Marina Bravo
Staff Writer
The music finally made its way back to the Coachella Valley for the annual two-weekend music festival Coachella. Weekend two of the festival kept the party and energy going April 18-20.
Featuring a diverse collection of music genres including pop, rock, hip-hop and with the rising popularity of raves, electronic dance music, or EDM. The festival’s headliners included Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone and special guest Travis Scott.
The music started at 1 p.m. Friday and continued all the way through Sunday night ending at midnight the next morning. The festival had many entertaining opportunities to offer guests aside from just the music.
From arts and crafts, cooling areas, various food and drink options to the ferris wheel and the SPECTRA rainbow tower, a seven-story spiral walk-way art piece that has become a tourist attraction for the festival. Where guests are able to walk through and cool down while enjoying a journey of a color-changing rainbow walk through and a view of the festival grounds.
Guests also had the opportunity to camp on the festival grounds with the various camping packages offered along with ticket purchase.
When news broke out about the first weekend camper horror stories, many guests were worried. However, Coachella staff took all the opinions and made adjustments to better the experience for weekend two campers.
First-time camper Haleypink Garcia mentioned how the camp experience was very kind to her. Garcia shared that she arrived on Thursday and it took a total of three hours of waiting in because of car searching before they allowed each party to enter camp grounds.
“I understand…[Coachella] was taking the precautions and prioritizing safety,” Garcia said.
Garcia also shared how Coachella also had all kinds of activities and resources for campers aside from everything offered inside of the festival grounds.
“[The campgrounds] had so many fun activities with smaller [DJ] sets,” Garcia said. “They had food vendors, and even a mini convenience store.”
Day one of the festival or as many guests and specifically the “Little Monsters” put it, GAGA-chella featured many rising artists like Lola Young, The Marias and DJO. Along with other big name artists and many DJs known in the rave community.
Day two the festival grounds were divided and in many areas it turned a lime green color or “brat” green as concert-goers anticipated the performance by Charli XCX and also many wore their best attire to rock out with Green Day. Performances by Yo Gabba Gabba!, T-Pain, Clairo and The Original Misfits offered something for all guests to enjoy, young and old.
“My favorite set was definitely Charli XCX,” first time guest Maddie Castellanos said. “I was gagged from start to finish. Her stage presence was amazing.”
Day three the festival grounds transformed into a western-cowboy town with a modern twist, along with a few Easter bunny sightings. Many anticipated the performances from Megan Thee Stallion and Post Malone. With artists like Shaboozey, Junior H and Zedd to keep the vibes going as the sun began to set on festival grounds concluding the event.
With all these artists and activities, people had no choice but to have all kinds of fun and explore the world that is the Coachella festival. Many also shared how much community is present at the festival and how they were able to bond over their favorite artists.
“This year is my second year coming to Coachella,” returning camper Galilea Hernandez said. “It’s easy to make friends at a festival like Coachella.”
Coachella workers and volunteers also were able to join in on the fun festivities as well.
Coachella artist studio staff member Jovana Echeverria, shares how staff get their own camping resources and experiences and they’re also able to enjoy the festival acts. This is Echeverria’s second time volunteering and working at the festival and she returns because of the experience.
“I love hanging out with my friends and meeting new people,” Echeverria said.
Each Headliner act offered their own unique experiences for fans. Green Day offered energetic and headbanging-worthy music performances that let people explore their air-guitar abilities. Post Malone brought it down and prepared everyone for Stagecoach, the country music festival that will follow this weekend on the festival grounds.
One headliner however stood out to many and left many blown away. Her sweatshirts at the festival said “Mayhem in the Desert” which is what she brought to the festival.
Lady Gaga brought a theatrical experience for many guests. Debuting songs off of her newest album Mayhem mixing with classic songs like “Judas,” “Alejandro,” “Born this Way,” and hits “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face”
Coachella guests and Little Monsters were able to sing their hearts out throughout her entire set. Taking them on a journey of four acts. Each adding story to her music.
Many people shared that they came to the festival just for Gaga.
“The performance had so much story and it was so much like a play,” first time guest Danielle Bravo said. “My favorite part was when she performed The Beast and I was looking at my phone when she said ‘Tik-Tok 11:59’ I looked at my phone and that was the time…it blew my mind.”
Brooke Summers shared how she traveled from Iowa to come to the festival and how she has been to Coachella three times prior to this year and how she’s never seen anything like Gaga before.
Whether one enjoys Hip-Hop, Rock, EDM or theatrical performances like Lady Gaga, Coachella seems to be the spot to be.
For those who like to plan ahead, Coachella 2026 show dates are already set for April 10-12 and April 17-19. For more information, visit coachella.com.
Marina Bravo can be reached at marina.bravo@laverne.edu.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
