Madden + Richie's Coachella Break

Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden surprised his girlfriend Nicole Richie with a romantic weekend break to the Coachella music festival - taking their baby daughter Harlow with them.

The singer has been away on his band's European tour, leaving Richie at home with the three-month-old tot.

And Madden resolved to do something nice for his two favourite ladies - and whisked them off to Palm Springs, California, this weekend to catch the three-day music event.

He tells People.com, "(Nicole) hasn't been able to do a whole lot over the year, so we're having a little family trip."

"I (rented) a house and surprised Nicole with a weekend trip because she likes Coachella. She was like, 'I really want to go!' So I surprised her. We brought the baby."