By: Wes Hamilton
For those of us in the Valley, the desert isn’t exactly a novelty. But this past weekend, the four-hour drive down the I-10 led to a version of the desert that felt like a different planet. Coachella Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Club is officially in the books, and whether you were battling the dust in person or multi-tasking with the “four-stage view” on the YouTube livestream, there was plenty to talk about.
From surprise reunions to a 40-foot deep bunker, here is the breakdown of what actually went down in Indio.
The Main Stage: Pop Royalty and Polarizing Sets
The Coachella Stage saw a massive range of energy this year. Sabrina Carpenter proved her headliner status on Friday night, delivering a cinematic set fueled by hits and some unexpected star power, bringing out Will Ferrell and Susan Sarandon for a bit of surreal Hollywood flair.
Justin Bieber’s Saturday night headlining slot, however, became the talk of the internet for a different reason. While the nostalgia of his older hits hit home, the performance drew mixed reviews as he leaned heavily on YouTube videos, & started to get dragged into the memes.
Closing out the weekend, Karol G brought the hot Hispanic energy to the desert. The highlight? A guest appearance by Becky G to perform their anthem “MAMIII,” a moment that felt like a definitive victory lap for Latin music on the stage.
The Collaborations: A Weekend of “Did You See That?”
If Coachella is about one thing, it’s the “Surprises.”
- Teddy Swims turned his Friday afternoon set into a generational crossover event. Not only did he bring out Vanessa Carlton for a “A Thousand Miles” singalong, but he also swapped vocals with Joe Jonas and—in a move no one saw coming—joined Van Halen legend David Lee Roth for a high-energy rendition of “Jump!”
- Alternative fans got a treat when Sombr invited Billy Corgan to the stage. Seeing the Smashing Pumpkins frontman in the Coachella Valley heat felt like a nod to the festival’s 90s alt-rock roots.
- Swae Lee transformed the Sahara tent into a giant party, though his set was cut frustratingly short during “Black Beatles.” He still managed to win the crowd over by bringing his toddler out in a Spider-Man suit to toss sunflowers during—you guessed it—”Sunflower.”
The Newcomers & The Nightlife
Global girl group KATSEYE made a fierce Coachella debut, proving their choreography is festival-ready. They kept the energy high with guests EJAE, Audrey Nuna, & Rei Ami to sing Golden! Before debuting their new track, “Pinky Up.” Meanwhile, Addison Rae leaned into the “Pop Girly” aesthetic with a set that was heavy on crowd engagement and polished visuals.
For the EDM heads, David Guetta turned the Quasar stage into a massive open-air club. The scale was staggering—the crowd spilled so far back that the three-story “Red Bull Mirage” club behind the crowd was essentially absorbed into the pit.
The Art: Subterranean Bass and High-Tech Hippos
It wouldn’t be Coachella without the massive installations, and this year went for “immersion.”
- The Bunker: A collaboration with Radiohead, this new installation sits 40 feet below the desert floor. It’s a sensory-overload experience with surround-sound and floor-to-ceiling screens that offer a much-needed (and very cool) escape from the sun.
- The Hippos are Back: In a nod to classic Coachella lore, Goldenvoice brought back the “Corporate Hippos.” The new “Network Operations” installation features a chaotic server room run by actors in hippo suits, complete with a giant hamster wheel and squeaky chickens. If you’re attending Coachella you can actually watch the chaos through the windows. And If you’re watching the stream for Weekend 2, keep an eye out, the “Hippo Cam” tends to hijack the official broadcast every hour, and it is pure, unscripted comedy.
Looking Ahead to Weekend 2
If you missed out on the first round, don’t sweat it (literally). Weekend 2 kicks off this Friday. While nothing beats the physical scale of the Polo Club, the YouTube “Multiview” is the best way to catch the acts you missed while staying in the AC. I am so excited to see if there’s any more surprises for Weekend 2!
