Coachella 2023: How valley locals enjoyed the festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has brought a music extravaganza to the valley for over 20 years, as well as countless visitors from around the world. But there are also music aficionados living right here in the desert and some have made it a tradition to attend annually.
Other locals experienced the Coachella festival for the first time this year.
The Desert Sun talked to some of these valley residents to find out what they enjoyed most. Read about their experiences below.
The following interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Brian Bustamante, from Coachella
What is your age? Today, I am 20 years old. (Desert Sun note: Bustamante celebrated his birthday on Day 2 of Weekend 2. Happy birthday!)
Had you been to Coachella before? This is my first Coachella!
Who have you been most excited to see? I'm most excited to see Calvin Harris. I heard from many that he brings the house down whenever he performs, (with) the production.
Another good performer that I saw, front row: Bad Bunny. Seeing him live, from that front row experience, and being able to document that was insane.
What's the best thing you've eaten at the festival this year? Spicy Pie! Spicy Pie, by far, is one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Honestly, it beats New York pizza, in my opinion. It is a little bit on the pricey side at $11 a slice, but it's a big slice, and it's really good.
How far ahead did you plan your outfit? I planned it out a good two days in advance. I prioritized comfort. Some people want to come in, looking more fashionable, trying to make a statement. But hey, man, I'm going to be dancing. How am I going to dance in jeans (or) how am I going to walk out of the festival with my feet not hurting, if I wear boots or Converse or flats? I'm in for a long ride, so I dressed up for a comfortable experience.
How's the desert heat at the festival? Just make sure you're doing the fundamentals: Drink water, get some shade, go into (places with) AC. That's all you really need.
What's been the biggest surprise for you at Coachella 2023? The biggest surprise was just the amount of people and the amount of cultures that (are represented) here. There's so much variety here, it's not just a one-genre festival. It's mixed-genre, mixed-culture. I think that's what makes it so cool, that there's something for everybody.
Prisilla Gamboa, from La Quinta
What is your age? I'm 35.
Had you been to Coachella before? Yes. I've been coming since 2007, on and off.
Who have you been most excited to see? GloRilla, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean, Jai Paul.
What's the best thing you've eaten at the festival this year? The pepperoni slice of pizza from Spicy Pie, with their iced tea.
How far ahead did you plan your outfit? I'm basic, so I just get a band t-shirt and shorts to be comfortable. Living out here, we know what's expected (with the heat).
How's the desert heat at the festival? Unbearable. At work, I'm inside, so I usually avoid being outside.
What's been the biggest surprise for you at Coachella 2023? Last night we saw Chromeo and La Roux came out and that was so dope, seeing her. She sang "Bulletproof."
More: Coachella 2023: Chromeo joins the five-timer's club, brings out La Roux
Julieta Reckholder, from Indio
What is your age? 45.
Had you been to Coachella before? I've been to every Coachella since 1999, except for 2022 when I got COVID. My husband, Carlos, has been to every Coachella. We're the locals featured in the "California's Gold" episode about Coachella with Huell Howser.
Who have you been most excited to see? I'm excited for anything at the Sonora stage. But I (left) the comfort of the tents for Dinner Party, Bjork and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.
I'm also very happy that Despacio is back at Coachella. It's a slower paced space that's air conditioned and makes me so happy. The sound there is perfect.
What's the best thing you've eaten at the festival this year? Thank you Thai Farmhouse! For $22, my family of four ate from my plate. It's a giant fried chicken piece, a fried egg and pad thai. We've had it twice already. Food is so expensive now!
How far ahead did you plan your outfit? I do not plan any outfits beforehand. I don't think I ever have. I make sure my feet are comfortable, that's my priority.
I did wear a lot of tropical colors on Friday for Bad Bunny and was in black sheer on Saturday.
How's the desert heat at the festival? This heat is painful, even as a local.
What's been the biggest surprise for you at Coachella 2023? The biggest surprise this year is seeing how massive this event has become. It's insane that the entire population of Indio is doubled and concentrated in the polo grounds for two weekends.
It is so huge now that there is no way you can see everything in three days. I can see why people do both weekends to get the entire experience.
(Also), so far everyone at the festival has been friendly.
Adam Ex, from La Quinta
What is your age? 41.
Had you been to Coachella before? Yes. I couldn't afford it before so I used to work it, picking up trash. That was my way to see live music. I did it for three years, since 2010 or 2011.
As a customer and a local, I started coming Weekend 2 because (Weekend) 1 feels like there are way more tourists and influencers. On Weekend 2, all my friends and I try to meet up.
Who have you been most excited to see? Ugh. Well, it was Frank Ocean. I've been trying to see him since 2017 and it keeps getting pushed back. I'm gonna keep trying. I was excited, we were a week out, and then something happened. Now that he's not coming, I'm excited for BLACKPINK.
I also really want to see Jai Paul, because of his story. Learning about his story online, about how his music was leaked ... and he disappeared from music for years, this is like him coming back.
What's the best thing you've eaten at the festival this year? So, I've been actually looking at drinks. For example, if you want a lemonade, there are four different price points for that. I've found, so far, the best ones are the lemonade or sweet tea stands, (selling them) for $7. You can find them at other places for $9 or $15.
As far as eating, I love Spicy Pie; it's a classic. I also like some lobster mac and cheese. It's like 20-something-dollars, but it's really delicious.
How far ahead did you plan your outfit? I kind of played it by ear. I wanted something bright and "poppy," or with colors that pop, because I feel like it's good for pictures. Especially in the black-light tents, it looks amazing!
How's the desert heat at the festival? I laugh because people are like, "Ah, it's so hot," and it's like 90, while (locals) are used to 120. Yeah, it's hot — I'm sweating — but I'm kind of used to it.
What's been the biggest surprise for you at Coachella 2023? Oh! Bad Bunny bringing out Grupo Frontera? Oh my God! I hadn't really gotten into music in Spanish until this year (but) I heard one song from (Grupo Frontera) and I went and downloaded it, and then I heard another one and I downloaded it. I thought, these guys are killing it right now, and then they just pull up on a Bad Bunny set. I got so excited!
More: Coachella 2023: Bad Bunny celebrates Puerto Rican and Mexican cultures during Weekend 2 set
Angel Chavez, from Coachella
What is your age? 30.
(Desert Sun note: We didn't have to ask Chavez if he's been to the festival before as he's pretty much an expert on it. Chavez has attended consistently since 2009 and in 2018, started a YouTube channel with tips about "How to Coachella.")
Who have you been most excited to see? To be honest, Blink-182. That's not fair because they were announced last minute, but once that was added to the lineup ... It's a band that I liked in middle school and high school and they'd broken up for a long time, so I never thought I would see them live.
What's the best thing you've eaten at the festival this year? Everbloom Coffee is dope. For food, I always get a chicken bowl with rice, to give me energy throughout the weekend.
How far ahead did you plan your outfit? I didn't buy anything new, but I already had stuff that I knew I could wear at Coachella. I bought a bunch of stuff last summer ... and I never wore it. I'd been waiting for Coachella.
I dress a little bit for fashion, but mostly comfort.
How's the desert heat at the festival? I try not to catch a lot of shows in the sun, in the daytime, because you could start getting headaches and it ruins the rest of your day. If you come early, do the indoor stages to stay away from the heat.
What's been the biggest surprise for you at Coachella 2023? I guess Frank Ocean, messing up his set. He had three years to prepare, because he was in the 2020 lineup. That's unlike Coachella, having the headliner mess up like that.
More: Meet the man behind Desert Underground, a musical movement happening in a Coachella backyard
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: Locals offer their opinion on the lineup, food and more
