While more than140 acts are set to grace the stages at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the three-day, two-weekend event in Indio offers much more than just music. For festival-goers seeking a break from dancing or the desert heat, there’s an array of activities and shopping opportunities to enjoy.
One refuge is Record Safari, a haven for music fans in search of vinyl records from their favorite festival acts or for those expanding their collections. Curated by Alex Rodriguez, who also owns the Glass House Record Store in Pomona, Record Safari boasts more than 25,000 hand-selected vintage vinyl pieces. Rodriguez’s dedication to curating unique finds sees him scouring the country, from well-known shops to hidden gems, to stock up specifically for Coachella attendees.
“We came into Record Safari for one thing only, and that was to find anything by Tyler, The Creator,” Andrew Forester from Las Vegas announced as he held the hip-hop artist’s Grammy-winning 2019 record, “IGOR.” “It’s one of the main reasons we came this year was to see Tyler, and being able to shop for records in the process is pretty sweet. I don’t live around many record stores so this is perfect for me.”
The record store, fully air-conditioned and stacked with crates of vinyl, spans three rows, offering an extensive collection that caters to a range of festival fans. From present-day hits to vintage gems and obscure finds, the musical diversity ensures attendees can walk away with a new collectible item. Additionally, the store is participating in Record Store Day with exclusive releases on Saturday, April 20. Team members are even offering a convenient hold service until Sunday night for just $10, which includes a tote bag for those looking to enjoy the day without lugging their purchases.
“This is my first Coachella, and when I heard the festival had a record store, I remember telling my friends we were coming in here each day to just find something new,” said Izzy Burkhalter from San Diego while purchasing Mac Miller’s 2018 album “Swimming.”
For Burkhalter and her crew of four girlfriends, hunting for records is part of the fun while attending their first Coachella. The friend group are major Tyler, The Creator fans too, noting that they’ve been waiting all year for this day and specific performance where Tyler will take the Main Stage tonight.
For die-hard Tyler, The Creator fans like them, the Golf Wang store is a must-visit destination on the festival grounds. Serving as Tyler’s clothing and merchandise line since his Odd Future days in 2011, the store offers a tantalizing menu of goodies. Positioned behind yellow barricades embellished with Tyler’s signature blue and red flame logo tent in the front, the store promises fans exclusive merchandise. Among the offerings are classic Golf Wang tees, shirts, lighters, jewelry, fanny packs, jackets, and hoodies. Fans can also indulge in Mystery Boxes, containing two shirts and jackets randomly chosen from the limited-edition vault.
“I got the mystery box and it included a cardigan and shirts, I literally spent my day’s worth of money on it all and it was the best decision ever,” Elvis Forest of Los Angeles said with a laugh. “We came for Tyler and Tyler only, he’s the reason I’m here this year. I come pretty much every year but this is a Tyler affair for me.”
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Forest was already decked out in Golf Wang merchandise, sporting a collectible Golf shirt and matching pins. Accompanied by his friend Jai Fratti, who confessed it was his first Coachella and he wouldn’t have it any other way than to have Tyler as part of his inaugural experience.
For those seeking to upgrade their festival attire with new accessories, the Carrera sunglasses store is proving to be a popular destination. Offering various styles such as “Festival Edition,” “Signature,” “Icons,” and “Active,” the pop-up store attracts attendees in search of stylish eyewear. As the sun beats down on the 90-degree day, several festival-goers left with a fresh pair of sunglasses to shield their eyes.
“You never really think about the activities outside of music and I’ve been coming to Coachella since 2016, but this year I wanted to try it out and I’m happy I did,” Katherine Nieto shared. “It gives you an excuse to have some fun on the side.”