‘The Soul Feels Increasingly Absent’

Reggie Watts is not a fan of Coachella‘s current direction. The musician and comedian took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the Indio music festival, which will kick off its second weekend tomorrow.

“I’ve been to Coachella a handful of times now, and while the scale is impressive, the soul feels increasingly absent,” Watts wrote. “The experience is confusing and impersonal – checkpoint after checkpoint, wristband logic puzzles, security everywhere. Most people on the grounds move like walking credit cards, pinging from one branded experience to the next.”

He continued, “There’s no real sense of love coming from the festival toward the people. No care. No reverence. Just vibes curated for influencer culture. You’ll catch glimpses of something real – an artist outpouring their heart out on stage, a sudden wave of connection – but those moments are fleeting. They’re easily lost in the chaos, buried beneath the logistics, the brand activations, the overpriced everything.”

He acknowledged the level of waste generated by the festival, writing, “Plastic, garbage, trash in the desert wind. Leaving is especially grim. You’re navigating dust storms, people hustling to buy your wristband, and a general sense that it was all a transaction, not a shared experience.”

Watts concluded, “There are better ways to do this. There are independent festivals run by people who give a shit – about the music, the artists, the fans, the land. They treat performers with care and build environments where real community can take root. That’s where the magic is. That’s what’s worth supporting.”

Several fellow artists concurred with Watts’ take. The Kills‘ Alison Mosshart commented, “Perfectly said Reggie.”

Last year, Watts introduced Flight Facilities at Coachella, while this year he performed a show at the Act Hotel in Palm Springs dubbed “MuSick: Live from Reggie Watts’ Couch,” which was put on by Billboard, Amazon Pharmacy, and Amazon One Medical. Prior to the show, he defended the appearance on Instagram, noting it “wasn’t a decision I made lightly.”

This year’s Coachella performers include Lady Gaga, Green Day, Benson Boone, Jennie, Charli XCX, Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, and Peso Pluma.

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