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    Festival Pass: Why Power Trip with AC/DC, Judas Priest, Metallica and more was a perfect festival
    • October 12, 2023

    Festival Pass is a newsletter that lands in your inbox weekly. But during prime festival season you get bonus editions, too! Subscribe now.

    Happy Thursday!

    This week’s edition of Festival Pass is going to be short and sweet. I’ll be honest, I’m tired!

    Goldenvoice’s three-day Power Trip fest out at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Oct. 6-8 kicked my butt. My ears are still ringing after taking in sets by Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Tool and Metallica.

    It was just two bands playing extended sets each day on a single, yet massive, stage. So, it wasn’t nearly the grind of other multi-stage festivals at that venue, including Coachella and Stagecoach. But if you were there or live in the Coachella Valley, you know we were blessed — or cursed — with temperatures in the 100s all weekend long and we weren’t lucky enough to experience the typical nighttime desert cool down. So the heat mixed with the long walking trek into and out of the venue each day finally got to me, after managing to survive a total of four three-day festivals out there in 2023.

    However, Power Trip was awesome.

    Each day had a slightly different vibe, but that back-to-back Saturday lineup with Judas Priest and AC/DC felt so incredibly special. Just witnessing these giants of metal and rock and roll crushing it with hits and fan favorites felt historical. Overall, it was a celebration of these often overlooked genres with acts in peak form. Also the fans, who were from all over the world, were incredible. They were so nice and this particular festival seemed to lack all the social media influencers that typically flock to the Empire Polo Club for other events — these were true fans through and through.

    It was spectacular fun and left diehard metal heads wondering if there will be a Power Trip II. We shall see.

    Here’s a look back at our coverage:

    Day 1: Power Trip: Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden kick things off in the desert

    Day 2: Power Trip: AC/DC and Judas Priest do it right in Indio

    Day 3: Power Trip: Metallica and Tool close out the festival with fiery performances

    Power Trip bassists weigh in on the rock and metal event before it hits Indio

    Here’s what else is going on in the Southern California music scene.

    Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” movie hits theaters on Friday

    Movie theaters across the country are preparing for the Swiftie takeover as Taylor Swift‘s “The Eras Tour” concert film hits screens on Friday, Oct. 13. Filmed during her first three out of a total of six sold-out evenings at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood back in August, Swift’s tour — which is still ongoing — is a record-setting pop cultural phenomenon that has broken Ticketmaster twice now with initial on sales.

    The demand was so overwhelming that going to see the action in a theater is probably the best and most affordable way to get in on the fun, or to relive the event if you’re already missing having experienced Taylormania live.

    Here’s where to watch “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” in Southern California this weekend

     ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ film premiere shuts down The Grove shopping center — is Taylor coming?

     Why Taylor Swift, Beyoncé concert films are ineligible for Oscars documentary category

    Danny Elfman reveals ‘Nightmare’ special guests

    Singer-songwriter, producer and composer Danny Elfman will be back at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton‘s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with a live-to-film concert event on Oct. 27-29.

    He just announced he’ll be joined by some very special guests including singer-songwriter Halsey and actress Catherine O’Hara sharing the role of Sally and Ken Page resuming his part as Oogie Boogie. Find out who else is performing and how to get tickets here.

    Until next week, thanks for reading and keep rockin’!

    Read previous editions of the Festival Pass newsletter

    Festival Pass: Power Trip brings rock, heavy metal to the desert this weekend

    Festival Pass: Ohana Festival: What you need to know before you go

    Festival Pass: BeachLife Ranch: What you need to know before you go

    Festival Pass: Stagecoach 2024: A closer look at the eclectic three-day lineup

    Festival Pass: After a four-year hiatus, Coastal Country Jam returns to Southern California

    ​ Orange County Register 

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