This past weekend, Indio, California saw the return of over 120,000 festivalgoers attending the second weekend of Coachella at the Empire Polo Grounds. Sporting a diverse and impressive lineup, music fans of different backgrounds, genres, and ages flooded the desert for the world’s most influential annual music spectacle.
Seasoned Coachella attendees often claim the second weekend is more music-focused compared to its counterpart, weekend one. Gone were many of the major brand affairs, celebrity entourages, and curated influencer fits, replaced with a crowd seemingly living in the moment instead.
Throughout the weekend, the crowds felt loose and less crowded, with reasonable lines festival-wide. Across three days, multiple stages, and dozens of acts, this weekend managed to be both unpredictable and consistently memorable.
FRIDAY
When I arrived to the festival grounds Friday – accompanied by a cool wind and partly cloudy sky – I immediately felt the energy of the ecstatic crowds, all anticipating a weekend of incredible music.
Half after five, The Go-Go’s took to the outdoor theater stage, and the Rock Hall of Famers performed a 50-minute, energy-packed set.
The audience was full of nostalgia-driven smiles, and the band began with one of their classics, “Vacation.”
Their set included some of their deeper cuts, like “Tonite” and “Get Up and Go,” before switching to their biggest hits, “Head Over Heels,” “This Town,” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.”
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The set concluded with a surprising mash-up between the band’s monster hit, “We Got the Beat,” transitioned into Chappell Roan’s hit, “Hot to Go!” Overall, The Go-Go’s put on a fantastic performance, successfully closing out their Coachella adventure.
Following the female-driven energy of The Go-Go’s, Tyla kicked things off with the perfect balance of pop charisma and her unique, South African style. Backed by energetic dancers, Tyla moved through her biggest tracks like “Jump” and “PUSH 2 START,” but the set’s clear peak was her most popular hit, “Water.”
She previewed a new song that quickly made its rounds on social media, exciting both her Coachella audience and fans globally. Fans sang along in the packed crowd as she put on an impressive performance and dance choreography, concluding with her dancing in a shallow pool to “Water.”
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Missy Elliott delivered one of the most lively, crowd-hyping performances of the weekend. Kicking off her set with UFO visuals, voiceovers, laser lights, and an army of dancers, she launched into her classic hits like “Work It,” “Get Ur Freak On,” and “Gossip Folks.”
The audience was a diverse mix of ages, showing firsthand the timeless appeal of her catalog. Her set was a celebration of her legacy, full of love, energy, and futuristic-retro flair. Elliott concluded with “Lose Control,” a perfect, vibrant conclusion to her Coachella set.
Lady Gaga closed Friday with a headlining set that was less a concert and more a full-blown opera. Split into multiple theatrical acts and named after her most recent album, “Mayhem” was a dark, choreographed, and conceptually rich experience.
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Gaga danced in a cage, performed from a sand burial, and fought versions of herself. It was easily the most extravagant and complex performance of the whole festival, proving how impactful live performances can be.
The visuals of her set looked like they came straight out of a Wes Anderson film with their color palette and unique subject matter. Even after experiencing mic issues early on, she elegantly worked through them without skipping a beat.
Gaga easily commanded the entire crowd through tracks like “Poker Face,” “Judas,” “Born This Way,” and new material from “Mayhem.”
Gaga reminded everyone what it means to headline Coachella, creating an impactful visual and musical experience for everyone who was lucky enough to watch.
SATURDAY
Saturday saw the best day weather-wise, comfortable with temperatures peaking in the mid-80s, and only minimal wind – just a light breeze compared to Friday’s chilly evening gusts.
Ed Sheeran, a surprise, last-minute addition to weekend two’s lineup, turned in a wildly impressive afternoon performance at the seemingly small Mojave Tent. Even before Sheeran reached the stage, the tent was overflowing with fans, unsurprising considering his popularity.
Armed only with a loop pedal, keyboard and guitar, Sheeran built each song live, layering vocals and instrumentation into full arrangements.
Songs like “Thinking Out Loud,” “Photograph,” and his new single “Azizam” turned the packed tent into a sing-along session. Fans of all ages were invested from start to finish, reminded of how many hits he has. His nonstop charisma and storytelling grounded the set, making the huge crowd feel like an intimate pub performance.
Jimmy Eat World braved the sun for a late afternoon set, and the Arizona emo veterans delivered a packed, 50-minute performance.
Featuring hits like “Sweetness” and “Bleed American,” by the time they reached “The Middle,” fans from not just the main stage but also the unsuspecting surrounding crowds sang along.
Despite undoubtedly burning in his all-black outfit, lead Jim Adkins put on an incredible performance. It was a reminder of the group’s impact and still present relevance today, with their early 2000’s emo rock sound filling the desert.
Singer-songwriter Clairo gave a calm, dreamlike performance on the outdoor theater stage. Her set felt like a vintage ‘70s show, with simple black and white visuals paired with her band arranged in circles on a stage designed like a vintage talk show set. Surrounded by an impressive live band, clarinet, and sax solos, she created an intimate space that felt like a summer picnic at golden hour.
Fans swayed quietly, couples danced, and barely any phones were in sight. It was a sharp contrast to Charli’s high-energy rave, and a needed one, especially with Green Day and Travis Scott following.
