Friday

Staff writer Richard Cromelin sorts out the festival, hour by hour:

NOON

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

DJ MEHDI (Sahara, 12-2)

1 P.M.

DON’T MISS

AMERICAN BANG Aw, lookout! This Nashville group’s rural throwback sound is as infectious as it is familiar. (Mojave, 1:15-1:55)

ALSO

ROGUE WAVE Atmospheric, sometimes meditative arty rock. They have their nice moments on record, but not a lot that stick. (Coachella, 1:30-2:15)

2 P.M.

DON’T MISS

REDD KROSS Look at it as a victory lap of sorts for one of the enduring bands from the L.A. rock scene. (Mojave, 2:15-3:05)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

LUCKYIAM Pensive, progressive hip-hop with languorous, noir grooves from a founder of Living Legends. (Outdoor, 2-2:50)

JOHN BUTLER TRIO The Australian’s jammy, eclectic groove rock should be a nice prologue for headliner Johnson. (Coachella, 2:30-3:20)

ALSO

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS (Sahara, 2-2:50)

PORTER (Gobi, 2-2:40)

3 P.M.

DON’T MISS

LES SAVY FAV The New York band’s grand guitar rock delivers quirky tales. Intriguing and ambitious. (Outdoor, 3:10-4)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

BATTLES Jazzman Anthony Braxton’s son Tyondai is a member of this band, whose madly propulsive symphonic rock races along like a fast, huge creature. (Gobi, 3-3:45)

BLACK KIDS They’re from Jacksonville, Fla., but sound as if Robert Smith and the Cure tried to sneak in disguised as the Beach Boys. (Mojave, 3:25-4:10)

ALSO

SEBASTIAN (Sahara, 2:50-3:40)

4 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI Constant surprise is the hallmark of the Australian band’s playful phantasmagoric experimentation. (Outdoor, 4:25-5:15)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

SLIGHTLY STOOPID The popular SoCal band gets typecast as ska, but it actually ranges far and wide for its persuasive grooves. (Coachella, 3:45-4:35)

DAN DEACON The Baltimore DJ and producer’s manic dance music should play especially well here if he brings along his Schwarzenegger visuals. (Gobi, 4-4:50)

ALSO

JENS LEKMAN The Swedish crooner’s mellow, moody folk-pop peaks at pleasant. (Mojave, 4:35-5:25)

BUSY P (Sahara, 3:40-4:40)

5 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ADAM FREELAND The Brighton DJ’s latest, “The Hate EP,” delivers grinding industrial dance music. (Sahara, 4:40-5:50)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

CUT COPY Dance, new wave, post-punk and even shoegazer flavors swirl in the Aussie group’s sound. (Gobi, 5:15-6:05)

ALSO

THE BREEDERS Kim and Kelley Deal’s music sounds bland and obscure on their band’s new album, “Mountain Battles,” with little of the Pixie-dusted rock of old. (Coachella, 5-5:50)

6 P.M.

DON’T MISS

DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP Monty Python with turntables? Broad British hip-hop from a duo bursting with personality and a homemade charm. (Gobi, 6:30-7:20)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MUM Miasmic, meditative chamber pop from Iceland. (Mojave, 5:50-6:45)

VAMPIRE WEEKEND The New Yorkers are simultaneously riding a buzz and battling the backlash, which should add an edge of challenge to their set. (Outdoor, 5:40-6:30)

TEGAN AND SARA The twin sisters from Canada bring tart harmonies and sharp attitude to their arty folk-pop. (Coachella, 6:15-7:05)

ALSO

SANDRA COLLINS (Sahara, 5:50-7)

7 P.M.

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

THE NATIONAL The Brooklyn band’s shadowy, contemplative mood-rock can be demanding, but is usually rewarding as well. (Outdoor, 6:55-7:45)

DIPLO Two of the Philadelphia DJ-producer’s collaborators are on hand this weekend -- M.I.A. and Bonde Do Role. (Sahara, 7-8)

ALSO

GOLDFRAPP Dance diva Alison Goldfrapp gets all ambient on her new album, which might actually suit her remote stage demeanor. (Mojave, 7:10-8)

8 P.M.

DON’T MISS

SANTOGOLD See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5. (Gobi, 7:45-8:35)

AESOP ROCK One of underground rap’s perennial forces. (Mojave, 8:20-9:10)

APHEX TWIN One of electronic music’s founding fathers. (Sahara, 8-9)

ALSO

THE SWELL SEASON The underdog duo’s scrappy sincerity in the indie movie hit “Once” won audience hearts and a best-song Oscar, but Glen Hansard’s intensity can verge on the overbearing. (Outdoor, 8:25-9:15)

9 P.M.

DON’T MISS

THE VERVE The original four members of the English band have been back together for half a year now, so maybe we’ll get back to the promise of the early days and “Bitter Sweet Symphony.” (Coachella, 9-10:10)

