Happy 2014!
We’re back with a new year and more 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival predictions and wish lists, not to mention a gift from the festival itself.
To kick off the new year, Coachella just posted a video of the 2013 fest on its social media networks and website. (FYI, the activity usually hints at a lineup announcement coming sooner rather than later. Last year the fest posted an incredible video of the art installations at the fest just a few days before the lineup was announced on Jan. 24.)
Watch and behold the magic and our old friend Helix Poeticus (a.k.a. “The Coachella Snail”).
I’ve been thinking about how it’s coming up on the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion (The Beatles first played “The Ed Sullivan Show” in Feb. 1964) and there are some bands of that era that readers think could be a fit for a certain desert festival.
Reader Dan Thomas sent me this link from Billboard about The Kinks’ possible reunion to mark the band’s 50th anniversary.
When you think about the bad blood over the years between Ray and Dave Davies, that reunion is an even bigger coup than getting The Smiths to play nice. I would put the odds at very slim at best, but Coachella does bring out the magic when it comes to reunions.
For a moment, just let yourself imagine The Kinks playing “Waterloo Sunset” at sunset at the Empire Polo Club.
What do you think? Will The Davies brothers get back together?
And in another question about a band from across the pond, reader Trevor Hirst has some thoughts about a group heavily predicted to play in 2013.
“One thing I haven’t seen anyone mention is The Rolling Stones. After the debacle with the accidental tour date posting to the RS app and oodles of speculation that followed, I would have thought that more people would still see a smolder of fire where that smoke came from. I have a feeling they just might be on this year’s poster – the Australasian leg of their tour ends in New Zealand on April 5, then they’re in the UK in the summer. http://www.rollingstones.com/tickets/
Plus, based on Thomas Mars’ comment on stage at weekend one last year (“We’ve been waiting 18 months for this”) clearly acts are booked well in advance.”
Ronnie Wood, left, and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones perform in concert on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. (AP Photo)
Trevor brings up some excellent points. In fact, last year I was convinced that The Rolling Stones had been locked in to play from a year prior to that. I was also convinced that a picture of a polo ball on the polo field signified that the Stones were a lock.
The open tour dates make me think this is a slightly more likely possibility than The Kinks (Coachella 2014 is on tap for April 11-13 and April 18-20 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio), but after the frenzy of last year, I think the rumor would have bubbled up before now.Also, the Stones made a lot of money with their own tour and I don’t know what the incentive would be for them to come to the fest.
Will Coachella pull off the surprise of The Rolling Stones a year later or is time no longer on their side for this get? Let me know in the comments below. You can flip through the interactive timeline or click the links below to read my other predictions for the next edition of the fest.
I’ve covered the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival since 2007. All of the Coachella prediction posts here are tagged with Coachellaology. For more Coachella news, photos, interviews and information, visit the iGuide Coachella page.
If you want to follow me on social media, I’m at @vanessafranko on Twitter, the Audio File on Facebook and on Google+.
Dec. 7, 2013: Bastille
Dec. 2, 2013: Grouplove
Dec. 2, 2013: The 1975, Chvrches
Nov. 27, 2013: Ellie Goulding, Broken Bells
Nov. 20, 2013: Will Outkast reunion dominate lineup?
Nov. 19, 2013: FLAG, Haim
Nov. 14, 2013: Can we all just agree that Arcade Fire will headline?
Nov. 14, 2013: Lorde, Flogging Molly
Nov. 5, 2013: Mogwai, The Dismemberment Plan
Oct. 25, 2013: Arcade Fire, The Naked and Famous
Oct. 7, 2013: The Pixies
Oct. 2, 2013: Paul McCartney, Luscious Jackson
Aug. 2, 2013: Neutral Milk Hotel
June 16, 2013: The Replacements