Despite efforts to move to a new date, the 2020 Coachella Music & Arts Festival has officially been cancelled.
As Los Angeles Times reports, Riverside County public health officer Dr Cameron Kaiser confirmed that the restrictions surrounding the COVID pandemic means that Coachella, as well as fellow US festival Stagecoach, will not go ahead this year.
“I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall,” Kaiser said.
“In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward.
“These decisions are not taken lightly with the knowledge that many people will be impacted. My first priority is the health of the community.”
Coachella promoters Goldenvoice are yet to publicly comment on the news.
The newly reformed Rage Against The Machine were due to headline both weekends alongside Travis Scott and Frank Ocean.
Aussie acts like Flume, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Chats, Skeggs, Amyl & The Sniffers, Hayden James and Sampa The Great were also billed on the line-up.
UPDATE 12 JUNE: Coachella organisers have now issued an official statement regarding the festival's cancellation.
"Under the continuing health guidance of the County of Riverside, Coachella and Stagecoach 2020 will not take place this October as previously rescheduled. This is not the future that any of us hoped to confront, but our main focus remains the well-being of our fans, staff, artists, desert partners and everyone involved in the festival.
"A year without Coachella and Stagecoach is hard for us to comprehend, but we have every intention of returning in 2021. As of now, Coachella weekend one will take place April 9 – 11, 2021 and weekend two will be April 16 – 18, 2021. Stagecoach is set for April 23 – 25, 2021. We look forward to sharing our new lineups and more information. We can’t wait to be together in the desert again when it is safe.
"All 2020 passes will be honored in 2021. Current pass holders will be sent an email by the end of the day on Monday, June 15 with further instructions to request a refund or to roll over to next year."
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