In January, Coachella confirmed Bad Bunny as this year’s Friday headliner (April 14 and 21) — making him the first-ever Latin artist to headline the iconic festival — and one day ahead of what is sure to be an epic set, we finally know exactly what time Bad Bunny will take the Coachella Stage.
Coachella officially shared all set times for tomorrow, April 14, and Bad Bunny is expected to start his set at 11:25 p.m. PT on the Coachella stage.
The main stage will host Gorillaz (8:35 to 9:50 p.m.), Burna Boy (7:05 to 7:55 p.m.), Becky G (5:45 to 6:30 p.m.), Pusha T (4:30 to 5:15 p.m.), Doechii (3:30 to 4:10 p.m.), and Record Safari (2:50 to 3:25 p.m.) before giving way to Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny shared with Billboardtoward the end of last year that he envisioned this year as one for rest, so it would be wise to take advantage of watching him perform in any capacity.
“I’m taking a break,” he told the publication. “2023 is for me, for my physical health, my emotional health to breathe, enjoy my achievements. We’re going to celebrate. Let’s go here, let’s go there, let’s go on the boat. I have a couple of sporadic commitments, and I’ll go to the studio, but there’s no pressure. Remember yourself, cabrón. You’ve worked your ass off.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Festival attendees are restless for set times to know when to rush to stages to see their favorite performers, and finally, they’re out. Ocean’s highly anticipated set for the first weekend will be taking place at 10:05 p.m. PT on the Coachella stage, so concertgoers have to make sure to stick around late to catch him.
The Blonde musician was rumored to play Coachella before he was announced as a headliner. He was supposed to perform at the festival in 2020, which ended up being canceled due to COVID-19. He was unavailable for the 2022 dates, with festival co-founder Paul Tollett saying, “Right now, it’s the Wild West. I’m just trying to be as fair as I can to artists and to the fans to make sure that eventually they get to see everyone that we talked about.”
Other exciting acts taking the stage the same day as Frank include GloRilla, Fousheé, A Boogie With Da Hoodie, Latto, Rae Sremmurd, Sudan Archives, Noname, IDK, Dominic Fike, Willow, Pi’erre Bourne, and more. Find the full lineup here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Then, during a recent Instagram Live session (as Complex notes), The Weeknd told somebody off camera, “You just said ‘see you in the desert’ on Live. Exposed,” seemingly indicating that they “exposed” his surprise Coachella appearance.
On top of that, fan Twitter account @abelstargirllll shared a graphic of The Weeknd yesterday (April 12) and wrote, “THE WEEKND WILL PERFORM AT COACHELLA THIS YEAR.” While that in itself isn’t a big deal, The Weeknd retweeted the post.
The Weeknd could potentially make guest appearances during other sets, as some of his collaborators/associates are performing, like Metro Boomin, Calvin Harris, and Kaytranada. He could also pop up during Blackpink’s headlining performance, considering he and the group’s Jennie star in the upcoming HBO series The Idol together.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Coachella is nearly here: The first weekend starts tomorrow (Friday, April 14). Now, though, festivalgoers can start planning in more detail what they want the weekend to look like: Hours ago, Coachella unveiled the set times for the next few days (which include a previously unannounced performance from Blink-182).
Check out the set times for this first weekend below. All times are p.m. and PT.
Coachella is rapidly approaching. While you’re figuring out your artist itinerary, have you bothered to ask yourself what you’re going to eat? That might seem like less of a priority while you’re figuring out how to juggle seeing all your favorites hit the stage but you should probably know that like the musical lineup this year, the food lineup is stacked.
You’re not just going to be choosing whether to grab a slice of pizza or a cheeseburger, you’re going to have to decide if you’re down for a 16-course omakase and sake pairing, which Michelin-starred restaurant is worth your valuable time and money, which innovated chef is going to blow your mind and… well, which slice of pizza or cheeseburger you’re going to pick up.
With over 60 food vendors and hundreds of dishes, it’s a lot to take in, which is why we’re simplifying the process for you by shouting out the 10 food and drink spots and dishes we’re most hyped for. Since Los Angeles-based restaurants, bars, and food spaces are making an appearance this year, I’ve had a lot of personal experience with many of these menus, so I’m going to lean towards those since I can guarantee they’ll be mind-blowing. But, there are a few gems here from out of state that also come with a lot of hype.
I’m also going to put a special emphasis on handheld foods that you can eat on the go. As dope as a family-style dinner is, you’re at a music festival, so I’m going to assume you’re here for the music. Let’s get you back on the grounds ASAP. For a preview of the full culinary lineup, check out our exclusive look here.
