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Should Coachella, Stagecoach music festivals go on despite impact? Indio says yes.

INDIO, CA - APRIL 17:  Coachella fans during Day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2011 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2011 in Indio, California.  (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Coachella fans during Day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2011 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2011 in Indio, Calif.
(
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
)

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Should Coachella, Stagecoach music festivals go on despite impact? Indio says yes.
Should Coachella, Stagecoach music festivals go on despite impact? Indio says yes.

Despite public concerns, the Indio City Council on Wednesday approved a two-year contract with the organizers of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.

The action occurred one day after leaders in neighboring La Quinta withdrew a request that asked Indio to delay signing the agreement.

Some people in La Quinta worry about the possible long-term effects that the multi-day festivals have on their town. The Coachella and Stagecoach events take place on consecutive weekends every spring. They attract tens of thousands of people to Indio’s Empire Polo Club on the border of La Quinta.

There’s mounting concern over the noise, traffic congestion, trespassers and other headaches associated with the world famous rock and country music festivals. La Quinta leaders withdrew their request for an immediate environmental review after concert producer Goldenvoice assured them it’s addressing their concerns.

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The promoters’ new two-year agreement with Indio includes a provision for an independent third party to monitor air quality and other impacts of next year’s festivals. Goldenvoice also promised to stop conducting early morning sound checks, contribute money toward street improvements and direct a percentage of every weekend pass it sells to Indio's general fund.

Goldenvoice has also unveiled the lineup for next year’s Stagecoach country music festival.

Stagecoach expands to three full days for the first time in its four-year history. The “twangier” sister to the Indie rock Coachella, Stagecoach offers kind of a living history of American country music. April’s festival includes big selling country-pop acts like Brad Paisley sidled up against rugged bluegrass pioneers like Ralph Stanley and JD Crowe.

Plenty of renegade acts riding the Stagecoach include the tattooed cow-punks of Split Lip Rayfield and country rockers like the Jayhawks, and singer-songwriter Dave Alvin.

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