The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival lit up Indio, California, as Lady Gaga took center stage, captivating festivalgoers with a dramatic set filled with cutting-edge visuals. She opened her performance with an intense artistic interpretation of her 2011 hit "Bloody Mary," which set the tone for a remarkable night. Attending the festival were a plethora of stars, including K-pop sensation Blackpink, whose member Lisa was spotted enjoying the performance of boy band Enhypen, after delighting her own fans.
Benson Boone, known for his single "Beautiful Things," surprised the audience by inviting rock legend Sir Brian May on stage for a spectacular rendition of Queen's classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody," which he performed while executing an impressive front flip. Actor Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were also spotted mingling with attendees on the festival's second day.
Blackpink’s Lisa, who recently starred in HBO's hit series "The White Lotus," received cheers from co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger, who shared clips of himself enjoying her song "Money." Other notable attendees included Justin and Hailey Bieber, singer Tate McRae, and Australian rapper The Kid Laroi, all caught dancing during Yeat's electrifying set.
Headline acts like Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, and Green Day contributed to a lineup that appealed to the festival's 100,000 attendees daily. Charli XCX, having recently won five Brit Awards, took the stage to deliver a nostalgic performance, inviting guests like Troye Sivan and Billie Eilish to join her for hits like "Guess."
Despite the celebrated performances, the festival faced challenges right from the start, with attendees experiencing long waits to enter due to a new reservation system for camping. Many fans reported sitting in traffic for up to 12 hours under the blazing desert sun, facing limited facilities.
As always, Coachella has been a platform for political expression, with Senator Bernie Sanders addressing the crowd before Clairo's set, urging younger generations to take action on pressing national issues. Green Day's lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong also used their stage time to address controversial political topics.
The festival, while filled with dazzling displays of musical talent and celebrity appearances, continues to evolve and face scrutiny over its changing dynamics, as evidenced by a recent survey highlighting concerns about influencer overshadowing. With a festival continuation next weekend, the excitement at Coachella remains palpable.
