THE COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL IS BACK...WITH A VENGEANCE!

After the usual months of endless speculation and countless rumors, The Coahcella Valley Music and Arts Festival has revealed its 2009 line up and HOLY CRAP! It's a doozy! I've attended six Coachella events in total and after being all but forced to sit out last year (our intrepid music guru Kyle England was on hand to deliver insight into the awe inspiring grandeur of it all) I told myself I wouldn't miss another one. After seeing the 2009 line up? Well, lets just say that death is the only thing that will keep me away, and I don't plan on dying anytime soon.

Coachella is the premiere U.S. music festival (and one of the best in the world for that matter) and promoter Goldenvoice has always prided itself on unforgettable line ups. And what's more, Goldenvoice is not into repeats. There are the occasional returning acts, but for the most part, you can expect to see a plethora of new faces at each passing Coachella Festival.

In typical Coachella fashion, the 2009 festival is a brilliant fusion of up and coming acts (Fleet Foxes, Ghostland Observatory) , veteran superstars (Paul McCartney, The Cure), underground icons (Morrissey, Throbbing Gristle), techno treasures (Thievery Corporation, Groove Armada), hip hop gems (Public Enemy, Atmosphere), legendary artists who very seldom tour the states (Leonard Cohen, Paul Weller), and reunited groups that you probably thought you'd never see (or hear) again (this year's big offering is My Bloody Valentine).

If the line up weren't already stellar enough, rumors are swirling that another head-liner might be added to the Saturday night main-stage. Last year's big late addition was the incomparable Prince, and not surprisingly, he brought the house down. Kyle called me in the midst of Prince's mind blowing set (during that infamous Radiohead cover no less) and he could barely contain himself. Who might a late addition be this year? Well, the obvious guess would be one Mr. Bruce Springsteen. The Boss is playing Los Angeles on April 16th and curiously, he has five open dates immediately following. It would be an awesome fit. Other speculative names being dropped at the Coachella message boards include U2 (who haven't played a festival show in years) and Blink 182 who, at the recent Grammy telecast, announced that they've reunited.

Whether or not another band is added, hardly matters. When you see the line up, you'll know what I'm talking about. It may not be as headline heavy as years past, but this amazing roster of stellar acts is still enough to make even the biggest music snob happy. More than 100 bands over the course of three glorious days. You just can't beat that.

Kyle and I will be at the festival and we'll be sure to bring you a sizable report.
The 2009 Coachella Music and Arts Festival takes place April 17th-19th, in Indio, CA (right outside of Palm Springs). 3 Day passes run $269 and they're worth every penny. For those who have no sense of adventure, single day tickets can also be purchased for $99.

Here are just some of the big names appearing at Coachella 2009. For a full lineup and other information, be sure to log on to coachella.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH
Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst, The Black Keys, Silversun Pickups, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, We Are Scientists, Mike Patton, M. Ward, and Noah and the Whale

SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH
The Killers, M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastodon, Henry Rollins, Jenny Lewis, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Drive-By Truckers, and Calexico

SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH
The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size, Public Enemy, Groove Armada, Christopher Lawrence, Clipse, Perry Ferrell, The Horrors, Biran Jonestown Massacre, and No AgeClick on the link!

http://www.coachella.com/