With Saturday's headliner Phoenix, the French alt-rock group, and the beloved-but-familiar Red Hot Chili Peppers closing the three-day weekend on Sunday, it seemed as if Coachella had settled on lesser acts after failing to, or choosing not to, book the recently rejuvenated David Bowie or the Rolling Stones, who will headline this summer's Glastonbury Festival in England.

WSJ: The State of Things | Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival | Jim Fusilli

Each nomiya (drinking place) is vastly different to the next, themed to punk rock, French Nouvelle Vague cinema or old Nintendo video games.

BBC: A golden slice of old Tokyo

They make a gleeful racket, smashing together French chanson, American garage rock, and Beatle-esque pop, with Casio keyboard vamps and quirky computer sampling.

NPR: Cosmopop: European Music with a Global Flavor

In early 2011, Threeprom opened barfry, a high-end French fries bar that serves paprika and rock salt fries in paper cones, along with an impressive selection of homemade sauces and additional toppings such as pickles, fried onions, jalapenos and pork rinds.

BBC: Chiang Mai��s global gastronomic scene

Homegrown French music isn't limited to pop, rock, or even more traditional chanson these days.

NPR: In France, a Revolution on the Pop Charts

The group's latest album, ReCreations, continues this international trajectory, and includes collaborators as varied as French actor Vincent Cassel, neo-soul singer Bilal and rock-blues singer-guitarist G.

NPR: Zap Mama: New 'ReCreations' In The Studio

If you intend to stay in the French Quarter, check out One-Eyed Jacks, consistently one of the best rock music venues in the American South.

BBC: The other New Orleans soundtrack