Who'll Headline Coachella 2011?

Here we are just barely on the flip side of Lollapalooza, mercifully restored to couches after a festival season that saw me at most every stop, petting my dogs, eating Forninos pizza, yet unable to resist Scott’s back-office conversation bait: “So, who do you think will headline Coachella 2011?” That’s the lineup to date up there. The dates are set. No rest for the intrepid. Fine, let’s play.

2010′s Indio week will be tough to beat: perfect weather, Pavement, Thom Yorke, Gorillaz, Jay-Z, Die Antwoord’s triumphant live coming-out party. Often, though, there’s a formula: Some indie-culture zeitgeist nailer, some high profile reunion (think Rage, or on less-than-headliner status, Pavement and My Bloody Valentine), and it wouldn’t hurt to have a boomercentric nostalgia trip to lock in some advance sales in light of having nixed single-day tix. (Sir Paul and Roger Waters are Coachellampions in that regard.)

If the festival was this week, some answers would be obvious. Since that lineup’s still five months from certain, it’s prediction/conjecture, but prediction/conjecture that can be broken down thusly: Zeitgeist, Reunion, Boomer, OutKast (it’d be great if they got OutKast). If you wanna do Goldenvoice’s job for them in the comments, and be right about it, we’ll cite you when the time’s right.

Comments (106)
  1. R.E.M. should be touring for their new record. Give them night 3.

  2. Van Halen and The Strokes will have new albums coming next year.

  3. Arcade Fire – and maybe The Strokes

  4. Radiohead will probably have a new LP out by then. Tack on Arcade Fire… and Bowie. Would be epic.

  5. Arcade Fire-Radiohead-Velvet Underground

  6. David Bowie – The Replacements (maybe not a headliner, but get them on the bill), The Who, and Outkast would be awesome.

  7. Boards of Canada

  8. Tokyo Police Club-Manchester Orchestra- Dr. Dog- The Antlers- WHY?-Sigur Ros

  9. A reunited Spacemen 3, although I’m not holding my breath for Jason to agree.

  10. REUNITED COCTEAU TWINS

  11. Jawbreaker, white stripes, beastie boys, descendents

  12. Arcade Fire, Strokes, Radiohead.

  13. SIOUXSIE ! and uhm iono

  14. The Avalanches.

  15. I’m loving the consensus so far for Coachella 2011. Arcade Fire’s two previous appearances were major building blocks for them so it would be perfect for them to return. Radiohead would be special. Strokes? Maybe a #2 slot one night. Kings of Leon are due to return and they’d be winners in a headline slot.

  16. ELECTRIC SIX

  17. The Smiths. Am I doing this right?

  18. I predict an ABBA reunion.
    or The Jam.

    Justice would be cool.

  19. Gospeed You! Black Emperor….

  20. Listen to my heart: Roxette

  21. beatles anyone?

  22. I’m telling you, ELECTRIC SIX. They will rock all the hipsters socks right off. We need more non pretentious comedy dance rock…im sick of all the conceited boys in skinny jeans playing music that sounds the SAME as all the other shit out there.

  23. I’m Wondering why nobody has mentioned the Red Hot Chili Peppers by now. They’ll release their new Album in the Beginning of 2011 and after that they’ll be touring around the world so why not? Would be great to see them there after the hiatus.

    Otherwise i would like to see Radiohead and Arcade Fire as Headliners. Outkast would also be very very nice

    • hmm…i’m thinking that maybe nobody mentioned them because nobody cares to see them at coachella. Kiedis is so tone deaf live…and that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact that he has terrible pitch problems. he should stick to scatting about coyotes…

    • I kind of wish they’d go on a long anticipated “break” like the Foo fighters.

  24. If Coachella 2011 is headlined by Arcade Fire and Kings Of Leon, I’d rather set my ticket on fire

  25. Ideally…

    Radiohead
    Outkast (new album in 2011? possibility)
    Daft Punk (unrealistic)
    Beyonce
    Animal Collective (probably not)

    Radiohead and Outkast are realistic and would be awesome.

  26. Aerosmith!

    If you book them, they will come.

  27. Outkast, Kanye, Radiohead, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire
    The universe (at least my skull) would implode if any three were headlining

    I think Daft Punk will be at Bonnaroo for the 10th anniversary…

  28. The Smiths would be ideal given Coachella’s proximity to Mexico.

    Radiohead
    Neil Young

  29. I’m gonna throw another name in there……Reunited CARS would be great.

  30. OH WAIT!! HERE IS TO HOPING THAT BILLY CORGAN PULLS HIS HEAD OUT OF HIS ASS AND PUTS THE SMASHING PUMPKINS BACK TOGETHER! THE REAL SMASHING PUMPKINS.

