Coachella Founder Says American Festivals Aren't 'Adventuresome'

When Jay-Z takes the stage next Friday, July 31, at All Points West as the replacement for the Beastie Boys, who pulled out due to Adam Yauch's illness, it will mark Hova's first American festival appearance. Why the delay? "Us festival promoters in the United States need to be more adventuresome and realize this is strong and go after it," Coachella and All Points West founder Paul Tollett tells Spinner.

Tollett cites Jay-Z's triumphant Glastonbury appearance as proof of the lack of daring here. "It is a little sad that it takes Europe to discover some of the American artists for these festivals," he says. "Europe is more adventuresome. You give Jay-Z the Glastonbury mike and he absolutely crushes it. There have been others; the Killers headlined festivals over there well before they got to America to headline; Kings of Leon headlining festivals over there. Europe is just more adventuresome in putting bands to headline. It seems over here a lot of times it's a little more safe."

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean concertgoers here can garner early Coachella lineup insight from the festival season abroad. "Only my hairdresser knows," Tollett says, laughing. "We're working on some things but gotta keep it close to the vest."

With so many festivals vying for acts, did Tollett really just give a clue to his competition? "No, I've cut my own hair for the last 20 years," he says. Clever.