Coachella Logo PNG
The Coachella logo is informal, just like the festival it represents. It captures the spirit of creativity, the rich potential of the participants, and their desire to break away from standards. Its minimalist design hides each individual’s maximum possibilities.
Coachella: Brand overview
Coachella, or as it’s officially known, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, has been an annual creative event since 1999. It unfolds in Indio, California, on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club. The stage area is the vast expanse of Coachella Valley, stretching into the Colorado Desert. Across this terrain, music of various genres, including electro, dance, hip-hop, rock, indie, pop, and many others, plays continuously for two days. In this polyphonic atmosphere, sculptures and artistic installations, also presented at the festival, harmoniously fit in. Its founders are Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen, and the organizer is Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents.
Coachella, a beacon in the music and arts festival scene, began its journey in 1999 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Created by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen of Goldenvoice, part of AEG Live, the festival was inspired by a Pearl Jam concert held at the same location in 1993 during their boycott of Ticketmaster venues.
The first Coachella was a two-day affair attracting about 25,000 fans with headliners Beck, Tool, and Rage Against the Machine. Although it took a break in 2001 due to financial struggles, the festival returned in 2002 and hasn’t missed a year since.
Growing from its humble beginnings, Coachella expanded to a three-day event in 2007 and then to two weekends in 2012, allowing for a wider range of music spanning rock, hip-hop, electronic, and indie genres. However, Coachella’s identity transcends music; it’s also a cultural icon famed for its diverse line-up and striking art installations that change the desert landscape into an artistic wonderland yearly.
Legends like Paul McCartney, Prince, Daft Punk, Radiohead, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé have graced its stages, solidifying Coachella’s reputation as a must-visit music event. It’s become a cultural phenomenon known for its trend-setting crowd of celebrities and influencers, adding to its allure.
Today, Coachella is more than just a festival—it’s an annual pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands from across the globe, celebrating not just music and art but the very essence of culture and creativity that shapes the festival experience today.
Meaning and History
This grand international-scale festival has been held in the USA since 1993, when the rock band Pearl Jam began performing at the Empire Polo Club, bypassing the Ticketmaster service. It made it a tradition only after the creative event demonstrated its viability. Therefore, every autumn in October, Coachella Valley, located in the Colorado Desert, becomes a magnet for creative individuals from all over the country and beyond. Participants display the fruits of their creativity – from sculptures to songs. The festival bears a symbolic name: it is named after its location. Since 1999, it has become permanent and acquired its own identity, affirming the originality, whimsy, and uniqueness of one of the most extraordinary music and arts festivals in the United States.
What is Coachella?
Coachella is the abbreviated name of the two-day creative event Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which unfolds annually in the Coachella Valley of the Colorado Desert. It is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was initiated by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen, who organized it in 1999 with the support of Goldenvoice.
1999 – today
The Coachella logo consists of text. It presents the name of the cultural event and indicates its type. The most prominent element of the emblem is the short name. It occupies the entire top line, catching the eye with its semi-translucent glyphs. The sense of semi-translucency arises from the visual incompleteness of the lines used to create the inscription. All letters are uneven in thickness and vary in length:
- Their legs are of different lengths.
- Crossbars look like knotty sticks.
- The height of the strokes is completely different.
This style emphasizes individuality among festival participants, unifying creative personalities with their views of the world.
On the contrary, the second line consists of an inscription where each glyph is a work of geometric precision. All the letters are smooth, even, refined, and identical in height and width. Angles and curves are perfectly balanced, creating a sense of complete harmony. The bottom row contains the expanded name of the musical event. The spacing between the characters is wide, but due to the large gap between words, they are perceived as a whole and are easily readable.
Font and Colors
The top inscription in the Coachella logo is executed in a custom typeface. Like the festival, it impressed fans, so later (in 2014), designer Jimmy Lesondak developed a similar set of letters based on it, naming it ChellaType Regular. The text in the bottom row is typed in a strict font, reminiscent of TGL 0-1451 Engschrift Regular, with minor modifications. The color used in the emblem is classic black.
FAQ
What does Coachella stand for?
“Coachella” has a unique name that came from a spelling error of “Conchilla,” meaning “little shell” in Spanish, referring to the fossil shells found in the area. It was also called “Cahuilla” after the local Native American tribe. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, named after this valley in Indio, California, is an annual event that gathers musicians, artists, and stunning art installations. Known for its famous and upcoming talent lineup, Coachella marks the beginning of festival season globally, celebrated for its mix of music, art, and the beautiful California desert backdrop.
Where is the Coachella Festival?
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. Every year, this festival turns the vast, green polo fields into a lively center for music, art, and culture. The desert setting of Indio, with its wide-open skies and mountain views, adds a unique and unforgettable vibe to the festival. Coachella is famous worldwide, attracting a diverse audience with its mix of musical styles and creative art. The choice of Indio as the location plays a big part in the festival’s charm, combining the desert’s natural beauty with the dynamic spirit of Coachella.
Who started Coachella?
Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen from Goldenvoice, part of AEG Live, started the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The idea came after Pearl Jam played at the Empire Polo Club in 1993, avoiding venues linked to Ticketmaster. This inspired them to create a festival combining different music styles with art and culture. In October 1999, the first Coachella happened, kicking off what would become a world-famous festival. Thanks to its founders’ vision, Coachella has grown, drawing major artists and huge yearly crowds.
Where is Coachella in 2024?
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2024 is set to return to its iconic venue, the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Scheduled for two consecutive weekends, April 12-14 and April 19-21, the festival promises another memorable experience. In 2024, Coachella will feature headliners Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, and Doja Cat, showcasing the festival’s commitment to a diverse and dynamic lineup that spans various genres and styles. The Empire Polo Club has been the longstanding home of Coachella, offering a vast, picturesque landscape that perfectly complements the festival’s blend of music, art, and culture. As one of the most anticipated music festivals globally, Coachella 2024 will surely attract fans from all over, eager to experience live performances by top-tier artists in the beautiful California desert.