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS The New York singer and her band are arguably today’s most formidable carrier of soul music tradition. (Mojave, 9:35-10:25)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

DATAROCK A touch of “Flight of the Conchords” humor brightens the Norwegian band’s spare, jokey indie rock. (Gobi, 9-9:45)

PENDULUM The U.S. debut of an Australian outfit that applies a rock force to its dance music. (Sahara, 9:20-10:20)

10 P.M.

DON’T MISS

SERJ TANKIAN System of a Down’s eccentrically flamboyant singer connected with fans last year with his own poetically political album, “Elect the Dead.” (Outdoor, 9:55-10:45)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

SPANK ROCK Experimental hip-hop via Baltimore. (Gobi, 10:05-10:50)

11 P.M.

DON’T MISS

BLACK LIPS Raw, garage psychedelia from the Atlanta-based progeny of “Psychotic Reaction.” The perfect time slot for the anti-Jack Johnson. (Gobi, 10:50-11:40)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

FATBOY SLIM One of the early heroes of the dance music world returns. (Sahara, 10:45-12)

PROFESSOR MURDER The New Yorkers’ dance-punk is playful and aggressive. (Gobi, 11:10-12)

ALSO

JACK JOHNSON Unless the headliner has had a metabolism transplant recently, the opening day figures to end on a mellow if not drowsy note. (Coachella, 10:45-12)

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Saturday

NOON

DON’T MISS

THE BIRD AND THE BEE L.A. singer Inara George taps her jazzy side in partnership with Greg Kurstin. (Mojave, 12:30-1:10)

ALSO

JUPITER’S RING (Outdoor, 12:30-1)

INSTITUBES DJs Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic. (Sahara, 12-1:30)

1 P.M.

DON’T MISS

THE TEENAGERS Parisian band whose satirical social observations can get outrageously graphic, not to mention insanely catchy. (Mojave, 1:30-2:10)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

VHS OR BETA In the XTC lineage, the Louisville band’s thick sound and plaintive feel straddle indie and power pop. (Coachella, 1:35-2:20)

YOAV A Mika from the dark side? Catchy and theatrical, but with an ominous edge. (Gobi, 1-1:30)

LITTLE BROTHER Solid, smart alt-rap from North Carolina. (Outdoor, 1:15-2)

ALSO

UFFIE FEATURING DJ MEDHI (Sahara, 1:30-2:20)

2 P.M.

DON’T MISS

MAN MAN Like another MM, Modest Mouse, this Philadelphia five-piece makes heady, eccentric music, zipping from frenetic cartoon soundtrack to tipsy cabaret. (Mojave, 2:30-3:15)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

CARBON/SILICON The Clash’s Mick Jones, teaming with Generation X’s Tony James, remains thoughtful and provocative. (Gobi, 1:45-2:35)

ALSO

DREDG Big, prog-leaning rock. (Outdoor, 2:20-3:10)

KAVINSKY French techno from Vincent Belorgey. (Sahara, 2:20-3:10)

3 P.M.

DON’T MISS

DEVOTCHKA See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5. (Outdoor, 3:35-4:25)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MINUS THE BEAR The Seattle band can seem a little formal, but their grand, complex soundscapes are seeped in yearning and melancholy. (Coachella, 2:45-3:35)

120 DAYS A derivative but effective clatter-and-whoosh entry in the tradition of Joy Division and the Jesus and Mary Chain. (Gobi, 3-3:45)

ALSO

JAMES ZABIELA (Sahara, 3:10-4)

4 P.M.

DON’T MISS

COLD WAR KIDS One of L.A.’s most intense and creative bands, ranging from complex sonic structures to earthy, primal wail. (Coachella, 4-4:50)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

BONDE DO ROLE The group’s Brazil-hop is festive, spare and percussive, heavy on the drums and shakers. (Gobi, 4:05-4:55)

MGMT Prog tendencies jostle with Bowie pop touches in the band’s exotic psychedelia. (Mojave, 3:40-4:30)

ALSO

BOYZ NOIZE (Sahara, 4-5)

5 P.M.

DON’T MISS

CAFE TACUBA Elusive and enigmatic, the Mexico City band is never predictable but always challenging. “Sino,” its latest album, is straightforward and song-based. (Coachella, 5:15-6:05)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS The indie guitar-rock eminence hits some peaks on his new album, “Real Emotional Trash,” but misses the magic of Pavement. (Outdoor, 4:50-5:40)

ST. VINCENT Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens associate Annie Clark mounts ambitious pop symphonies with flavors of jazz, classical and avant-garde. (Gobi, 5:20-6:10)

ALSO

KATE NASH The English singer-songwriter has a way with a melody and a lacerating verse, but she was in over her head at the Troubadour in January. (Mojave, 4:55-5:45)

