Capacity: 50,000

Concert starts: 12:00pm (gates open 11:00am)

Address of venue: Empire Polo Field, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA 92201, USA. MAP

Website: www.coachella.com

Tickets for Coachella went on sale Friday, January 25 at 10:00 AM (PT). Our thanks to FloydBob for sending in the ticket scan.

The line-up for the weekend included many top musicians with a mass of artists providing the entertainment before Roger appeared on stage to perform his Dark Side Of The Moon concert. UPDATE: It was reported on March 18th that singer, songwriter and violinist Lili Haydn "has been invited by Roger Waters to perform with him at Coachella". She'll be singing and playing violin.

WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!

Do not read on if you don't want surprises to be spoilt, regarding what the band played!

The first show in the North American leg of Roger's 2008 Dark Side Of The Moon mini tour, and the event, in front of some 50,000 people, was a hot one, in more ways than one - two people were hospitalized on the day of Roger's performance due to the intense heat; temperatures topped 101 degrees Fahrenheit!

For those interested in his tonsorial arrangements, you'll be pleased to hear that Roger's beard has remained, and whilst he has a long way to go to catch up with his son Harry (on keyboards), it is a look that really suits him.

Musically, we hear that the band were right on it - as if they'd never had a break. With two band members different to the 2006 and 2007 tour (Chester Kamen and Sylvia Mason-James) that's even more impressive! Lili Haydn also put in a great performance from what we're hearing from initial reports...

Turning to events within the show, as Sheep drew to a conclusion, the white inflatable pig - complete with a meat-cleaver-wielding Uncle Sam on one side, and the word "Obama" next to a ballot box on the underneath - floated off into the night sky. Roger was reported to say in a sad, yet comical voice, "That's my pig!" Check out our news pages for the follow up to this story - seems it wasn't supposed to escape, and a $10,000 reward was offered for its return, along with lifetime tickets for the Festival!

A great selection of pictures from the event can be found at The Press-Enterprise website, such as this one (click the thumbnail) of the piggie lurking backstage, waiting for the right moment to wow the crowd!

Just two days break, before the tour resumes in Denver's Pepsi Center Arena. In the meantime, here's the first of the show reports submitted by BD visitors...

CONCERT REVIEW and pictures - by BD visitor, George Davis

I saw the amazing Roger Waters performance at Coachella 08. Roger said he heard what a great festival it is and was glad to be there (and he really seemed to be having fun). After seeing Roger at the Hollywood Bowl for 2 shows in 06 (both with Nick Mason) and in 07 this show was possibly the best.

The set list was the same but the major changes were in the band as you reported (no Andy Fairweather-Low). Not to forget Lili Hayden who played violin on Leaving Beirut and Comfortably Numb. As Floyd fans we've heard the Comfortably Numb solo a million times but never quite like she played it. If one closed their eyes one could think it was a guitar playing.

And the Pig has received the most press after his "escape" at the conclusion of Sheep. The Pig had Obama with a check mark on his belly. As it flew into the night sky Roger lamented "Where's my pig?"

Overall great show with many people who were not Roger or Pink Floyd fans being converted by the sheer power of the music and the spectacle. Enjoy the pics!

CONCERT REVIEW and PICS - by BD contributer, Digitalpigg

Serendipity and cosmic forces abound in the realm of Pink Floyd. I always imagined that when they played at Pompeii, the time space continuum was distorted straight up from that ancient coliseum and the entire universe, past present and future, stopped to observe.

I live in a community only a half-mile from the Empire Polo Grounds and I am continually treated with fire works and hot air balloons. I had sent a wish for, ideally Pink Floyd as a whole, or David or Roger to play here in the Coachella valley, a valley forged with great spirits and magic from the Cahuilla Indians that have lived here for 3000 years. Well, there you have it; Roger was on the front page of the local paper.

Tickets had gone quickly but I live so close I thought it might all work out. I didn’t want to attend the three days. I was only interested in Roger.

7:30 pm Sunday. A resolve fell over me as strange electricity fell from the air.

I walked out the back gate and straight to the polo grounds. I’m sure I will find a ticket I thought as I moved forward wearing my Pink Floyd T-Shirt. Well serendipity played as the cosmos aligned and a guy asked if I needed a ticket. An Indio police officer stopped in a golf cart and asked if everything was O.K. We both froze and he said just wanted to see if you needed a ride and drove on. I told him I was only prepared with my credit card and $20 in cash. He said, ‘no, here just take the ticket.’ His kindness beamed like a flashlight.

 I proceeded toward the gate down the long path in the warm, clear evening. I walked up to the gate and motioned for the cute woman police officer to search me, she smiled and told me to go to the male officer. He smiled and asked if I had been searched. I told him all I had was my iphone and he waved me on.

I entered the surreal environment of pseudo hippies and future senators. Strange buildings rose to the sky. A tree house, an organic building. A guy wearing a cowboy hat lined with neon passed and I thought to myself, it is the future surrounded by the past. Time was irrelevant. I spoke with fellow Floyd heads and we laughed and moved towards the giant stage. The screens dwarfed the stage and the crowd dwarfed the screen. The audience was electric and in great spirits.

I stopped in a vortex that was created by the spotlights forming a pyramid into the sky. The concert started as soon as I stopped.

What a show! I had never had the opportunity to see Pink Floyd live and the moments fell forward in unison as the music filled the air. The surround sound was incredible and I was in the sweetest spot for the effect.

Roger preformed all my favorites in order as if I sent a list. The only addition would have been IT’S A MIRACLE. He opened with IN THE FLESH. When he played SHEEP I was ecstatic. The Pig floated as the bass echoed. The sheep bleated and the crowd roared. Not even the girl talking nonstop about herself could diminish the effect. She became part of the music like Floyd had mixed it in.

 They took a break before DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. The performance of dark side moved me and I was pleased to see the crowd receptive to its deep and relevant commentaries. LEAVING BEIRUT was well placed and the political statements were not concealed.

COMFORTABLY NUMB was beautiful. I enjoyed the violin lead: a refreshing addition. I did think to myself as I surveyed the crowd, I hope the talent of David is not forgotten. His contributions were quintessential.

Dumbfounded after the concert I walked home and thought, when I am 80 years old I can say, ‘when I was a kid I WALKED to a Pink Floyd concert, not like you kids today with your fancy cars.’

YOUR HELP NEEDED! We want to cover Roger's concerts the best we can, to share the experience with everyone, especially those who won't be able to attend the shows. We'd love to see ANY pictures, reviews, newspaper reports, and anything else you come across for this show - we look forward to hearing from you!