  31. Radiohead – Arcade Fire – Sufjan

  32. GENESIS reunion with PETER GABRIEL (phil collins back to drums)
    RADIOHEAD
    DAFT PUNK
    oh.. it is all european, that will not happen..

  33. Phil Collins hurt his back or some shit and is in no condition to play a drumset, unfortunately.

  34. Bubba Sparkxxx
    Little-T And One Track Mike
    Bad Ronald

    would fucking rule

  35. David Bowie (because the joke of him ACTUALLY playing is getting old)
    Daft Punk (because of TRON coming out)
    Boards Of Canada (because why the fuck not?)

  36. I would love to see the Strokes, and Arcade Fire.

  37. I’m gonna go with the 8 bands or artists who would probably be most likely to headline the Damn thing:
    They are:
    Arcade Fire
    Portishead
    R.E.M.
    My Morning Jacket
    Radiohead
    Kanye West
    Dr. Dre
    Foo Fighters

    and here are some artists that would be really cool to see headline or just play in general:
    The Avalanches
    The Replacements
    Leonard Cohen
    The Strokes
    Galaxie 500
    Orange Juice(Edwyn Collins is supposed to come tour the U.S. in 2011, his wife/manage assured me of it in an e-mail lol)

  38. OF MONTREAL!

  39. Radiohead
    Arcade Fire
    Daft Punk
    Robyn
    Underworld
    Chemical Brothers
    Basement Jaxx
    Royksopp
    Lady Gaga
    Boards of Canada
    New Order Reunion! (hahahaha… yeah right)

  40. these 6 r looking like locks

    Arcade Fire dropped Suburbs big hit n missed festival season this summer….saw them in boston amazin i dc how pretentious ppl think they are….they can play a great live show and james murphy loves them
    Kanye West droppin album in november will tour early nex yr n hit festivals skippin roo for obv reasons goes to lolla coachella etc, kanye will be back in top form i believe n outdo jays festival performances..
    Cut Copy droppin album in january….they will be the electronic act of 2011
    Daft Punk-tron soundtrack in dec, the pyramid is back???
    Radiohead- hopefully droppin album end of year n then hit festivals next yr
    Outkast more of a long shot saw big boi at pitchfork was amazin..big boi will have victory lap doin solo tour throughout rest of yr n then nex yr andre will start poppin wit him at festivals i think

  41. Outkast, Arcade Fire, R.E.M.

    I see the Strokes subheadlining, with Interpol and Sigur Ros subbing as well. Maybe a Roxy Music appearance.

  42. Oh you did not just place “Die Antwoord” and “triumphant” together in the same sentence

  43. SIR MIX-A-LOT. comeback, son!!!

  44. arcade fire, the strokes, and radiohead has 0 variety. that would never happen.

    radiohead, the kinks, and avalanches or GY!BE or boards would be ridiculous

  45. Radiohead, Outkast, Strokes, Bowie would all be amazing… How about a Coachella appearance from Wilco? White Stripes too.

    I’d also LOVE to see Joker, FlyLo, Distance, Kode9, or Benga in the electronic tent.

    Oh and M83 needs to be there, simple as that

  46. The Strokes who else?

  47. I’m down with OutKast and Radiohead headlining. I’d love the National to play 2011 as well.

  48. The Strokes..Arcade Fire ..Animal Collective.. Blonde Redhead

  49. Arcade Fire is a little played out (even with the Suburbs dropping) – saw them in Ireland at Oxegen and they were overshadowed in a big way by Jay-Z playing right in front of them.
    However – my picks for next year

    My Chemical Romance (album coming soon)
    Neil Young
    Outkast

  50. Janet Jackson performing Rhythm Nation OR Outkast
    Bowie, The Who OR U2
    Arcade Fire OR Pearl Jam

    Reunion possibilities:
    The Stranglers (with black & ellis)
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    Maybe Roxy Music

  51. Leonard Cohen

  52. Ok, here it is:

    R.E.M., Daft Punk, Page & Plant reunion – main headliners

    Kanye West, The Strokes, My Chemical Romance – Sub Headliners

    Included in the rest will be: The Avalanches, The Books, Robyn, Panda Bear, Die Antwoord, Kelis, Cut Copy, Of Montreal, A Perfect Circle, Leonard Cohen, Mavis Staples, Royksopp, Best Coast, Wild Nothing, Wolf Parade, Big Boi, Foals, The Drums, Ariel Pink Haunted Graffiti, The Chemical Brothers, Sleigh Bells.

