With sunkissed shoulders and blistered feet, festival-goers gathered at the Empire Polo Club grounds for another day of music, surprises, and unforgettable moments. Unlike the star-studded spectacle of Weekend One, Day Two of Coachella Weekend Two was all about the music, drawing dedicated fans eager to immerse themselves in the diverse lineup of artists.
The day kicked off with a buzz of excitement as attendees flocked to the various stages, eager to catch their favorite acts.
From the iconic Coachella Stage to the pulsating Sahara Tent, there was no shortage of talent to be discovered.
At the Coachella Stage, fans were treated to electrifying performances by legendary bands like Blur, who informed the audience that this could be their “last gig ever”. Sublime, led by Jakob Nowell, in a poignant tribute to his father, brought waves of nostalgia with soulful renditions of classic tracks that have lived on despite the loss of Bradley Nowell 28 years ago. Jakob recently announced the revival of Sublime and is taking his father’s place as frontman of the band, using his father’s guitar to perform heartfelt renditions of Sublime’s discography from here on out.
Over at the Outdoor Theatre, Gesaffelstein mesmerized audiences with his hypnotic beats, while Jungle delivered a high-energy performance that had fans dancing into the night.
But it was Jon Batiste (warming up the Outdoors Stage before Jungle) that had jaws hitting the ground. Bastite captivates his crowd, with his soulful melodies and infectious energy, even inviting Nigerian singer Fireboy DML and Willow onstage for memorable collaborations this time around! In a fun twist, Batiste and his band dove into a horn-heavy medley that ended with “When the Saints Go Marching In” before playing a snippet of “Golden Slumbers” by The Beatles at the piano, resulting in tears streaming down faces of many audience members, before segueing into his hit song, “Butterflies”.
With only two minutes to spare, Batiste and his band brought the energy back up by parading into the crowd, creating an intimate and unforgettable moment.
On the other hand, Kid Cudi unfortunately was forced to cut his set short due to an injury he received jumping off the stage. Fans flooded the artist’s social media accounts with concern and well wishes after learning about the injury and his subsequent world tour cancellation.
Taking a break from the musical madness, vinyl junkies flocked en masse to the Vinyl Safari tent to celebrate national Record Store Day. The pop-up, air-conditioned tent offered not only new and used vinyl (at unbelievably good prices), there were a number of exclusive releases available just for Record Store Day! After combing the rows of physical presses (complete with a whole section dedicated to Coachella performing artist sections), attendees can have their records held at the tent under their name for the rest of the weekend for only $10! Plus, it came with a sweet canvas bag.
As we dug through the boxes, the Sonora Stage continued to showcase a myriad of emerging artists, including Brutalismus 3000 and The Red Pears, who riveted audiences with their raw talent and unique sound. But the surprises didn’t stop there. Ice Spice announced her debut album, Y2K, set to be released later this year, while Coi Leray thrilled fans by announcing a new song slated for release also later this year.
Back on the Coachella Stage, millennials everywhere felt like they got Gwen Stefani back.
No Doubt delivered a performance filled with nostalgic vibes that transported fans back to the 90s. An undeniable highlight of the show came when the band busted into the classic hit, “Just A Girl”. The audience was fully enthralled when Gwen Stefani asked just the men to sing the next chorus, adding a compelling and refreshing twist to the feminist anthem. And despite a skirt malfunction, Stefani did not miss a beat or dance step, proving her professionalism and stage presence. In a unique twist, No Doubt decided not to bring out a guest for Weekend Two, but those lucky enough to be standing at a certain angle could spot Blake Shelton and her oldest son, Apollo, beaming with pride from the side of the stage!
As the day drew to a close, Tyler, the Creator took the stage for a headlining performance that electrified the crowd. With a background set that can only be described as “Mars-esque” and draped in a forest ranger uniform, Tyler invited fellow Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt onstage, causing an enormous roar.
With ears ringing, the day’s sunburn settling in, and with exhaustion in their eyes, attendees made their way back to their beds with visions of the final day’s ventures dancing in their heads. Stay tuned for Day Three!
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