McCartney Announced As Headliner at Coachella
According to a Los Angeles Times report, the Coachella Music Festival has booked Paul McCartney to perform this year.
Booking the former Beatle would be conceivably one of the safest plays possible for most music festivals. However, the festival, slated for April 17-19 this year, has gained popularity by booking edgier, alt-rock bands, more popular on college campuses than McCartney, who is considered the most successful musician in pop history.
Promoters are hoping that by booking McCartney, 66, it will help the festival cope with a grim economy, a host of competitors, and help draw more mature pop fans to the festival. The hope is that McCartney's presence will make Coachella a hot topic among music fans nationwide.
From Paris, McCartney sent word Thursday that he was thrilled with the idea of playing to a new crowd. "I have heard that Coachella is one of the greatest festivals in the world," he said in a statement sent to The Times. "I'm really excited to get out there and rock!"
McCartney is one of 120 acts scheduled to perform. Others performing include the Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Franz Ferdinand. There will also be sets played by the Cure, Morrissey and My Bloody Valentine. Amy Winehouse has also been announced as performing at Coachella.
Still, despite those compelling bookings, Paul Tollett, the festival's chief architect, knows that his decision to bring in a living legend from the 1960s will dominate discussion between now and Sir Paul's main-stage set on the festival's first night.
"This is a Beatle. That's huge," said Tollett, who has shown a knack for the surprising in the past, making ambitious bookings including Madonna, Willie Nelson, and Prince.
Tickets have gone on sale today at 9 a.m., with a three-day pass going for $281 and single-day admission for $103. That's a lot for young fans and European visitors, who also might consider rival summer festivals such as Bonnaroo in Tennessee (which reportedly will be headlined by Bruce Springsteen and Phish) and Lollapalooza in Chicago.
A layaway payment plan has also been announced and promoters will be heavily advertising the $55-per-person, camp on-site option.
"These are tough times for people," Tollett said, "and we'll do what it takes to get them to come to the show."