EROL ALKAN (Sahara, 5-6)

6 P.M.

DON’T MISS

HOT CHIP One of the talked-about acts at Coachella ‘07, the synth-rocking Brits have a new album of plaintive, propulsive material to add to their set. (Sahara, 6:10-7)

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The Seattle band has staked out turf as the pensive-pop voice of the post-grunge era, but look for signs of a harder approach on their upcoming album. (Coachella, 6:30-7:20)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

SCARS ON BROADWAY Debut of the new project from System of a Down singer-guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan. (Mojave, 6:10-6:45)

DWIGHT YOAKAM The Kentucky native, who also plays Stagecoach next weekend, got his start in L.A.’s rock clubs before his country success. (Outdoor, 6:05-6:55)

CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA Heidi Vogel will sing the soulful leads in front of the jazz-tinged art-rock ensemble. (Gobi, 6:35-7:20)

7 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ISLANDS This offshoot of Montreal indie fave the Unicorns has gone through some changes since its 2006 album of fanciful and philosophical folk-pop. (Mojave, 7:10-8)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

RILO KILEY “Under the Blacklight” has become the subject of great debate among fans of the L.A. band: Adventurous experiment or a commercial concession? (Outdoor, 7:20-8:10)

YO! MAJESTY Florida alterna-rappers are fun and in-your-face. (Gobi, 7:40-8:20)

ALSO

JUNKIE XL Tom Holkenborg has a new album called “Booming Back at You.” (Sahara, 7:05-8:05)

8 P.M.

DON’T MISS

M.I.A. The Londoner’s polyglot hip-hop reflects her home city’s cross-cultural currents and her Sri Lankan heritage. Her dance-tent set should be a focal point of the weekend. (Sahara, 8:20-9:10)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MARK RONSON Last year Amy Winehouse was a Coachella hit; now her producer brings his soul sounds, and a Grammy. (Outdoor, 8:35-9:25)

ALSO

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (Mojave, 8:25-9:15)

9 P.M.

DON’T MISS

PORTISHEAD Coachella ‘08’s centerpiece reunion finds the popularizers of trip-hop as ethereally mysterious on their new album as they were in their 1990s prime. (Coachella, 9:15-10:15)

YELLE See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5. (Mojave, 9:30-10:20)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

AKRON/FAMILY The folk-rooted collective from Pennsylvania absorbs a panoply of influences in its tribal psychedelia. (Gobi, 8:40-9:30)

SASHA & DIGWEED Prominent English DJ team’s first North American tour in six-plus years. (Sahara, 9:10-11:10)

10 P.M.

DON’T MISS

CALVIN HARRIS The Scotsman brings a dry deadpan voice, good tunes and a wry attitude to his vintage dance rock. (Gobi, 9:55-10:45)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

FLOGGING MOLLY Irish-flavored songs as channeled through the Clash. (Outdoor, 9:50-10:40)

11 P.M.

DON’T MISS

PRINCE See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5. (Coachella, 10:45-12)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

ABOVE & BEYOND The U.K. trance trio is the force behind the admired Anjunabeats label. (Sahara, 11:10-12)

ALSO

ENTER SHIKARI (Mojave, 10:45-11:35)

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Sunday

NOON

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

BRETT DENNEN Coffeehouse time with an earnest, twangy-voiced troubadour. Did he just rhyme “Colorado” and “garage door”? (Gobi, 12:30-1:15)

ALSO

VAS DEFRANS Jammin’ prog from a North Hollywood band. (Outdoor, 12:45-1:10)

INSTITUBES (Sahara, 12-2)

1 P.M.

DON’T MISS

LINTON KWESI JOHNSON The dub poet was a vital figure in the punk era, setting his verses to reggae music and unleashing a fiery political dialogue. (Gobi, 1:25-2:10)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

GRAND OLE PARTY Rilo Kiley’s Blake Sennett produced the debut album by the San Diego-based soul-blues classicists.

(Outdoor, 1:20-2:05)

ALSO

PLASTICINES The pop-punk girl-group from France doesn’t bring anything new to the conventional moves. (Mojave, 1-1:30)

AUSTIN TV Rigorous, proggy instrumentals, played by costumed and masked musicians. (Coachella, 1-1:45)

2 P.M.

DON’T MISS

THE COOL KIDS The Chicago duo’s sly, retro hip-hop has earned a strong following. (Coachella, 2-2:40)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

THE ANNUALS Elegant, reflective chamber-pop from Raleigh, N.C.

(Mojave, 1:45-2:25)

PERRY FARRELL Whether with Jane’s Addiction, Satellite Party, or as a DJ, as he is here, the L.A. rock jester is a Coachella perennial.

