Two shows. Two separate tickets. Three bands gearing up for two weekends at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with performances at Pappy & Harriet’s. Sofi Tukker opens for Little Dragon outside at 8 p.m. April 13. A second ticket gets you in the doors at 11 p.m. for The Head and The Heart.
This year marks the duo Sofi Tukker’s desert debut following the July 2016 release of their first EP, Soft Animals. New York–based Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern appear at the festival on April 14. Blending far-out global influences with chantlike vocals and soft repetitive beats, their casually energetic electronic sound induces serious involuntary head-swaying.
Swedish electronic quartet Little Dragon first played the festival in 2010. The band returned in 2014 and it’s back for a third engagement this year on Friday. Propelled by ethereal downtempo and lead singer Yukimi Nagano’s forceful stage presence, the band puts on a show that is quintessentially Coachella — songs fit for frolicking with moments of spacy instrumentals.
The Head and The Heart joined the lineups in 2012 and 2014 and this year the indie-folk group from Seattle performs Saturday. Since their previous Coachella appearance, the members split up to spend time exploring and experiencing life. They reunited to record Signs of Light, which hits newfound euphonious depths. Its upbeat anthems tangle with leisurely campfire jams that have us drifting off to our happy place.
Catch all three acts or pick one of the two shows. Regardless, you’ll have bragging rights because you got to see them first and you didn’t have to battle festival-size crowds.
Q&A with Sophie Hawley-Weld
and Tucker Halpern of Sofi Tukker
PSL: What’s on the agenda for your
Pappy & Harriet’s show?
Lots of fun and sweat! We love doing intimate shows so that we can smell all the sweat. Also can’t wait to play with Little Dragon.
PSL: Then you’ll hit the Empire Polo Club for Coachella. Are you excited?
There’s an aura around Coachella. The desert landscape, the worldwide recognition, the general hype. Also, it’s our first two-weekend festival, so we’ll get to see what that’s like as well. We’re still so new that we basically go into everything wide-eyed and excited without too many expectations.
PSL: Ever visited the Coachella Valley before?
No! This is our first time. We’re so excited to experience the festival, too!
PSL: Any artists you’re looking forward to seeing after your set at the festival?
Definitely! We are really excited to see Lorde, the xx, Sohn … among many others.
PSL: What is your philosophy for making great music?
Making music that we want to hear and that we would want to perform every night. If it lets our “soft animals” love life, then we know it’s good.
Sofi Tucker, 8 p.m. April 13, Pappy & Harriet’s, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. 760-365-5956; www.pappyandharriets.com