Travel

Twice as nice for music festivals

Why have a one-weekend music festival when you can have a two-weekend music festival? Both of these high-profile, big-ticket events answer the call.

For the indie kids and aging hipsters

Coachella (April 12-14 and April 19-21) has had some relatively blah lineups in recent years, and people are whining about the lack of chart-topping DJs or arena-worthy headliners this year — but let’s not forget that this Indio, Calif., extravaganza is still the world’s best alt-rock festival. Why does it matter that the Rolling Stones and David Guetta aren’t here? Blur, the Stone Roses, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dinosaur Jr., Modest Mouse, Social Distortion, New Order, Violent Femmes, the Faint, Metric, Stars and the Postal Service reunion are among the highlights of an absolutely stacked, old-school college-radio lineup that could rival 2004’s free-for-all with Radiohead, the Cure, the Pixies, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Beck, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, the Killers, the Black Keys and LCD Soundsystem. Like-minded newer acts also at Coachella this year include Passion Pit, Phoenix, Yeasayer, the xx, Grizzly Bear and Vampire Weekend. Festival packages from $349, coachella.com

For the DJ fanatics and candy ravers

The Ultra Music Festival (March 15-17 and March 22-24) isn’t playing around for its 15th anniversary. Yes, this is your chance to see David Guetta! The Miami event recently won approval to expand to a second weekend, and its lineup of 150-plus DJs both weekends includes pretty much every prominent name you could imagine, from the new crew that sells out Barclays Center and dominates Vegas nightclubs to the pioneers who’ve been behind the decks for decades: Swedish House Mafia, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Avicii, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim, Paul Van Dyk and so many more. There’s also the Live Stage for bands and hip-hop, featuring everyone from Matt and Kim to Snoop Dogg. What other festival gives you the chance to catch Sleigh Bells before closing your night with Afrojack and Kaskade? Three-day passes from $299.95, ultramusicfestival.com