Coachella 2025 Weekend 2 Recap

Coachella at night is magical. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Weekend 2 of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was one of discovery to be sure. I not only enjoyed catching a number of artists for the first-time ever, I was more able to fully appreciate a few returning favorites (Lady Gaga, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias) and saw the Go-Go's for the first time in more than 30 years! Here I showcase my favorite artists seen as Coachella last weekend (April 18-20).

Glixen performing at Coachella on April 18.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Glixen — The first artist I caught on day one (April 18) was Glixen, a strong shoe gaze-styled quartet whose sound came off as a cross between Mazzy Star and Dinosaur Jr. The band made the most of its 30-minute set inside the Sonora tent and pleased the enthusiastic crowd on hand with a powerful set of heavy originals. 

TOPS — Canadian quartet TOPS blended melodic rock, ear candy-styled songcraft, new wave, occasional jazzy flourishes and winning vocal harmonies across their 40-minute set in the Sonora tent. 

Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

The Go-Go's — Although the Go-Go's were not as tight as many of the other bands that appeared at Coachella over the weekend, there is no denying the unbridled enthusiasm of the groundbreaking all-female Los Angeles outfit elevated their performance on the Outdoor Theatre stage on Friday afternoon. With a setlist filled with catchy and memorable material, the band thrilled the faithful with tracks including "Vacation," "Lust to Love," "Head over Heels," "Our Lips Are Sealed" and set-ending "We Got the Beat." However, I thought the single best selection of their set was "This Town," a song that showcased the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' formidable strengths.

Benson Boone performing his new advance track "American Heart" at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Benson Boone — The biggest surprise of Weekend 1 was when rising 22-year-old singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Benson Boone covered Queen's timeless hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" and brought out that band's Brian May to play his timeless lead guitar work on that 1975 classic. Although May didn't show up for Boone's Weekend 2 set on the Coachella Stage, Boone had no trouble impressing the audience with his signature style of modern pop-rock. Opening with "Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else," other uptempo cuts included "Cry" and "Mystical Magical." He proved equally skilled when sitting on the piano and performing more intimate material as evidenced by the early sections of "Slow It Down," "There She Goes" and the piano-anchored power ballad "Forever and a Day." Late set standouts included the title track from his forthcoming album ("American Heart"), a stunning take on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the latter complete with a large vocal choir) and rousing version of his 2024 hit "Beautiful Things."

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Marias — Los Angeles' the Marias attracted such a large and enthusiastic crowd to the Outdoor Theatre it's clear the quartet could have performed on the larger Coachella stage. Lead singer Maria Zardoya is a particularly charismatic singer and she connected strongly with Coachellagoers on Friday; the stylish talents of drummer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman and keyboardist Edward James enhance the Marias' remarkable style. Highlights included a shimmering take on "Real Life," the fanciful "Only in My Dreams" (the latter a track fully utilizing the striking set design), intense "Hush" and bewitching "Paranoia." The Marias closed with the Spanish language gem Cariño," with Zardoya venturing out into the crowd to greet excited fans. 

Parcels — One of the best sets of Weekend 2 belonged to Parcels, a five-member Berlin, Germany-based group that masterfully blended synth pop, disco, funk and alternative dance styles together on the Outdoor Theatre stage. Opening with the intoxicating dance track "Overnight," the group proceeded to keep the dance-minded party going with winning tracks including the harmonies-adorned "Lightenup," "Tieduprightnow" and the new single "Safeandsound," the latter featuring an explosive finale.

