Organizers Cancel 2021 Coachella and Stagecoach
Story by Charles Ken, photo by Anne Erickson
The 2021 Coachella and Stagecoach have been canceled due to a public health order dealing with the ongoing pandemic
Many music fans were hoping that concerts and music festivals would return this spring, but with the pandemic still a reality, one of the earliest festivals of the year is being canceled. Officials have announced that Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, as well as its sister country event, Stagecoach, have been canceled because of a public health order.
The Public Health Officer of Riverside County, California, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, issued the order because of the likelihood of large events, such as festivals, becoming super-spreader events, passing coronavirus (COVID-19) from attendee to attendee. Possible new dates of the festival are unclear, but Kaiser also noted a concern that there might be a fall resurgence of COVID-19 in the United States and around the world, leading to the idea that a fall 2021 date isn’t in the cards.
In the order, Kaiser stated that both Coachella and Stagecoach welcome “hundreds of thousands of attendees from many countries, including several disproportionately afflicted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.”
“If COVID-19 were detected at these festivals, the scope and number of attendees and the nature of the venue would make it infeasible, if not impossible to track those who may be placed at risk,” he added in the order.
Coachella 2020 was originally scheduled for April, then moved to October of last year and was eventually canceled. The 2020 lineup was slated to feature the much-anticipated reunion of Rage Against the Machine, as well as performances by Frank Ocean, Travis Scott and more. Stagecoach 2020 was also canceled, cutting off a lineup that was slated to feature headlining performances from Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church.
Coachella and Stagecoach are two of the first major music festivals to be canceled in 2021. Earlier this month, organizers behind Glastonbury Festival in England announced they were canceling its event, which was scheduled for June 23 to 27.
- Classic Rock Favorite Announces 2025 Las Vegas Residency - November 18, 2024
- Linkin Park Blend Sounds, Styles on New Album, ‘From Zero’ - November 14, 2024
- The Rock Hall’s Biggest Oversight, According to Tom Morello - November 12, 2024