Whether you’ve copped a VIP ticket or you’re just going general admission, every section of the festival gets some love on our list. We’re also telling you where on the grounds to find each vendor, and our best guess for the price (don’t expect us to be 100% on this, but expect us to be eerily close, we have our ways).
Let’s dive into the dishes and vendors you don’t want to miss at this year’s Coachella.
Bang Bang Noodles — Szechuan Garlic Noodles
Bang Bang Noodles
Expected Price: $16
Where To Find:
12 Peaks VIP
Why It’s Essential:
Started by brothers Nelson and Robert Lee, this LA street food turned brick-and-mortar food spot quickly gained notoriety and attention thanks to Robert Lee’s eye-catching mouth-watering flavor-packed take on Chinese Biang Biang noodles. Lee has extensive culinary experience and cut his teeth cooking in Michelin-star restaurants, which is why we’re excited for the Coachella crowd to get its first taste of Bang Bang’s now-famous Szechuan Garlic Noodles.
The noodle dish, which is served with your choice of beef or mushrooms, utilizes hand-pulled noodles, a gentle but flavorful Szechuan sauce, and appetizing garlic, onion, and cilantro aromatics that make the dish a treat for all of our senses.
Camphor — Le Cheeseburger
Camphor
Expected Price: $20.99
Where To Find:
12 Peaks VIP
Why It’s Essential:
One of Downtown Los Angeles’ culinary gems, Camphor is a modern bistro led by respected chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George and is all about combining casual and elevated eats (with a strong influence from Southeastern Asia) with classic French flavors and culinary techniques. It’s incredibly modern, and while the special Family-Style tasting menu the restaurant is bringing sounds appealing, we’re going to suggest you keep it simple with the Le Cheeseburger.
Hitting up a super trendy LA bistro and getting a burger might seem like a waste of Boonthanakit and George’s culinary expertise, but then sitting down for a family-style dinner in the desert also sounds like a vibe killer. The Le Cheeseburger will keep you on your feet while still treating your tastebuds to one of the best burgers you’ve ever had.
Seriously, the way the meat melts in your mouth is unlike any burger you’ve yet to experience, guaranteed, and the way it combines with the smoked gouda is absolute culinary perfection. Don’t forget the fries!
Dave’s Hot Chicken — Chicken Sliders
Dave
Expected Price: $16
Where To Find:
V7
Why It’s Essential:
Have you ever had a chicken sandwich that makes you exclaim after first bite, ‘This is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had’? Well, you will, once you bite into the Dave’s Hot Chicken Slider, and trust us when we tell you that, we’ve been ranking chicken sandwiches for a while now and while Dave’s has yet to appear on a list, right now in 2023, it’s our top pick, no contest.
Available in seven different heat levels (no spice, lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot, and reaper), this slider is topped with earthy kale slaw, thick-cut pickles, and Dave’s sauce, and instantly ignites your tastebuds and floods your brain with serotonin. The sauce is a mix of savory mayo, a bit of citrus, and a heavy blend of pepper, cayenne, and paprika, for a creamy and complex sauce that will blow your mind.
Yes, it’s that good. Go with whatever heat level you’re comfortable with, but we strongly suggest opting for mild or medium for the best experience that doesn’t feel like a challenge.
Kogi — Loaded Korean BBQ Fries
Kogi/ Terry Smith
Expected Price: $14
Where To Find:
Indio Central Market
Why It’s Essential:
When I found out Kogi wasn’t going to be bringing its delicious Korean tacos and burritos to the Coachella grounds, I was incensed. But knowing that they’ll be bringing the Loaded Korean BBQ fries in tow… I ain’t mad. A tricked-out take on the brand’s Korean Spiced Fries, the Loaded version features the same bed of beer-battered fries tossed with chili salt topped with cheese, caramelized kimchi, salsa rosa, crushed sesame seeds, and Kogi’s short ribs.
It’s the perfect marriage of Mexican and Korean flavors offering up a taste of Los Angeles that makes clear why the city is the ultimate culinary destination. That’s right, I said it, come at my NYC and Texas.
Ronan — Margherita Pie
Ronan
Expected Price: $23
Where To Find:
12 Peaks VIP
Why It’s Essential:
Helping to make the case that LA is just as good if not better than New York as a pizza hotspot, Chef Daniel Cutler’s Ronan delivers Neapolitan-style pizza that is always prepared with local produce and the finest ingredients and is the pizza spot at Coachella we’re the most psyched about. That’s partly because of the three or four in attendance, it’s the only one we’ve tried, but we wouldn’t suggest a pizza joint to you if it wasn’t absolutely mind-blowing.
