Coachella

Why should I go? It’s a festival in a desert.

Any interesting titbits of information? The first band to test the festival site were Pearl Jam for a one-off gig in 1993.

Leave behind the monotony of English life for a truly unique festival experience. Once a year this sparsely populated area of desert transforms into a sprawling mass of fifty thousand revellers enjoying the true American experience. The venue, sitting in one of American’s hottest and driest spots, is between one and five hours away from the nearest big cities (San Diego, LA, Las Vegas). Though despite a remote location, the venue has never struggled to pull in the crowds, assembling twenty-five thousand people in its inaugural year as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 1999. Due to its spectacular setting, the festival has attracted some of the most star-studded line-ups in festival history, acts of note including Prince, Madonna and Pixies. If you manage to see all the bands on your list and still have a few hours to spare you can satisfy your artistic interests by visiting the installations and sculptures on show in the polo ground area. The only drawback stated by regular Coachella attendees is that beers are served in caged areas that you are not permitted to leave with beer in hand. Those damned conservative Americans.
Ticket Price: $269 (£189 + booking fee).

Accommodation: Camping. Buy a camping ticket for $55 per person. Luxury safari tents, or personal lounges for $5000 for first two people plus $1000 for each additional person. Hotel at nearby Polo Ground venue, prices vary.

Site Opening: Camping areas are open from 10am 16th April at 10.00 to 28th April (Camping remains open for the Stagecoach festival that follows).

Capacity: 50,000

Stages: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre.

Travel: Closest airport is Palm Springs, 23 miles from the polo field.