Fauxchella 2025 – The Bay Area Alternative

Most Bay Area music nerds are familiar with the Coachella Music Festival, and many of us even go to it. But then there’s a pretty large contingent of us who are quite happy attending Fauxchella. What’s Fauxchella? Why, it’s the unofficial nickname we gave to the time during, before and after the Coachella dates when all the bands play San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and other Bay Area music venues, often ones much smaller than they would otherwise play.

Ever since Coachella expanded to two weekends, Fauxchella started lasting for three weeks.That’s the opportunity to see well over 20 Coachella bands without dealing with I-5, LAX, or the hot sun.

Lots of other websites started using the term, too. That’s exciting! We’re always happy to start a trend. Just note that if some band playing Coachella happens to be in the Bay Area in February, that’s NOT Fauxchella; only shows within a week of the festival count. Lets not get greedy, Bay Area.

Fauxchella is a veritable musical feast, but it’s not without its challenges. There’s constantly tough decisions to be made about what show to go to, but in the end, you’re rewarded with a full set with a proper sound check, and plenty of flushing toilets. And then you get to sleep in your bed and start again the next day. A dedicated Fauxchella attendee can easily see 16-18 shows, and still spend less than one Coachella ticket.

So now, Spinning Platters presents the 2025 Fauxchella lineup. This page will be updated as new Fauxchella acts are announced. (Confirmed Coachella acts in bold.)