CMIn the Coachella Valley, April unfolds like an extended holiday, spanning 30 days. Amidst a plethora of Coachella parties sprawled across the desert during festival season, choosing where to immerse oneself can be daunting. Seekers of unique experiences will navigate through an already impressive lineup that’s stacked with options, ranging from freely accessible gatherings to exclusive invite-only affairs.
Goldenvoice, renowned producers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, consistently redefine boundaries to elevate weekend revelry to new heights. Their latest venture, the Goldenvoice Surf Club, promises an unparalleled blend of music, wellness, culinary delights, leisure, and literally making waves — offering one of the best bangs for your buck.
At the Goldenvoice Surf Club, attendees are invited to indulge in a pre-festival oasis with performances by global electronic music stars amidst surf and mountains complete with a grass amphitheater stage and a state-of-the-art wave-pool. With wellness amenities and top-tier food and beverage offerings, the experience caters to both party enthusiasts and those seeking relaxation before the main event.
Entertainment Lineup from Noon to Six
Weekend One features curated takeovers from Palm Springs’ Desert Air and LA’s Sound Nightclub, showcasing acts like Bicep, Barry Can’t Swim, CLAPTONE, and Mia Moretti.
Meanwhile, Weekend Two offers a diverse lineup, including back-to-back sets from underground artists like KETTAMA and Partiboi69, as well as infectious DJ sets from British production outfit JUNGLE and Los Angeles indie-disco duo NEIL FRANCES.
Early Riser Retreat
Starting at 10:30 AM, guests can enjoy a variety of wellness activities including HIIT classes, yoga flow sessions, sound baths, guided meditation, ice baths, and a refreshing coffee and fruit bar at Amala restaurant.
Whether floating down the lazy river or dancing under the desert sky, the Goldenvoice Surf Club offers a unique and unforgettable experience that perfectly complements Coachella.
“Somebody commented on Reddit, ‘Listening to dubstep while on a water slide is a dream I never knew I had and now I can’t stop thinking about it,’ and that about sums up how unique the venue is.”
Becky Rosen-Checa, Goldenvoice Surf Club’s talent buyer
Recently, we connected with Goldenvoice Surf Club’s talent buyer, Becky Rosen-Checa, and Surf Club’s lead producer, Tyler McLean, for more details on the first annual Goldenvoice Surf Club.
Coachella Magazine: Firstly, could you share with us your journey into becoming a talent buyer? What experiences or interests led you to this role, and what do you find most rewarding about curating events like this?
Becky Rosen-Checa: I moved to LA after college with no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but after going to a couple concerts out here I was like, “Hey, that could be fun!” I then got a job as the receptionist at AEG before becoming an assistant talent buyer at Goldenvoice, and ultimately becoming a talent buyer last year. The most rewarding part of the job is going to all of these shows and festivals and seeing people enjoy something that you had a hand in creating – makes all of the hard work worth it.
CM: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the creation of Goldenvoice Surf Club and how it fits into the overall Coachella experience?
Tyler McLean: We were inspired by the venue and the opportunity to create a unique Goldenvoice hosted outpost to the festival weekends. Beyond the wave pool, it’s a 15 acre playground with the amphitheater, resort pool, lazy river and slides, restaurant outlets and more in a beautiful environment.
There’s a sea of side-parties in the desert during these weekends, but not many can stack up against this. We feel these events can cater to all types, whether you’re looking for a fun party or place to reset ahead of the festival.
CM: Goldenvoice Surf Club offers a unique pre-festival experience. What elements do you believe set it apart from other festival pre-events? Did you encounter any challenges, if so, how did you overcome them?
Becky Rosen-Checa: Somebody commented on Reddit, “Listening to dubstep while on a water slide is a dream I never knew I had and now I can’t stop thinking about it,” and that about sums up how unique the venue is. I also don’t think you will find this level of talent on this low of a ticket price anywhere else. A ticket to see just one of these artists can often cost more than a whole day at GV Surf Club, where you can also enjoy amenities beyond the music. Lastly, I think this event is unique because it’s during the day – people often talk about after parties out in the desert but personally, I don’t have energy for that, so I’m all about the pre-festival experience.
There are always challenges, but luckily we have a great team that knows how to hop into action when something goes awry.
CM: Can you share any insights into the process of selecting the artists and performers for Goldenvoice Surf Club? What criteria do you consider when booking talent for this event?
Becky Rosen-Checa: We start by going through the festival lineup and selecting a few artists that we think would work as headliners. Once we lock in headliners, we start booking out the day with festival and non-festival acts. This year we really wanted to book acts that aligned with the vibe of the new brand we were creating at this fantastic new venue.
CM: The lineup includes both established names and rising stars in the electronic music scene. How do you approach mixing well-known acts with emerging talent to create a dynamic experience for attendees?
Becky Rosen-Checa: It kind of happens naturally. Being able to use festival talent gives us access to a wide variety of both breakthrough and legendary acts – so we are grateful for that. I think there is a lot of mutual respect between more established and newer electronic acts, and it’s fun for artists & fans alike to see that play out on a single line up.
CM: Wellness amenities and top-tier food and beverage programming are highlighted as part of the Goldenvoice Surf Club experience. Can you share more details?
Tyler McLean: We’ll have a curated wellness program with both fitness and mindfulness classes, ice baths, and coffee bar on Saturday & Sundays starting at 10:30am. These are free for any ticket holder to GV Surf Club. From there you can round it off with brunch at Amala restaurant. It should be a great complimentary addition to our programming at the venue for people to come and reset before another day ahead.
CM: Goldenvoice Surf Club offers both relaxation and entertainment options, from lazy river floats to dancefloor experiences. How do you balance these different aspects to cater to a diverse audience?
Tyler McLean: The Surf Club is 15 acres so there is plenty of room for all kinds of activities. Our stage will be in the amphitheater and is the zone for those who are there primarily for the music. The pool, lazy river and other activations are spread across the property in different zones, so for those who’d rather relax in the shade on a daybed away from the energy, we’ll have that too.
CM: Can you give us a sneak peek into any additional artists or surprises that attendees can expect at Goldenvoice Surf Club?
Tyler McLean: We’re working with Beatport to add a 2nd stage on 4/13, more info on that coming soon. Also, lookout for a fun new addition to the 4/21 lineup.
But mostly, I’m hoping that Barry Can’t Swim and salute do a little surprise b2b during their changeover…
CM: Finally, what are you most excited about for this year’s Goldenvoice Surf Club event, and what do you hope attendees take away from the experience?
Becky Rosen-Checa: I’m most excited for the music, and getting to experience it while floating along the lazy river. I hope attendees come away from the experience with new favorite memories of listening to these awesome artists in such a special location, and also feeling like they got a good bang for their buck.
Ticket information: Goldenvoice Surf Club
Single GA tickets start at $40 | Weekend passes $75
All events are 21+
A carefully crafted brunch menu is available on-site at Amala Restaurant, featuring acai bowls, smoothies, and a fresh juice bar to fuel you up for the day ahead. Reservations can be made at palmspringssurfclub.com/restaurants
— Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Surf Club