Fans watch Lady Gaga perform on one of the massive Coachella Stage screens.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Lady Gaga — No matter any Coachellagoer's specific taste in music — be it rock, jazz, dance, rap, hip-hop or you name it — there is a better than good chance they were blown away by Lady Gaga's 20-song performance spread over five specific acts on the Coachella Stage to cap the opening day of Weekend 2. The large audience was immersed in the artist's so-called "Mayhem Ball" (named after her mega-successful new album Mayhem), and were treated to a fast-moving concept concert featuring Lady Gaga singing and dancing up a storm. Following her acclaimed Coachella Weekend 2 performance, it was announced that Lady Gaga will bring her "Mayhem Ball" tour across the nation beginning in Las Vegas on July 16.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast on April 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Japanese Breakfast — As wonderful as indie art rock troupe Japanese Breakfast was at Weekend 1, the Michelle Zauner-led band was even more impressive Weekend 2. Over the course of 45 magical minutes the band ( which also features guitarist Peter Bradley, bassist Deven Craige and drummer-keyboardist Craig Hendrix) brought a mix of literate, musically diverse and fun material to the Outdoor Theatre stage. Zauner played guitar at times, danced at others and sang with palpable emotion throughout. A wide range of material connected with the crowd including alt rock ("Honey Water"), uptempo dance-minded cuts ("The Woman That Loves You," "Paprika," "Be Sweet"), breezy pop ("Road Head," "Picture Window") and semi-acoustic sorties ("Winter in LA," "Kokomo, IN"). 

Beth Gibbons at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Beth Gibbons — Best known as the singer and lyricist for groundbreaking English band Portishead, Beth Gibbons delivered one of the most ambitious and memorable sets of Weekend 2. Like Radiohead, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, Gibbons brings an intensity, depth and immersive soundscape to her sonic world. Backed by a seven-member band of virtuoso players, Gibbons made the most of every moment of her 45-minute set in the Gobi tent. Her set featured a number of amazing originals from her acclaimed 2024 album Lives Outgrown including her set opening "Burden of Life," the lush "Floating on a Moment," the edgy "Rewind" with its creative use of strings and a horn, and "Lost Changes" — the latter with its probing and potent exploration of mortality and love. Additionally, she thrilled music lovers with a powerful take on the Portishead favorite "Glory Box."

The Beaches turned in an impressive set at Coachella.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

The Beaches — Canadian indie rock heroes the Beaches were one of my top discoveries of Coachella 2025. The all-female band blended New Wave, post punk and alt rock sonics throughout their fiery audience-pleasing appearance on Sunday. It's rare for a modern rock band to have undeniable chemistry across their complete lineup but Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass guitar), Kylie Miller (guitar, backing vocals), Leandra Earl (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) showcased that in spades. Standouts of the Beaches' set included the catchy opener "Cigarette," '80s-flavored "Takes One To Know One," sweeping "Jocelyn," confessional rocker "Edge of the Earth" and explosive closer "Blame Brett."

Kraftwerk — Pioneering German electronic band Kraftwerk conjured up the beginnings of electronic music with a set of the quartet's distinctive material constructed via generally sparse arrangements, mechanical vocals, drum machine-driven rhythms, synthesizers and snappy melodies. Led by co-founder Ralf Hütter, highlights included the driving opener "Numbers / Computer World / Computer World 2," unsettling "Autobahn," pulsating "Radioactivity" and engaging "The Robots." 

Regarding the widely reported antisemitic, jew-hatred performance by the Irish rap group Kneecap, I encourage everyone to read the "Setting the Stage for Hate: Kneecap and Coachella's Collapse of Conscience" Opinion piece in the Hollywood Reporter HERE. Although this writer did not see any of that performance, I was contacted by many who knew I was at Coachella and concerned to see a performer spewing these hate-filled views at the festival. There is no place for this type of hate at Coachella.

Robert Kinsler

Coachella 2025 Lineup is here; Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone to headline

The lineup for Coachella 2025 has just been announced! Lady Gaga is the headliner on Friday nights, April 11 and 18; Green Day is set to rock Indio on Saturdays, April 12 and 19; Post Malone will be front and center on the main stage on Sundays, April 13 and April 20. 

Maria Zardoya of The Marias performing at Coachella in April 2022.
Photo credit: Beth Sarah / Getty Images For Coachella

Japanese Breakfast / Photography by Peter Ash Lee

Other highly-anticipated artists set to perform at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA include the Marias, the Prodigy, Japanese Breakfast, Kraftwerk, Jimmy Eat World and Huntington Beach-based Ginger Root.

