“Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert”

By: Linnea Wee

Executive Arts Editor

Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to postpone their event this year, they were still able to give fans a taste of the beloved festival. 

“Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert” is an informative, exciting, and heartwarming story of the history of the music and arts festival. This amazing documentary showcases everything that anyone could possibly want to know about Coachella, warming fans’ hearts in this unfortunate time the world is in right now. 

Chris Perkel directed and produced the documentary, along with Head of AEG Studios Raymond Leon Roker and Coachella founder and Goldenvoice President/CEO Paul Tollett. The documentary features artists such as Jane’s Addiction and Billie Eilish. 

The documentary outlines Coachella’s history from the very creation of the festival, up until last year’s noteworthy musical moments. “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert” showcases the festival’s hardships, successes, and everything in between. 

A notable aspect of the documentary is the wide range of artists that they interviewed for this documentary or had prior footage of interviews. They have old school artists such as Rage Against the Machine and new artists, such as Billie Eilish. 

The remarkable cinematography in this documentary is really what pulls the whole thing together. The spectacular mix of shots of the performers, cheering crowds, and beautiful scenery are guaranteed to give the viewers goosebumps throughout the duration of the documentary.

Since the festival is known for incorporating all different types of genres of music, the documentary did the same thing. The blend of rock, pop, and electronic music in the documentary satisfies all the viewers musical needs. 

The documentary really outlines music’s development over the past twenty years. Whether one is super into music or not, it is difficult to not be inspired by the energy and passion inside this documentary and inside the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. 

YouTube Original “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert” was released on April 10. The documentary is approximately one hour and forty-five minutes long and it available to watch on YouTube.