has always kept their water prices at $2 ever since they first started, so make sure to stock up on some H2O.

Next, confirm a meeting spot. Whether it’s next to one of the unique art installations, a lemonade stand, or the side of a stage, a meeting spot is necessary in case you get lost or plan to meet up with friends at a later time.

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Portable Charger
    • Taking videos of your favorite bands takes up more battery than you’d think. Also, Coachella is known to have spotty service, so make sure you charge up so you can find your friends.
  • Camelback
    • Vibedration has some stylish backpacks that will keep you hydrated throughout the day. Amazon also has some reliable finds, like this one.
  • Fan
    • A hand fan is trendy but also a necessity. If you think you’ll get tired of waving your hand to the beat all day, stick to a battery powered fan. With the mister included, you will be surprised how refreshed it’ll leave you.
  • Hydrating Sunblock
    • We’ve all had our awful sunburns, and the last thing you want is to burn the first day and be uncomfortable for the rest of the weekend. Apply sunscreen before you go, and bring some into the festival as well. Yes, they do allow sunscreen inside the venue!
  • Bandana or scarf
    • The dust can be absolutely brutal! Make sure to cover your nose and face for protection, unless you want to breathe in dirt all day.
  • Earplugs
    • Obviously, the music will be LOUD! And if you do decide to camp, there is no guarantee that your neighbors will follow the noise rules.
  • Small blanket
    • Standing on your feet all day can be tiring, and being able to sit on a small blanket is one of the small things you’ll appreciate. It also gets cold and windy at night, and having a portable blanket will make your walk back to your site a little more tolerable.
  • Comfortable shoes
    • While you might want to flex your newest and trendiest shoes in the desert, the festival is huge and you will be walking all day. Stay comfortable at all costs to survive the weekend.

And finally, make sure to download the official Coachella app on your phone to get all the latest updates on set times, official rules, and fun activities that are happening throughout the weekend.

CAMPING:

If you’re not one of the lucky ones staying in a house or hotel, you’re probably camping. However, camping is half of the fun and the perfect experience for any first-time Coachella go-er. Make sure you come prepared though, because once you’re at the campsite, it can be difficult to leave and buy things you may have forgot. Thankfully for you, I’ve prepared a list of things to pack if you’re camping.

Besides the basic necessities like a tent, canopy, sleeping bags, and all your clothes and toiletries, here are some packing suggestions you might not have thought about:

  • Cooler
  • Foldable table & chairs
  • Lanterns & flashlights
  • Blow up mattress or mattress pad
  • Battery powered fan
  • Portable grill
  • Portable shower bag
  • Bathing suit and towel for showering
  • Speaker
  • Games for the campsite
  • Battery powered string lights
  • Tapestries
  • Picnic blanket
  • Wet wipes
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper towels
  • Mini first-aid kit
  • Energy drinks
  • Non-pershiable food
  • Water!!!

When it comes to camping, it is always better to over-pack rather than under-preparing. You might be surprised by how cold the nights can get, so make sure you bring blankets, sweatpants, and warm jackets. If there’s a chance of rain, pack a tarp to cover your tent and a couple of rain jackets to be safe. Think through what your daily routine looks like and what you’ll need to bring to keep yourself staying comfortable.

Not going? Don’t worry!

Both weekends will be live-streamed on yt.be/coachella, where you can watch all the live Weekend 1 performances and see original, curated content during Weekend 2. Watch from the comfort of your home and avoid standing in the heat all day. And don’t worry, there will be many more Coachella’s. If you plan on going a future year, I suggest buying tickets during their presale and utilizing the payment plan. In the end, you will most likely have the opportunity to see these artists again for a much cheaper price.

Need a playlist for the drive up? Check out my Coachella 2019 playlist here.

Written by: Brittany Roache