Coachella for the .01 Percent

Power Trip is a new heavy-metal music festival that descends upon the California desert. But with $4,000 tickets, whiskey tastings, and air-conditioned bars, it’s a vastly different experience

By Jill Kargman

While most conversations about festivals or concerts revolve around Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Burning Man, I’m here to report on an under-the-radar but radically cooler happening. No screaming teens, mud baths, or fear of trampling—mostly because the crowd is far too old for any of that.

Power Trip is a heavy-metal festival that took place in October on the same Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, California, where Coachella is held. This year, its blistering lineup included AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica.