Last Friday, festivalgoers from around the world headed to Indio, California to kick off the first weekend of the 23rd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The three-day event exceeded expectations with its stacked lineup of highly anticipated performances from world-class artists across genres and eras.
It’s safe to say the dance music community shone especially bright this year, with stages and performances so exciting that even A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift had to witness in person.
The Do LaB, Coachella’s key stage for electronic dance music, presented sets by the scene’s most talented artists on a newly designed stage that emulated an enchanted forest, setting the mood just right. Surprise guests included an impressive list of superstars from myriad genres, including SOFI TUKKER, Kaskade + Alison Wonderland, Adriatique b2b BLOND:ISH, DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak’s DJ persona who brought rappers Freddie Gibbs and MARIO), and Billie Eilish.
EDM DJs and iconic producers enjoyed immense traction throughout the festival’s stages, with one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend taking place at Coachella’s brand-new Quasar stage. Dedicated to dance music, its LED walls hosted unforgettable performances such as the emotional return of British megastar Michael Bibi after beating CNS lymphoma cancer.
Across the festival ground, the Sahara Tent extended to its largest capacity for a legendary performance by Peggy Gou. Argentine producer Bizarrap brought Shakira on stage, and powerhouses like Eric Prydz, Hardwell, and John Summit had attendees beaming.
Several artists experienced technical difficulties, such as Grime’s nightmare scenario on the decks that left the pop star/DJ visibly distressed. As with all major events, mishaps were bound to happen, but the highlights from the weekend far outweighed the lows.
From mesmerizing stages and mind-melting production to the intertwining of artists from different genres, the Coachella Valley magic is alive and well. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Weekend 2. Keep an eye on Coachella’s socials below for updates on set times, surprise guests, and more!