    • Like half of the people in your “rest” list have played in the last 2 years making the possibility of them playing next year slim to none

  53. My morning jacket, Van Halen, and The Strokes. Hopefully My Morning Jacket get a new album out around then or next summer, Van halens will be released but i doubt they will even appear at the fest let alone headline. The Strokes were increadible at Lollapalooza and they will deffinitly be headlining Coachella

  54. Avey Tare, Panda Bear, and Radiohead

  55. Lydia Laska , Mungolian Jetset.

  56. As long as we’re talking about things that would never, ever happen – Big Black.

  57. ME!!!!!!!!!

  58. Replacements are out. Paul hurt his hand, which means he cant play guitar.

    Belle and Sebastian should be hitting the festival circuit next year. So should Franz Ferdinand.
    And somebody should convince Damon to bring the Blur reunion to the states…

    As for reunions. my list:

    Lemonheads (with Juliana)
    Galaxie 500
    Belly
    The Jam
    Outkast
    and the one that will never happen: Black Flag

    And how badass would it be to say I saw Bill Withers? After Sly Stone showed up this year, somebody should call Bill…

  59. you people are goddamn conceited post-modernists,
    Kings of Leon
    Arcade Fire
    Radiohead

    in that order, i dont even know how people think the strokes are somewhat good, but better than kings?!?you smoke crack rocks. anyways there is no way in hell van halen would play, nor would i want them to despite sammy fagar not being there. I would also like to see muse again, not sure if they would come out with a new cd by then though.

  60. I’d be glad to see Outkast, Joy Division (long shot) and they could bring Beck back if he has anything new to support then. Other likely scenarios involve Kanye for hip-hop flare although Eminem could easily ride his recent wave of returned notoriety into early/mid next year. From there any groups with new albums to promote: The Strokes, Radiohead, Daft Punk (Tron work), KOL, Arcade. All stuff mentioned above. I just hope it rocks, whatever the lineup is.

  61. Oasis
    Tom Petty
    Operation Ivy
    No Doubt

  62. Bowie/Stones> and Tears for Fears as sub-headliners. And in no way are Kol better than the strokes.

  63. HELLOOOOOOOOO!!

    GUIDED BY VOICES is back together!!! Who needs those Pollard-posers in The Strokes now? WAIT… they serve Miller Lite in the valley… right?

    it’d also be cool to catch Boards of Canada, Trentemøller, Tame Impala, and Papadosio in the same weekend

  64. WOOOHOOO

    Bowie
    Belle and Sebastian
    Dinosaur Bones
    Tame Impala
    Daft Punk

  65. is it too much to ask for At The Drive In, that would be a huge reunion
    a more indie-culture zeitgeist would be to throw Yeah Yeah Yeahs on, would be great to see them, oh and of course Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Crystal Castles, and The Morning Benders
    agree that Roger Waters would be amazing as a Boomer, or the smiths as a boomer/reunion
    outkast sounds pretty sick too, so would Beastie Boys
    maybe throw Incubus on it too, dont think theyve ever been on coachella and they would be perfect

    • Once again half the people youve named have played in the last two years

      however i am totally FOR outkast blowing minds at coachella 2011!

  66. Dr. Dre
    Arcade Fire
    Daft Punk
    The Strokes
    My Morning Jacket
    Queens of the Stone Age
    A Perfect Circle

  67. Honestly Coachella needs to bring the big guns this coming year
    This year was a very cool scene and vibe but 2009 made for a very insane line up
    Paul McCartney Franz Ferdinand and Morrisey all in the same day?
    The yeah yeah yeahs , the killers, and The Cure just to name a few on the other days?

    Ive got my fingers crossed that theyre gonna pull out ALL the stops
    The Stones HAVE to be there
    The Strokes would be freakin awesome
    Pearl Jam would be muthafuckin dope.

    Arcade Fire, KOL, and a bunch of the other bands named here should be there too!
    Sub headlining and etc
    They need to make room for them all and for all genres
    I remember hearing People under the stairs and Noah and the Whale on the same day
    Dope as hell.

    Fingers crossed to the most epic coachella ever.

  68. Realistically, best case headliners:

    FRI: Arcade Fire
    SAT: Kanye West
    SUN: Radiohead

  69. and, while not a headliner, One Day As A Lion’s live debut would be badass

  70. The only sure thing is…

    Pulp

  71. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS!!!!!!

  72. Radiohead, The Strokes and Daft Punk in one festival would be awesome.
    If only I didn’t live across the country…

  73. The National, Sufjan Stevens, The Strokes and Arcade Fire would be pretty sweet…
    but Red Hot Chili Peppers should definitely play because they’re due for another album soon.

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