Key Differences Between Coachella and Austin City Limits

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Key Differences Between Coachella and Austin City Limits

For music lovers, summer is synonymous with festival season. Each year, starting in late spring music festivals are held all across the United States. Attending festivals has become an incredibly popular summer pastime and you could probably attend a different fest every weekend if you wanted to. Coachella, which occurs yearly in April, is one of the earliest festivals, and kicks of the season in style. Images of social media influencers decked out in their Coachella outfits flood Instagram feeds for weeks after the event, leaving the rest of us with a lingering sense of FOMO.



Austin City Limits, another world famous music festival, rounds out the season with a bang in early October. If you’re dreaming of attending one of the most iconic festivals — you won’t want to miss Coachella and Austin City Limits. They’re two of the best music festivals in the USA and attract thousands of music enthusiasts from around the world, but they each offer a unique experience. Both are worth attending, and they have enough differences to avoid feeling repetitive if you choose to go to both.

Coachella

attendees at Coachella



Coachella is likely one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of a music festival — probably because it’s become so trendy. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual event spread out over two three-day weekends in April. It’s located in the beautiful desert of Indio, California which is about two hours from Los Angeles. In total, the festival lasts six days.

Attending Coachella has become a kind of status symbol, but so is performing. Each year, some of the world’s most famous musicians take over the stage. Since Coachella’s inception in 1999, countless legendary performances have occurred. Attendees can enjoy a variety of genres including pop, rock, hip-hop, and EDM. Beyonce, Daft Punk, Billie Eilish, Prince, Rage Against the Machine, and Amy Winehouse are just a few artists who have graced one of Coachella’s eight stages. Even Tupac, who passed away in 1996, made a guest appearance as a hologram.

Ticket sales are capped around 250,000, and about 125,000 people attend the festival each day. It’s a popular palace to see and be seen, and tons of celebrities go each year. Coachella fashion is a huge deal and big brands sponsor tons of influencer content at the festival. Some music lovers criticize the festival for being overly rooted in capitalism and inaccessible for anyone that isn’t wealthy or famous. Coachella offers several onsite camping options, but many attendees choose to lodge offsite at hotels or vacation rentals. A massive ferris-wheel and art installations are a few of the non-musical attractions. The least expensive general admission tickets to Coachella cost between $540 and $600 per weekend but can cost as much $1,299 for a one-weekend VIP ticket. Camping costs extra.

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Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits stage and crowd

Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.