April 17, 2009 19:19

Coachella Festival: Day One begins

Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand to kick off desert festival

Thousands of fans are heading to the California desert today (April 17) for Day One of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Kicking off the proceedings are Coachella main stage headliners Paul McCartney and Morrissey and Franz Ferdinand. They'll be preceded by The Black Keys and Airborne Toxic Event on the main Coachella Stage earlier in the day.

Also on today's bill are Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band and Silversun Pickups, who are set to perform at the Outdoor Theatre.

Meanwhile over in the Mojave Tent, White Lies and NASA will make their first-ever Coachella appearances, and The Presets and Girl Talk will keep things thumping late into the night in the Sahara Tent.

Photo Gallery - all the action from Coachella 2009.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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