Her live version of “Sofia” closed out the set with a crowd-wide sing-along.
Green Day hit the main stage right after, and they didn’t hold back. Front-man Billie Joe Armstrong said weekend two is always better, and the band seemed determined to prove it.
They played back-to-back hits with force: “American Idiot,” “Holiday,” “Know Your Enemy,” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” The entirety of their set was full of impressive lighting, pyrotechnics, and never-ending fireworks filling the sky.
Green Day attracted one of the festival’s largest crowds, with fans spilling out across the fields surrounding the large stage. Billie Joe Armstrong’s crowd interaction, including political jabs and a Charli XCX “Brat” hat moment gave the set some extra Green Day bite. The ket reminded audiences of all ages of the awe of a great rock performance and what a headliner should deliver.
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They added some new songs for weekend two, like a cover of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.” Towards the end of the set, Armstrong invited a fan on stage to play guitar for a song, giving her a wholesome rock star spotlight moment that had the audience beaming.
They finished their incredible performance with an emotional rendition of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” The band members hugged at the front of the stage, waving out at the immense crowd as smoke from the impressive firework show clouded around them.
The Original Misfits played the final set at the outdoor theater and delivered a master class in entertaining chaos. Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only ran through 20 songs, including favorites like “Hybrid Moments,” “Astro Zombies,” and “We Are 138.”
Danzig threw water bottles at the crowd, cursed festival prices, debated the LA fires, and made no apologies, sticking to his offbeat and unfiltered ways. The production was minimal, relying on the music and crowd energy to carry the set. The crowd, though smaller, was passionate and seemed to get everything they came for.
Travis Scott closed the night with a high-production show impressively featuring a marching band, rising circular stage, pyrotechnics, and floating dancers. Don Toliver and Sheck Wes made appearances for their hits “Mo Bamba” and “Bandit,” and Scott even walked vertically across a set wall during his song “Skyfall.”
Fans were moshing in every direction, and the energy was sky-high until the very end through his hits like “FE!N” and “Sicko Mode.” The marching band was a consistent nice addition, creating a grand, powerful atmosphere. Scott closed his set with one of the slower songs off his most recent album, “Utopia,” “TELEKINESIS.” His performance concluded around 1 a.m., ending Saturday on an undoubtedly energetic note.
SUNDAY
Bob Vylan kicked off Sunday afternoon with a politically charged, no-frills English punk set in the Sonora tent. The vocal and drum duo, Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan, perfected their performance featuring elements of grime, punk rock and hip hop on Sunday.
Behind them in large red lit letters was the sentence “BOB VYLAN IS KILLING PUNK ROCK.” They tore through tracks like “We Live Here,” “Hunger Games,” and “I Heard You Want Your Country Back,” to the crowd’s excitement. Their message-heavy performance drew a vibrant crowd and set an early tone for the day’s repeating theme of passionate performances.
BigXthaPlug brought Texas rap energy to the Gobi tent at sunset. The tent was packed with fans of all ages and backgrounds. Even if many didn’t know the lyrics, the crowd vibed hard and had a good time. He brought out a few of his artists, along with rap country star, Shaboozey, to perform their song “Drink Don’t Need No Mix.” This was a breakthrough moment for him as Coachella rarely highlights up-and-coming rappers, so he made sure to make the most of it. Across his set, he performed all of his hits, including “Mmhmm,” “Texas,” and “Back on My BS.”
Kraftwerk, the electronic pioneers, delivered a renewed, retro-futurist performance. Their visuals were minimal but effective, with distinctive lighting, futuristic outfits, and “Blade Runner”-esque visuals. For longtime fans, it was a rare and special set, while for newcomers, it was a reminder of where so much modern music originated.
The sound, visuals, and music, despite being from a band from the ‘70s, still managed to sound fresh and modern. Their set featured songs from throughout their discography, including “Autobahn,” “Computer Love,” “Radioactivity,” and “The Robots.”
Post Malone closed off the entire festival with a laid-back, country-infused performance that leaned into his new sound. Smoking and drinking on the street bridge set, he gave emotional speeches and played acoustic versions of hits like “Circles” and “I Fall Apart.” Many of his songs that originated as pop and hip hop hits were adapted into his recent country style, and performed by his full band.
Throughout the night, Malone expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and stopped the show multiple times to make sure fans were safe. Ed Sheeran made a guest appearance where he played Swae Lee’s portion of Post Malone’s “Sunflower,” in a light-hearted, unexpected collaboration. Country artist Jelly Roll appeared towards the end of the set, with a joint performance of their song “Losers.” While his new country style isn’t for everyone, Post Malone’s sincerity and humility made for a heartfelt close to a long weekend.
Coachella 2025 weekend two was an enduring, diverse, and consistently surprising experience. The weather shifted each day, along with the energy; from the impressive intensity of Gaga, to Green Day’s rock representation, to Missy Elliott’s dance party, to Clairo’s evening calm.
There was music for everyone to enjoy, no matter your favorite genre. While Coachella continues to evolve, there’s still room for legacy acts, emerging artists, and most importantly, a welcoming environment for all types of music to be enjoyed.
