By H. Simmons –
Outdoor concert venues Coachella Fest and Stagecoach have magnified and enhanced the CV brand. “Coachella” has put the valley on the map for a whole new generation. Wildly successful and globally recognized, these events are a product of concert promoters Goldenvoice.
In 1999, Goldenvoice produced the first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Doing it for the love of music, rather than a love for money, the show was a loss. Giving it another try in 2001, they quickly found their groove and have been producing the festival ever since. Now, tickets for the event sell out in hours and 160,000 people attend over two weekends.
Stagecoach Festival was added in 2007 and includes classic country music, alterative country and bluegrass. Nearly 75,000 people attend. Both events are held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
Once again Goldenvoice is expanding their production prowess. But instead of great musical acts, it will host great medical acts.
April 4 through 7 Goldenvoice is sponsoring a free medical, dental and vision clinic at the Indio/Riverside County fairgrounds. Healthcare professionals from all over California are available to provide quality care for anyone who wants it.
The clinic will open at 5:30am each day and line-up for services begins at 3:00am. Patient entrance is at Gate 6 off Dr. Carreon Blvd, 82-503 Hwy 111 in Indio. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis with no income test or eligibility requirement of any kind to receive treatment.
RAM CA Expedition Coachella Valley (Remote Area Medical Foundation) is an all-volunteer charitable relief organization that hosts medically underserved areas. They do not charge for work and only seek the opportunity to provide care where it is most needed.
Two years ago, Goldenvoice President, Paul Tollett, approached the non-profit. “It’s wonderful that people care enough to help others,” said Pamela Congdon, RAM California President and Volunteer Coordinator. “Paul saw there was a need. The community has been so good to them he wanted to give back.” Goldenvoice will contribute an estimated $100,000, plus their expert coordination and production skills to ensure the event is a success.
This free medical clinic is the largest and most comprehensive the valley has ever hosted. Healthcare includes 50 dental chairs, up to15 medical exam rooms and 20 eye exam stations. Mobile vision labs will be able to produce free prescription eyeglasses on site. When Tollett saw the vision lab, he wanted to ensure it would be included as part of the CV clinic. RAM CA anticipates serving 800 people a day.
Lindsay Lyons, Publicist for Goldenvoice said it was not their policy to comment on the event. “We are not talking on the record,” Lyons said. Turns out she was not talking off the record either, and deferred all inquiries to Congdon.
Officially, RAM CA is holding the expedition at the invitation of the Coachella Valley Community Trust and is supported by the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, The Flying Doctors and Goldenvoice.
Goldenvoice is currently awaiting approval from the City of Indio for permission to increase the number of music festivals. They are looking to produce up to five events every year. It is a gracious and generous gesture that Goldenvoice would apply their golden touch as well as the golden rule and bring RAM CA Expedition Coachella Valley to the community. Perhaps RAM CA will be added to the annual Goldenvoice roster.
