Nathaniel Sorongon of Toronto tries on a pair of Carrera sunglasses during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelly, Contributing Photographer)
While more than 140 acts are set to grace the stages at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the three-day, two-weekend event in Indio offers much more than music. For festival-goers looking for a break from dancing or the desert heat, there are a range of activities and shopping opportunities to enjoy.
One haven is Record Safari, a haven for music fans looking for vinyl records of their favorite festival acts or for those expanding their collections. Curated by Alex Rodriguez, who also owns Glass House Record Store in Pomona, Record Safari boasts more than 25,000 hand-picked vintage vinyl tracks. Rodriguez’s dedication to curating one-of-a-kind finds has him criss-crossing the country, from well-known stores to hidden gems, to stock up just for Coachella-goers.
“We only went into Record Safari for one thing, and that was to find something by Tyler, The Creator,” announced Las Vegas’ Andrew Forrester while holding up the 2019 Grammy-winning hip-hop artist’s record, “IGOR.” “One of the main reasons we came this year was to see Tyler, and being able to shop records in the process is pretty nice. I don’t live around many record stores, so this is perfect for me.”
The record store, fully air-conditioned and filled with crates of vinyl, stretches across three rows, offering a rich collection that caters to a range of festival fans. From contemporary hits to retro gems and unknown finds, the musical variety ensures that attendees can walk away with a new collector’s item. The store is also participating in Record Store Day with exclusive releases on Saturday, April 20. Team members even offer a convenient hold service until Sunday evening for just $10, which includes a bag for those who want to enjoy the day without lugging their purchases.
“This is my first Coachella, and when I heard that the festival had a record store, I remember telling my friends that we come here every day to find something new,” said Izzy Burkhalter of San Diego as she bought the album of Mac Miller from 2018. Swimming.
For Burkhalter and her crew of four friends, looking for records is part of the fun as they attend their first Coachella. The group of friends are big fans of Tyler, The Creator as well, noting that they’ve been waiting all year for this day and specific performance where Tyler will take the main stage tonight.
For die-hard Tyler, The Creator fans like them, the Golf Wang store is a must-visit destination on the festival grounds. Serving as Tyler’s clothing and merchandise line since his Odd Future days in 2011, the store offers a tempting menu of goodies. Located behind yellow barricades emblazoned with Tyler’s signature blue and red flame logo on the front, the store promises fans exclusive merchandise. Among the offerings are classic Golf Wang tees, shirts, lighters, jewelry, backpacks, jackets and hoodies. Fans can also enjoy Mystery Boxes containing two shirts and jackets randomly selected from the limited edition vault.
“I got the mystery box and it included a vest and shirts, I literally spent the whole day’s money on all of it and it was the best decision ever,” Elvis Forrest of Los Angeles said with a laugh. “We came for Tyler and Tyler only, he’s the reason I’m here this year. I come almost every year, but it’s a Tyler affair for me.