(Sahara, 2-2:45)

SEAN PENN Hey kids, listen up, Mr. Penn has something to say. He’s back later on the main stage. (Gobi, 2:10-2:40)

ALSO

ELECTRIC TOUCH The Austin band’s rock urgency tends to tip into heavy-handedness. (Outdoor, 2:30-3:20)

3 P.M.

DON’T MISS

I’M FROM BARCELONA Ambitious, clever music and imaginative storytelling combine in a sparkling entertainment. (Mojave, 2:45-3:30)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

HOLY F The Toronto electronic band backed rapper Beans here in ’05. Now its analog gear is front and center in all its duct-taped glory. (Gobi, 2:50-3:35)

SHOUT OUT LOUDS The Swedish band’s yearning, melodic anthems suggest a possible name change: Renew Order. (Coachella, 3-3:50)

ALSO

DIMITRI FROM PARIS (Sahara, 2:45-4)

4 P.M.

DON’T MISS

DUFFY A rising force in Britain, the soul-rooted singer has a more interesting take on retro than, say, Joss Stone. (Mojave, 3:55-4:40)

STARS The day’s other Canadian band with a compelling female voice (Amy Millan) and powerful vision (also see Metric). (Coachella, 4:15-5:05)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA Maybe the weekend’s closest thing to emo -- vulnerable, reedy-voiced rock that ranges from forceful to intimate. (Outdoor, 3:45-4:35)

THE FIELD Swedish techno-crat Alex Willner had a winning hit with “From Here We Go Sublime.” (Gobi, 4-4:45)

ALSO

DEADMAU5 (Sahara, 4-5)

5 P.M.

DON’T MISS

GOGOL BORDELLO Their rocked-up klezmer is inherently theatrical, made to order for a festival setting. (Coachella, 5:30-6:20)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

SWERVEDRIVER Not the weekend’s most heralded reunion, but the influential shoegazer band is back with its bracing guitar clamor. (Mojave, 5:05-5:55)

AUTOLUX The L.A. trio’s noise pop is rigorous and rewarding. (Outdoor, 5-5:50)

BOOKA SHADE Lean, bubbly minimalism from a German electronic duo.

(Sahara, 5-5:50)

DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? Cheeky next-wave electro quartet from Reading, England. (Gobi, 5:10-6)

6 P.M.

DON’T MISS

SPIRITUALIZED See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5.

(Mojave, 6:20-7:20)

KID SISTER WITH A-TRAK The effervescent Chicago rapper teams with Kanye West’s DJ. (Gobi, 6:20-7:20)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

METRIC Singer Emily Haines provides a riveting focus to the Toronto band’s sinewy rock. (Outdoor, 6:15-7:05)

ALSO

SEAN PENN See 2 p.m. (Coachella, 6:45-7)

DANNY TENAGLIA (Sahara, 5:50-7:50)

7 P.M.

DON’T MISS

MY MORNING JACKET See Critic’s Picks, pages 4-5. (Coachella, 7-8)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

LOVE AND ROCKETS Coachella had Bauhaus a couple of years ago. This time the goth slot is filled by its offspring. (Outdoor 7:30-8:25)

8 P.M.

DON’T MISS

ROGER WATERS Is his headlining presence the reason for Coachella ‘08’s progressive-rock subtext? His live “Dark Side of the Moon” would have more cachet if he hadn’t toured with it in the past, or if he were joined by the rest of Pink Floyd. But there’s plenty of time to drop by to see what it means for the Coachella aesthetic. (Coachella, 8:30-11)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MODESELEKTOR Thom Yorke guested on the Berlin electronic team’s last album. (Sahara, 8-9)

SIA The Australian’s meticulously controlled, soul-tinged singing is set in a bed of plush, orchestrated pop. (Mojave 7:45-8:35)

9 P.M.

DON’T MISS

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO “Attack Decay Sustain Release” was one of last year’s most creative and aggressive dance-rock collections. (Sahara, 9-9:50)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

MURS The veteran L.A. rapper is a reliable source of personable hip-hop. As he puts it in a verse, “Tryin’ to walk that fine line between intelligence and innocence.” (Mojave, 9-9:50)

10 P.M.

DON’T MISS

CHROMEO Armed with vocoder, fat synth and funny lyrics, the Montreal cut-ups and their giddy, symphonic/electronic funk are perfect counterprogramming to Roger Waters.

(Sahara 10-10:50)

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

BLACK MOUNTAIN Americana-cum-psychedelia, stomping and pounding back to ‘60s San Francisco.

(Mojave, 10:15-11:05)

11 P.M.

DON’T MISS

JUSTICE The dance-rock duo has led the French mini-invasion, stamping the Southland with its monster beats with repeated appearances in the last year.

(Sahara, 11-12)

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COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

WHERE: Empire Polo Field, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio

WHEN: Friday through Sunday

PRICE: 3-day passes, $269 (single-day passes sold out)

INFO: www.coachella.com