Below is the official media release from Goldenvoice:

Lady Gaga performing on April
22, 2017.
Photo: Greg Noire courtesy
of Goldenvoice

Los Angeles, CA (November 20, 2025) – Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for two weekends set for April 11 – 13 and April 18 – 20, 2025 with Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone performing a career retrospective set, and Travis Scott + many more. 

Presale begins Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11am PT. 2023/2024 attendees and purchasers get early access starting Thursday, November 21 at 11am PT. For your best chance at passes, look to Weekend 2. This is a presale and does not guarantee pass type, packages or camping.

New for 2025: VIP areas adjacent to the Outdoor Theater and Sahara offer specialty drinks, added bars, shaded lounges, flushable restrooms and more amenities to be announced later. Plus, additional camping options include Ready-Set and La Campana tent camping for fans looking for more comfort during their desert stay. 

YouTube returns in 2025 as the exclusive livestream partner for both Coachella weekends on our official YouTube channel; bringing the legendary performances and so much more to millions of music fans across the globe.

Official Hotel Packages that bundle festival passes with local lodging and transportation are available for Weekend 1 and Weekend 2, sold exclusively through Valley Music Travel. 

For more festival information and updates, please visit coachella.com. 

### 

ABOUT GOLDENVOICE 

Goldenvoice, creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, operates successful Los Angeles and Bay Area music venues including the Fonda Theatre, The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre, The Novo, Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, The Regency Ballroom and The Warfield. Goldenvoice holds exclusive booking deals at Brookside at The Rose Bowl, Santa Barbara Bowl, Mountain Winery and Frost Amphitheatre. They also have produced events such as Desert Trip, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Cruel World, Just Like Heaven, Power Trip and many more. Beginning as an independent punk rock promoter in the early 1980s, Goldenvoice grew to be the preeminent alternative promoter in Southern California by forging strong relationships with both bands and music fans. Currently, Goldenvoice promotes over 2,000 concerts a year in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada plus recently adding North American tours to their growing list of accomplishments. For additional info, please visit www.Goldenvoice.com.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces 2021 inductees

Congratulations to this year's inductees! So glad to see Todd Rundgren finally get in (much deserved), as well as The Go-Go's, Tina Turner, Carole King, Jay-Z, and Foo Fighters (in the "Performer Category"); more names headed to the Rock Hall on Oct 30, 2021 can be seen below in the official media release...Robert Kinsler

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 

2021 INDUCTEES

 

36^th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to take place October 30 in Cleveland, Ohio; Tickets on sale in July 

 

 

 

CLEVELAND, OH (May 12, 2021) – The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame reveals its 2021 Inductees, celebrating the most diverse list of Inductees in the history of the organization. They are:

 

The Go-Go's are headed to the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame this year.

Performer Category:

• The Go-Go’s
• Tina Turner
• Carole King
• JAY-Z
• Foo Fighters
• Todd Rundgren

 

Todd Rundgren is acclaimed for
his wide-ranging work as a recording
artist and producer.

Early Influence Award:

• Kraftwerk
• Charley Patton
• Gil Scott-Heron

 

Musical Excellence Award:

• LL Cool J
• Billy Preston
• Randy Rhoads

 

Ahmet Ertegun Award:

• Clarence Avant

 

“This diverse class of talented Inductees reflects the Rock Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture”, said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “It will make for an unforgettable live celebration of music in October at this year’s Induction Ceremony in Cleveland.” 

 

To be eligible, artists are required to have released their first record 25 years prior to induction. Two-time Inductees include Carole King, previously inducted with Gerry Goffin in 1990, and Tina Turner, previously inducted with Ike and Tina Turner in 1991. The Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, and JAY-Z were on the ballot for the first time. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) will become a two-time Inductee having previously been Inducted with Nirvana in 2014. 

 

The 36^th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio with a radio simulcast on SiriusXM’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio channel 310. The Induction Ceremony will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max.

 

The Induction categories and criteria for selection: 

• Performers: honoring bands and solo artists who, in their careers, have created music whose originality, impact and influence has changed the course of rock & roll.
• Ahmet Ertegun Award: given to non performing industry professionals who, through their dedicated belief and support of artists and their music have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture.  
• Musical Excellence Award: given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music. 
• Early Influence Award: given to a performing artist or group whose music and performance style have directly influenced and helped inspire and evolve rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture. 

 

To learn more about past recipients, click here.

 

Ballots were sent to an international voting body of more than 1,200 artists, including current living Inductees, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration. 

 

Three out of the top five on the “Fans’ Ballot” are being Inducted, including Tina Turner (winning the fan vote), The Go-Go’s, and Foo Fighters. 5 million votes were cast. 

 

The Inductees were announced on Rock Hall’s social channels and live on SiriusXM’s Volume channel and the morning show “Feedback,” hosted by Nik Carter and Lori Majewski, featuring special guest, Joel Peresman, CEO, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

 

Tickets go on sale to the public and members in July.

 

Select Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by June 30, 2021 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/join to learn more.

 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2021 Inductee exhibit celebrating this year’s class opens at the Museum in Cleveland on July 1. The Museum is open daily with advance tickets required at rockhall.com.

 

 

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, and engaging programs. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock! 

 

# # #

 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 Inductee Bios are available on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website. Below is The Go-Go's as an example of what you will find there... at Rockhall.com

 

 

THE GO-GO'S 

As the most successful all-woman rock band of all time, the Go-Go’s performed catchy, well-crafted songs that formed a bridge between the brash urgency of L.A. punk and the dark melodies of new wave pop.  

 

Formed out of the diverse and egalitarian punk scene in Los Angeles in 1978 with Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar and vocals, the core lineup of the band solidified over the next few years with the additions of lead guitarist and keyboardist Charlotte Caffey, drummer Gina Schock, and bassist Kathy Valentine. Known for their raw and energetic live shows, the Go-Go’s circumvented record label sexism and signed with IRS Records in 1981. Their debut album Beauty and the Beat was released later that year and became the first (and, to date, only) album by an all-woman band that played its own instruments and wrote its own songs to top the Billboard albums chart.  

 

Despite a shift toward a more melodic new wave sound, the band’s D.I.Y. punk roots remain evident in hits like “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” The group’s second and third studio albums, Vacation (1982) and Talk Show (1984), furthered their success with the singles “Vacation” and “Head Over Heels.” In heavy rotation on MTV, their songs (primarily composed by Caffey, Wiedlin, and Valentine) had weighty lyrics belied by their sunny melodies and a timelessness that set the band apart from many of their 1980s counterparts.  

 

Though the band broke up in 1985, the Go-Go’s have reunited periodically since 1990 to record and tour. In recent years, the band’s music has been celebrated with the Broadway musical Head Over Heels and chronicled in the Showtime documentary The Go-Go’s (2020). For the documentary’s soundtrack, the band reconvened virtually to record their first new song in 19 years, “Club Zero.” The Go-Go’s influence is seen in countless artists, including Bikini Kill, Green Day, and Nirvana. 

 

Selected discography:  
“Screaming” (Live, 1979) • “Blades” (Live, 1980) • “We Got the Beat” (Stiff Records single version, 1980) • “Our Lips Are Sealed,” Beauty and the Beat (1981) • “Vacation,” Vacation (1982) • “Head Over Heels,” Talk Show (1984) • “The Whole World Lost Its Head,” Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s (1994) • “Unforgiven,” God Bless the Go-Go’s (2001) • “Club Zero,” Beatnik Beach Summer (2020) 

 

Inductees: Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin

Influences: Beach Boys, Germs, Buzzcocks

Legacies: Green Day, Nirvana, Bikini Kill

TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

While TJR and Robert Kinsler were at the 2020 NAMM Show last weekend, they took out a few minutes to discuss last week's announcement about the Inductees who will be getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees announced

The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 have just been announced. 

Dave Matthews, right, with violin player Boyd
Tinsley at Irvine Meadows in August 2006.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

On first view, I would love to see Depeche Mode, Todd Rundgren, Kraftwerk and the Dave Matthews Band get in next year.

Rundgren, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode have been previously nominated, and all three are totally deserving of the honor.

Other nominees that deserve to get in now, or at a later date include T. Rex, Nine Inch Nails and Thin Lizzy.

What are your thoughts? 

Posted by Robert Kinsler


Below is the official media release from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2020 INDUCTION

35^th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to take place on May 2, 2020 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio

Fans can cast their vote for Inductees at Google, Rockhall.com, or the Museum

Depeche Mode

CLEVELAND (October 15, 2020) — The Nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 are:

• Pat Benatar
• Dave Matthews Band
• Depeche Mode
• The Doobie Brothers
• Whitney Houston
• Judas Priest
• Kraftwerk
• MC5
• Motörhead
• Nine Inch Nails
• The Notorious B.I.G.
• Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
• Todd Rundgren
• Soundgarden
• T.Rex
• Thin Lizzy

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Nine out of 16 of the Nominees are on the ballot for the first time, including Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Motörhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy, and Whitney Houston.

Inductees will be announced in January 2020. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, takes place at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, 2020. The Ceremony is preceded by Induction Week, which includes a special dedication of the 2020 Inductee exhibit, Celebration Day, and other events and activities at the Museum and around town! Ticket on-sale information will be announced later.

Todd Rundgren

Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to participate in the induction selection process. Beginning October 15 and continuing through 11:59 p.m. EST on January 10, 2020, fans can go to Google and search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or any nominee name plus “vote” to cast a ballot with Google, vote at rockhall.com, or at the Museum in Cleveland. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees. 

The Nominees were announced live on SiriusXM VOLUME channel 106’s “Feedback” morning show today with hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski along with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Joel Peresman.   

Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by January 31, 2020 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/support  to learn more.

Klipsch Audio, a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer, is a strategic partner and presenting sponsor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, its Induction Ceremony events and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Main Stage. Klipsch’s renowned products deliver the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience throughout the iconic museum.

Follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter and Instagram (@rockhall) and join the conversation at #RockHall2020.

Press can access hi-resolution images and bios for Nominees at rockhall.com/press-room. Media Credential Applications become available in December 2019. For interviews, contact swilson@rockhall.org. 

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter and Instagram (@rockhall). Long Live Rock!

About Klipsch Audio

In 1946 Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Through the use of highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American loudspeaker company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world. We are the Keepers of the Sound®. Klipsch Group, Inc. is a VOXX International Company (NASDAQ: VOXX).

You can vote here.

Sights and Sounds: Coachella & Stagecoach festivals, Record Store Day, Rick Springfield

Since I have been busy prepping for my coverage of both Coachella and Stagecoach festivals out in Indio, I have not had much time to posting much this past week. Yesterday I had a chance to listen (and re-listen) to music from many of the fine acts I hope to catch at Coachella including New Order and Phoenix. I thought I'd quickly post a few things here before I get back to my listening...

Record Store Day always lands on the Saturday I'm at Coachella and this year is no different. As we get closer to April 20, I'll make sure to post as much news as I can on the special event. Here is the latest news release highlighting some of the day's special releases. 

Astralwerks Records will celebrate its own 20th anniversary in connection with the day. Founded in 1993 in New York City, Astralwerks Records began as an independent boutique label releasing visionary records that helped ignite two explosive waves of musical creativity: first with Electronica in the '90s, and more recently with EDM in the new millennium. Over the last 20 years, the label has become one of America's pre-eminent homes for unique and forward-thinking artists, nurturing a roster of genre-bending musicians and bands.

