Northern Californians skipping the trek to Coachella find themselves in unique situation as the music festival expands to two weekends this year—many of the top acts performing will make Bay Area appearances in the days surrounding the festival.
We’ve compiled the complete list bands performing in the Bay Area, including Radiohead, The Black Keys, Pulp, M83 and more.
Jeff Mangum
Although most popular for his work as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for Neutral Milk Hotel, Jeff Magnum has played with a handful of other musicians and has released three solo albums since NMH disbanded. Fox Theater, April 9th and 10th.
Radiohead is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated bands of Coachella this year. Opening for Radiohead at HP Pavilion in San Jose and also playing at Coachella is Other Lives, a 12-piece folk rock band that recently released their fourth record, Tamer Animals. HP Pavilion, April 11.
M. Ward
M. Ward, also a member of Monsters of Folk and She & Him with Zooey Deschanel’s, returns for a pre-Coachella performance. The Fillmore, April 11th.
Girls
San Francisco’s own indie-rock darlings. Bimbo’s 365 Club, April 11th.
The leaders of 1990s psychadelic jangle dream-pop return Friday to Coachella after a micro-tour through Northern California with stops in Petaluma, Sacramento, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The band stays true to its roots in the paisley underground on two pre-released singles that will appear on an upcoming album set to release in 2012.The Regency Ballroom, April 11th.
Band Of Skulls w/ We Are Augustines
The Fillmore, April 12th
Miike Snow returns with their sophomore record Happy to You, released in March. Fox Theater, April 12th.
Metronomy, an experimental electronic pop group from the UK, plays a pre-Coachella show. Slim’s, April 12th.
English folk rock singer Andrew Bird, who played at Coachella in 2007, returns with songwriter and guitarist Laura Marling, also on the Coachella lineup. Fox Theater, April 13th.
WU LYF
WU LYF stands for World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation. Their debut album, Go Tell Fire to the Mountain, delivers a loud, high-energy strand of indie rock that is both vulnerable and explosive at the same time. The Independent, April 17th.
Refused is another reunited 90s band featured on Coachella’s Friday lineup. The Swedish hardcore punk group is performing for the first time since 1998. Swedish rock band The Hives were a surprise on the Coachella lineup, especially to those unaware of the band’s yet-to-be-released 2012 album. The Warfield, April 18th.
Godspeed You Black Emperor
Godspeed You Black Emperor brings their legendary instrumental post-rock sound to San Francisco for four consecutive evenings. Great American Music Hall, April 16-20.
Explosions in the Sky
Another instrumental post-rock band worthy of multiple Bay Area performances. Palace of Fine Arts, April 16-17.
Pulp is known for being one of the leaders of the Brit-pop era in the 1980s and 1990s, having hit the peak of their fame in 1995 with their popular single “Common People” before they broke up in 2003. The Warfield, April 17th.
The Horrors & The Black Angels
The Horrors, since their first album in 2007, have established themselves as key players in the contemporary post-punk and shoegaze scene. Hailing from Austin, Texas, The Black Angels name, logo and style of psychedelic garage rock are all influenced by The Velvet Underground. Bimbo’s, April 16-17.
London-based indie folk rock band Fanfarlo returns with its second album, Rooms Filled With Light, released last month. Slim’s, April 17.
Justice’s show at Fox Theater sold out months ago, but savvy fans should be able to find a way in. The Rapture, from New York, brings their danceable post-punk sound to the party after a five-year hiatus. Fox Theater, April 17th.
Gotye’s hit song “Somebody” has catapulted the band to mainstream success in short order. To meet demand this show was upgrade from the 500-capacity space at The Independent to the 5,000-capacity Civic Auditorium. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, April 18th.
Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit consists of two sisters, both under the age of 23, signed to the same record label as The Knife. Slim’s, April 18th.
Wild Flag
Audiences might recognize Wild Flag’s vocalist and lead guitarist Carrie Brownstien from Portlandia or her previous band with drummer Janet Weiss, Sleater-Kinney. The Fillmore, April 18th.
Bon Iver
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, April 19th.
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino is Donald Glover, the actor and comedian recognizable from NBC’s show Community. As Childish Gambino, he’s a rapper who criticizes popular rap culture in his lyrics, drawing both intrigue and praise to his music. Fox Theater, April 19th.
Buzzcocks
Classic punk rock. The Uptown, April 20th.
Zeds Dead, takes their name (and some of their samples) from the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction, to the backdrop of dubstep at EDM. The Regency Ballroom, April 20th.
Alesso
Swedish DJ/producer Alesso has earned respect for his own progressive house productions as well as remixes of other popular EDM artists, including fellow Coachella 2012 performer Avicii. April 21st, Ruby Skye.
M83
The electro-pop brainchild of French producer Anthony Gonzalez, last year’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is getting major play on radio, TV and more. The Fillmore, April 22nd and 23rd.
With a brand new album, Port of Morrow, released less than a month ago, frontman James Mercer has almost entirely remodeled The Shins over the past three years. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, April 22nd.
Calvin Harris
Producer and DJ Calvin Harris’s disco beats are well-regarded in the electronic dance music community. Ruby Skye, April 23rd.
St. Vincent & tUnE-yArDs
St. Vincent, lead by Annie Clark brings stellar guitar shredding skills and genuinely beautiful and poetic vocals to Coachella. Supporting the band at the Fox Theater on April 24th and bringing their own performance to Coachella is Oakland’s own tUnE-yArDs, which also performs at Castro Theater on April 23rd. Fox Theater, April 24.
Neon Indian
Neon Indian’s dreamy, synth-heavy brand of pop music quickly gained popularity after the release of their debut album, Psychic Chasms and continued on their 2011 sophomore album, Era Extrana, featuring hits like “Fall Out” and “Polish Girl”. The Fillmore, April 24th.
DJ Shadow
Regency Ballroom, April 28th.
Arctic Monkeys
Pulp’s hometown of Sheffield, England, also spawned the Arctic Monkeys, a band known for cheeky lyrics and frontman Alex Turner’s notably British voice. Oracle Arena, May 4th.
The Black Keys
With seven LP releases since 2001, The Black Keys are riding a wave success, making a Coachella appearance for the second year in a row in the midst their North American arena tour. Oracle Arena, May 4th.