Pulp, Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Girl Talk and Sleigh Bells are among the acts slated to play the first-ever Coachella-branded cruise. Officially dubbed the S.S. Coachella, the self-proclaimed music festival at sea will feature 20-plus acts over two December trips, one to the Bahamas and one to Jamaica. Each leg will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The cruise represents the first time promoter Goldenvoice has used the Coachella name for a concert event outside its yearly festival in the desert city of Indio. The trek, first reported by Pop & Hiss, was teased Monday by the promoter in a vague message posted on Twitter and Facebook, which stated only that an announcement would be forthcoming today at 6 p.m.

Goldenvoice and its parent company, A.E.G. Live, have declined multiple requests for comment. Both are based in Los Angeles.

The cruise expands Goldenvoice’s reach beyond the West Coast, although the promoter has worked in conjunction with A.E.G. Live on some of the company’s U.S. festivals. Goldenvoice has become a concert industry powerhouse on the strength of its Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, which is considered the start of the summer festival season and a premiere U.S. concert event. The launch of the S.S. Coachella ensures the brand will be generating headlines year-round.


The Bahamas leg of S.S. Coachella is set to depart Dec. 16 and dock Dec. 19. The Jamaica trek will set sail on Dec. 19 and return on Dec. 23. The S.S. Coachella starts accepting reservations Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m. Prices start at $500 per person, but there are multiple configurations extending into the thousands.

Music-themed cruises have become a healthy segment of the live music business. Local dance promoter HARD stages an electronic dance music-focused cruise in January, and artists as diverse as Kid Rock, KISS and Weezer have jumped on the trend.

Goldenvoice’s two Coachella festivals this year grossed $47.3 million, the largest ever recorded for a single concert event, according to concert business trade publication Pollstar. The dual-festival approach will continue in 2013 and is set for the weekends of April 12 and 19. Tickets have already been sold for the event.

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