Apr 19, 2009 2:36 pm US/Pacific
Acts Are Heating Up, Literally, At Coachella Fest
The Cure And Public Enemy Slated For Finale As Temperatures Near Triple-Digits
INDIO, Calif. (CBS) ―
-
-
Musician Paul McCartney performs during day one of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2009 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2009 in Indio, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Sunscreen and cold liquids were in demand Sunday at Day Three of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, with highs approaching 100 degrees as the first acts of the day began thumping out amplified walls of sound at noon.
The Cure, Public Enemy and Roni Size Reprazent are slated to close the extravaganza, which is expected to be one of the best attended in its 10 years, according to promoters.
The 66-year-old Sir Paul McCartney, who headlined Friday night, was not the only Coachella star a few years older than most festival-goers. Public Enemy's iconic front man, Flavor Flav, celebrated his 50th birthday in March.
The big acts who wrapped up night two included Grammy-nominated M.I.A., a British-born Sri Lankan rapper who filled in for Amy Winehouse, who pulled out last month; and The Killers, the four-piece rock band out of Las Vegas.
Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, an Inland Empire native, and collaborator DJ AM, both of whom survived a fiery jet crash on takeoff in South Carolina on Sept. 19, were a big draw in the Sahara Tent.
Other Saturday performers included ex-punkers Bob Mould and Henry Rollins; the Los Angeles-area bands, Silver Sun Pickups and Airborne Toxic Event; indie darling M. Ward, who performed without mate Zooey Deschanel; and TheNEWNO2 led by Dhani Harrison, son of the late Beatle.
Police made 28 arrests over the course of the day, mostly for drug- and alcohol-related crimes, but Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said there were no fights and no arrests for drunken driving. A handful of people have been taken to hospitals, but no serious injuries or accidents have occurred.
On Thursday and Friday nights, police made about 20 arrests.
The three-day festival boasts more than 100 bands on two stages and in three tents. While no official attendance figures were available, Coachella founder Paul Tollett told the Los Angeles Times this year's edition was on track to be the third-best attended.
Three-day attendance figures are expected to be around 150,000.
Though one-day tickets, which cost about $100, were sold out months ago, a few were reportedly available at the gates Saturday. Three day tickets cost $269.
Aside from the headliners, other big draws Sunday include the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, My Bloody Valentine and Perry Farrell.
Among the celebrities spotted Saturday were Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, Paris Hilton and Dita Von Teese.
McCartney closed the first night with a 2 1/2-hour set covering everything from Beatles standards to recent compositions. He also dedicated "Long and Winding Road" and "My Love" to his late wife Linda, who died 11 years ago Friday.
Morrissey and Leonard Cohen also performed Friday night.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
Stars Rock The Grammys
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments