Head Trip made waves in the music festival scene by organizing a one-time dance festival at the iconic Empire Polo Club on October 10–11. The lineup was a who’s who of electronic music, featuring heavyweights like Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, FISHER, Chris Lake, Dom Dolla, and KETTAMA. However, the excitement of the festival was interrupted by severe weather, dramatically affecting the weekend’s events.
Saturday’s Weather Changed The Final Day
As the night unfolded, a lightning alert caused a stir during the high-energy performance by FISHER and Chris Lake, known collectively as Under Construction, around 9 p.m.. The alert meant festival organizers had no choice but to signal a halt to the festivities, effectively ending Saturday’s lineup prematurely. The timing was particularly impactful as Calvin Harris was slated to headline later that evening, but with the weather taking a turn, his highly-anticipated set was unfortunately scrapped.
With Sunday still on the calendar, Goldenvoice, the festival’s promoter, quickly pivoted. They announced that Calvin Harris would now perform on the final day, reintroducing him to the lineup at approximately 9:10 p.m.. To accommodate this change, Swedish House Mafia was positioned in the closing slot, set to take the stage at 11 p.m., along with several shifts to earlier set times to fit the new timetable.
Swedish House Mafia Played Beyond Midnight
The adjusted schedule had significant implications, especially as it meant Swedish House Mafia’s set extended beyond Indio’s Sunday curfew. Reports from KESQ confirmed that the trio wrapped up their performance at around 12:30 a.m., about half an hour past the officially designated closing time.
According to the permit granted to Goldenvoice for events at the Empire Polo Club, live music is required to conclude by 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and by midnight on Sundays. Exceeding these hours can lead to steep fines—$20,000 for going over five minutes, with an additional $1,000 for every subsequent minute. Based on this framework, the potential financial impact for Goldenvoice could have been about $48,000 for their Sunday night curfew violation.
Indio Chose Not To Issue The Fine
In a surprising turn of events, the City of Indio decided against imposing the hefty fine, considering the extreme weather conditions that had abruptly ended Saturday’s performances. This decision showcased a degree of understanding toward the challenges faced by the promoters, as the severe weather had necessitated the quick shift in scheduling to ensure Calvin Harris could still deliver a set during the event.
This leniency marked a notable departure from earlier curfew disputes at the Empire Polo Club, where Goldenvoice had previously faced penalties in past situations where events ran over their designated time. In this instance, the city’s choice to waive a near $50,000 fine illustrated a recognition of the unique circumstances surrounding the festival’s timeline and the unpredictability of the elements.
