help me understand the appeal of Coachella and music festivals in general

[Anonymous]

Spend $600+ on a ticket

Spend $11 for slice of pizza and $26 on onion rings

Wait 3 hours in lines for almost everything.

Roll around in dirt and dust and sweat all day until you're filthy. Repeat again the rest day.

Free parking if you wanna trek like 4 miles. Or pay $140+ for closer parking.


Everything about Coachella seems to blow. In fact, most music festivals seem to suck in general. The only reason I still know cochella exists is because anyone who goes make sure to tell as many people as possible that they're going, as of it is some flex to be proud of.

[Anonymous]

They’re for teens and 20 something’s. That’s all you need to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spend $600+ on a ticket

Spend $11 for slice of pizza and $26 on onion rings

Wait 3 hours in lines for almost everything.

Roll around in dirt and dust and sweat all day until you're filthy. Repeat again the rest day.

Free parking if you wanna trek like 4 miles. Or pay $140+ for closer parking.


Everything about Coachella seems to blow. In fact, most music festivals seem to suck in general. The only reason I still know cochella exists is because anyone who goes make sure to tell as many people as possible that they're going, as of it is some s ex to be proud of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re for teens and 20 something’s. That’s all you need to know.

Yep. My DD is a senior at UCLA. She has gone the past three years with about 50 of her friends, roomates, sorority sisters, etc. They have a huge campsite and it's a three day party. It's all about the clothes and music, friendship and party. That said, she was the first to admit this year had a lackluster headline lineup and she was able to buy a ticket on the secondary market for $250 under face value because of the bad lineup. They still had a blast.

As her mother of a certain age - it is the LAST place I would ever want to be!!

[Anonymous]

I would do it in a second if I was rich - I’d pay for the close parking, stay in glam tent with indoor plumbing and enjoy $50 onion rings.

[Anonymous]

I miss warped tour so much. That was the best music festival.

[Anonymous]

I went to Burning Man in the 90s. We were young and carefree. Definitely not something I would ever do now lol

[Anonymous]

I went to Lilith Fair. 😂 loved it.

[Anonymous]

I went to Lollapalooza in 1991. Jane's Addiction, Siouxsie & the Banshees, NIN, Ice Tea, it was incredible! I was 15 and now I can't believe my parents let me go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re for teens and 20 something’s. That’s all you need to know.

Yep. My DD is a senior at UCLA. She has gone the past three years with about 50 of her friends, roomates, sorority sisters, etc. They have a huge campsite and it's a three day party. It's all about the clothes and music, friendship and party. That said, she was the first to admit this year had a lackluster headline lineup and she was able to buy a ticket on the secondary market for $250 under face value because of the bad lineup. They still had a blast.

As her mother of a certain age - it is the LAST place I would ever want to be!!

To be that age and enjoying it will all those friends -- that sounds like an absolute blast, PP!

[Anonymous]

It’s not Woodstock!

[Anonymous]

It is the music especially, but also the energy of the crowd and sharing an experience that spans cultures and countries. It can be a spiritual awakening in a way to surround yourself with humanity and partake in the joy of being together in the search for meaning. People either love listening to music or they don't.

[Anonymous]

I think Coachella, especially, is very much a go to see and be seen event. It’s cool to say you went and people get into dressing up and taking photos for social media etc. From what I’ve heard about this festival it’s a bit less about the music than the overall vibe and fun/party atmosphere. Lots of celebrities and influencers.

Generally, people like live music for the energy the crowd brings, it can make the music feel somehow more exciting and exhilarating to hear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the music especially, but also the energy of the crowd and sharing an experience that spans cultures and countries. It can be a spiritual awakening in a way to surround yourself with humanity and partake in the joy of being together in the search for meaning. People either love listening to music or they don't.

Agree with all of this! I spent much of my free time at festivals and raves in the 90s and early 2000s. I even met my now DH at one and we're still going strong and enjoying all the music 25+ years later!

For music lovers, very little else can compare to the energy and rush these environments can generate. For me they brought a unique sense of personal identity (how you dress, what you bring, what your camp is like, etc) along with a profound sense of community based on the shared, unabashed joy that music can bring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I miss warped tour so much. That was the best music festival.

No way, HFStival was the best!