First introduced in 1999 as the antithesis of Woodstock 1999, Coachella has become one of the most famous music festivals in the world. It was originally intended to be a one-time event but due to its popularity, organizers decided to make it an annual event. Compared to its early days, it has expanded greatly and is now considered a cultural phenomenon.
This poster illustrates the first-ever lineup for the festival in 1999 featuring popular alternative rock bands of the time. As described on the poster, the first festival was held in Indio, California for only two days on October 9th and 10th with headliners Beck and Rage Against the Machine.
While the layout of the poster differs greatly from the typical layout that most people who are familiar with Coachella are used to, it is important to recognize that the typefaces used for the lineups and the brand name have remained the same, creating brand cohesion and easy brand recognition. This is still in use 25 years later for the 2024 lineup poster.
