Well over 100 music acts from diverse genres including headliners The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dog, selling out in under three hours, and expanding to two three-day weekends the legendary Coachella Festival only grows for 2012. Over the past decade California’s Coachella Festival transformed into a global phenomenon, with people from all different countries traveling to the Golden State for the event. Even extending the festival to two weekends couldn’t prevent a rapid sellout for 2012. This year Coachella takes place at the Empire Polo Club  in Indio, CA both Friday, April 13^th through Sunday, April 15^th and a week later Friday, April 20^th through Sunday, April 22^nd.

With a loaded lineup including Refused and At the Drive-In reunions any music enthusiast will find Coachella a must-attend event. The acts appealing to the mainstream like Radiohead and Snoop Dog combined with all the other bands set to perform ensures 2012 Coachella will offer something for everyone. The Black Keys headline Friday, April 13^th and Friday, April 20^th while Radiohead rocks the limelight Saturday, April 14^th and Saturday, April 21^st, and hip hop royalty Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog cap off Coachella Sunday, April 15^th and Sunday, April 22^nd.

Refused’s reunion marks the first time in 14 years the group will perform together. If you wish to see Dennis Lyxzén, Kristofer Steen, and the entire Refused’s cast in action once again, Coachella represents your only chance to do so in the United States. The group announced other tour dates but those will all take place internationally. In a recent press release Refused explained how the reunion came to be saying, “Coachella got in touch. There were a couple of phone-calls, lots of skepticism, some hesitant enthusiasm before one of us basically said: ‘– This is ridiculous. There are friends of ours who would murder close relatives just to go see bands there. Let's just do it, one last time.’" Refused will play Friday, April 13^th and Friday, April 20^th.

At the Drive-In rejoins forces at Coachella to pleasure their fans Sunday, April 15^th and Sunday, April 22^nd. Similar to Refused, At the Drive-In’s reunion occurs after a decade plus split. The group went their separate ways in 2001 due to creative differences. Time healed old wounds though and come April we will see if At the Drive-In can still bring “their intense, aggressively physical live performances” Rolling Stone’s Mathew Perpetua recalls the band having in his article “At the Drive-in Announce Reunion in Cryptic Tweet.”

By now you might think “Wait, didn’t you mention earlier the 2012 Coachella Festival sold out already? How can I get tickets?” At this point you basically need to win some. Try KROQ 106.7 for contests. Currently the KROQ website features a game called “Real Band/Fake Band.” Successfully tell the real band names from the fake ones and you earn an opportunity to win a pair of 2012 Coachella passes. You may require a little luck once you qualify to win the tickets but at least you still hold a chance. Regularly visit http://kroq.radio.com/shows/coachella/ to check for other opportunities to win passes.

Beyond the loaded music lineup Coachella offers an excellent opportunity to forget your life’s worries and just enjoy yourself. After all, many people go to concerts to escape reality for a little bit. With Coachella you get to extend your hideaway to a full three-day weekend. Camping at the Empire Polo Club only adds to the fun atmosphere. You can mingle with fellow campers, creating a fantastic opening to meet new people. If certain individuals in your life cause your worries, forgetting about those downers and making new pals seems an ideal way to spend a weekend.

The fact Coachella sold out both weekends under three hours illustrates the festival’s power. For two consecutive three-day weekends the many, many acts scheduled specifically headliners The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dog will get Empire Polo Club audiences thriving with explosive energy. Refused and At the Drive-In reunions elevates this year’s festival to a must-attend event.  Round one for Coachella 2012 goes from Friday, April 13^th to Sunday, April 15^th. One weekend later, Friday, April 20^th to Sunday, April 22^nd all the musicians will gather back for round two of the 2012 Coachella Festival.  Don’t forget with tickets already sold out you will need to keep all your senses alert for opportunities to win passes so you don’t end up on the outside looking in this year.