Inspired by the enormous popularity of Coachella, the music festival that draws hordes of millennials and thirtysomethings to Indio, California, every year, the new fest Desert Trip Music Festival—also set in Indio—is aimed at boomers drawn to the legendary rock musicians whose songs were the soundtrack of their youth. The festival took place over two weekends that concluded on October 16 and featured six indisputably iconic acts: the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Roger Waters, and the Who. And Brinson+Banks were there to document the scene at weekend one for AARP.
“We’ve shot at a fair share of music festivals the past two years: two Coachellas (for Garnier and Instagram) and I Heart Music, Bonnaroo, and Firefly for Garnier. So when AARP asked us to cover Desert Trip Music Festival, we knew what we were in for: Lots of dust, lots of sweating (it topped out at 99 degrees), lots of walking, and lots of characters,” say Brinson+Banks.
“We weren’t there to cover the stage, though we did get chances to ooh and ahh and shake a leg at the amazing shows, too. We wandered the camping areas and the crowds and found so many friendly faces, even people who had traveled from as far as Denmark for the first time, a former assistant tour manager for the Grateful Dead, and a man who had attended Woodstock and had a Rolling Stones logo tattoo on his chest. It was exhausting, but it was a blast to just be directed by the light and the most unique faces in the crowd of 75,000.”
AARP featured the duo’s images on Instagram and online. Below, some of our favorites…
“Steve Fish, of Wyoming, Rhode Island, dressed the part of a hippie on day three of the Desert Trip Music Festival. He is a postal worker by day but says he is a ‘rock ‘n’ roll animal.’ ‘It’s very thrilling to be here. I saw the lineup and said I’m not missing this. It’s like the Super Bowl. It’s huge.'” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Terrell Adkins, 66, of Desert Hot Springs, California, on the lawn before Neil Young graced the stage.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
Photos by Brinson+Banks.
“Just outside the festival gates, where fans were lined up to get in. Mark Portman (left) and his wife, Jan Simmons (right), of Oregon, and longtime friend Maggie Sichel-Pinatelli, of California, braved the 95 degrees. Simmons was the assistant tour manager for the Grateful Dead.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Desert Trip offered the thousands of fans more than live concerts at night; there was a silent disco, an arts & crafts tent, a record store, delicious food, a vintage market, a jive joint, and even a free packed pinball arcade with 40 different machines. We saw dozens and dozens of vintage Rolling Stones T-shirts being worn by proud fans, even one who traveled all the way to the U.S. for the first time from Holland just to see the band live again.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“There were multiple camping areas for the fans—teepees with cots and tents (including VIP Safari tents for $10,000 for the three nights!), as well as a car camping lot and this RV camping lot.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Ben Ailes, 69, who first saw the Who in 1973 in Vienna, Austria, geared up to see the band again on the third night of Desert Trip.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Jay Bogner of Buffalo, Wyoming, attended Woodstock and saw the Beatles for the first time when he was 8 years old, with his babysitter. Bogner also sports a chest tattoo of the iconic Rolling Stones logo.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Carl Fox, 60, and his wife, Sonya Fox, 59, of Pioneertown, California, posed for a portrait on the general admission lawn. The couple, who just celebrated their 21st anniversary, worked together in the music business years ago for Bill Graham Represents. Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“A very young concert attendee taking in the performance of the Who on the final night of musical performances during the first weekend of Desert Trip.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Fans on the lawn while Roger Waters performs.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“A couple walks through the festival grounds.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
“Fans watching the Who perform.” Photo by Brinson+Banks.
A Brinson+Banks selfie.