To celebrate this 20-year anniversary, Astralwerks is proud to announce the release of a strictly limited edition box set entitled Astralwerks: Music in 20/20, produced exclusively for Record Store Day on April 20, 2013. The box set spans 20 artists, over 20 years, and includes 20 tracks pressed onto retro-groovy vinyl flexi discs. Included are exclusives or rarely heard bonus tracks from Air,Diamond Rings, Hot Chip, Kings Of Convenience, Kraftwerk and The Kooks. Astralwerks General Manager Glenn Mendlingerobserves “Astralwerks is proud to celebrate this important milestone for the label and to document our history in artist development and ground-breaking music.  It is incredible to be a driving force in electronic music and DJ culture for 20 years starting with The Future Sound Of London, The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, leading into such iconic legends as Kraftwerk and Pet Shop Boys and landing where we are today with David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia.”  He adds, "This anniversary box set is really only a snapshot, when compared to the entire canon of extraordinary artists we have worked with. The tracks included are a mix of staff and fan favorites, commercial highlights and unsung rarities."

In the Summer of 1993 Astralwerks released its first album - Tales Of Ephidrina by Amorphous Androgynous - a pseudonym of the legendary Future Sound of London, and catalyst for the sub-genre known at the time as 'ambient techno'. A landmark series of compilations called Excursions in Ambience followed, as did Big Beat, Breaks and the early progenitors of tech-house, subsequently spawning classics by some of the most groundbreaking electronic artists of the era - Future Sound Of London, Photek, Spacetime Continuum, and µ-Ziq, to name just a few. As the new millennium dawned, the label added luminaries such as The Beta Band, Beth Orton, doves, Hot Chip, Kings of Convenience, Phoenix and Placebo to its roster, as well as releasing Tour De France, the first new album in 12 years from legendary electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, as well as re-issuing their fabled catalogue.

This box set celebrates many important milestones for the label: Fatboy Slim's You've Come A Long Way Baby was the first DJ album to go platinum in the USA. The Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" was the first track by an electronic artist to win a Grammy® and crack the Alternative Top 40 Chart.  Astralwerks continued to break new ground by establishing David Guetta as a major mainstream artist in America selling over 11 million singles from the smash album Nothing But The Beat.   The label continues to break uncharted territory as evidenced by its partnership with Swedish House Mafia who became the first-ever DJ artists to sell out Madison Square Garden (in an incredible 10 minutes).

So here we are, 20 years on, and Astralwerks has successfully launched the U.S. careers of many new artists - including Gold Fields, Diamond Rings, Empire of the Sun, NERVO, Eric Prydz, and Swedish House Mafia. As a label, it continues to look to the future, not only within the resurgence of electronic dance music but amidst a continually morphing array of musical genres and artists who continue to break new ground.

Astralwerks: Music in 20/20 Tracklisting:

1: Future Sound of London - The Far Out Son Of Lung And The Ramblings Of A Madman (Original 12" Version)

2: The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats

3:  The Beta Band - Dry The Rain

4: Fatboy Slim - Praise You

5: Cassius - Cassius 1999

6: Doves - The Cedar Room [Promo-only version previously unreleased in the US]*

7: Kings of Convenience - Winning A Battle, Losing The War (J-Walk Remix) [Previously unreleased in the US]*

8: Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At

9:  Royksopp - Poor Leno

10: Sia - Breathe Me (Four Tet Remix)

11: Hot Chip - My Shit's On Fire Right Now [First ever commercial release]*

12: The Kooks - Put Your Back to My Face [Previously unreleased in the US]*

13:  Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

14: David Guetta - Sexy Bitch (feat. Akon)

15: Air - Indian Summer [Previously unreleased in the US]*

16: Kraftwerk - Die Roboter [German language version of "The Robots." Previously unreleased in the US]*

17:  Eric Prydz - Allein

18: Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child (feat. John Martin)

19: Diamond Rings - Put Me On (Diamond Dance) [Previously unreleased]

20: Gold Fields - Dark Again

*Exclusive tracks

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Department of Record Stores and is organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.www.recordstoreday.com

Rick Springfield is returning (briefly) to General Hospital in connection with the show's 50th anniversary. Check out writer George A. Paul's post on his Music Minded blog to learn more.