While my instinct is to suggest the Spicy Chomper, which features tomato, soppressata, and a four-cheese blend, we’ve given enough love to the meat-eaters in this list, so we’re going to take some time to highlight the equally good Margherita.
Made with San Marzano tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and pecorino Calabrese, this Margherita pizza is fresh, fragrant, sweet, savory, and light, while still satisfying the way a meat pie does with the perfect fire-charred crust.
You don’t want to miss this pizza spot, especially if you’re an East Coaster who thinks the great pizza debate is settled.
Block Party — Malamente
Block Party
Expected Price: Unknown
Where To Find:
Outdoor Theater Bar
Why It’s Essential:
No bar captures the magic of Los Angeles quite like visiting Block Party at golden hour. With a great soundtrack and communal vibe, the Highland Park staple is one of our very favorite bars in all of Los Angeles so I’m excited to see how Block Party brings its magical vibe to Indio.
Since Block Party is bringing a special menu of headliner-themed drinks to Coachella, it’s a little hard to pick just one to be excited about so I’m just going to go with Malamente (not pictured), since it’s named for Rosalía, the artist I’m most excited to see.
The Malamente includes Malfi Gin with pink grapefruit, rosemary, and some CO2 for a fizzy body.
El Chino Grande — Chashao Roast Pork ’n Rice
El Chino Grande
Expected Price: $20
Where To Find:
Craft Beer Barn
Why It’s Essential:
El Chino Grande serves up Taiwanese night market street fare by way of modern San Francisco cuisine. With a menu headed by Chef Christoper Yang, a San Francisco Magazine Rising Star Chef award winner, we couldn’t be more psyched to try El Chino Grande’s Chashao Roast Pork ’n Rice which features a bowl of short grain rice topped with roast pork belly, chashao tare, cabbage slaw, pickles and togarashi mayo.
El Chino Grande is one of the few culinary experiences at Coachella I haven’t yet experienced, but the food pop-up is part of Hén-Zhì, the team of Marcelle Gonzalez Yang and Chef Christopher Yang who are also behind the SF Mission District food spot Piglet & Co, which is excellent! Considering El Chino Grande comes from the same genius minds, we’re psyched and confident enough to make the recommendation.
Cena Vegan — Big Vegan Nachos
Cena Vegan
Expected Price: $20
Where To Find:
Indio Central Market
Why It’s Essential:
Admittedly, there aren’t a lot of vegan food spots on this list. So, we couldn’t let you go without giving at least one strong suggestion for those who only consume a plant-based diet — be sure to hit up Cena Vegan. Not only is it one of the food options we’re most hyped for at this year’s Coachella, it’s one of the best vendors selling Mexican food at the entire festival, and I’m not sure if you know this or not, but you can make some seriously delicious Mexican food using only plant-based ingredients.
With a menu inspired by authentic Mexican street food, we can’t wait to try Cena Vegan’s Big Vegan Nacho Boat, which features the plant-based meat of your choice (al pastor-style, carne asada-style, carnitas-style, birria-style, polla asado-style, barbacoa-style) over a bed of freshly made tortilla chips, pico de Gallo, salsa, and guacamole. It’s so good even hardcore meat-eaters will be won over by the fresh flavors.
Trill Burgers — Trill OG Burger (Vegan Trill OG Burger)
Becca Wright/Trill Burgers
Expected Price: $15 / $18
Where To Find:
V7
Why It’s Essential:
I know we already highlighted a burger, but all do respect to Camphor and its ‘Le Cheeseburger,’ sometimes you just want a classic, greasy, no-nonsense smash burger, which is why we’re hyped to finally get a taste of Houston staple Trill Burgers.
The smash burger concept is beloved by Travis Scott, Buster Rhymes, TI, Juvenile, and Fat Joe, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for all of us! The Trill OG burger features two smash patties, curly caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles, and trill sauce, offering up all the classic burger staples without any of those watery vegetables like lettuce and tomato getting in the way.
Best of all, the Trill burger is also available with a plant-based meat patty, which means this is truly a burger spot for everyone!
PDT — Sweet Tea Smash
Eric Medsker/PDT
Expected Price: Unknown
Where To Find:
Secret Speakeasy Terrace South (access by finding a phone booth in the terrace)
Why It’s Essential:
The famed NYC speakeasy from the East Village, PDT (which stands for Please Don’t Tell), is coming to Coachella and even though I’ve never been to the OG PDT I have to admit, I’m intrigued. Partly because I’ve heard nothing but good things about PDT from east coast friends, and mostly because the speakeasy is located underground. We’re not talking about the NYC location, we mean at Coachella, PDT will be underground.
What does that mean? What will it look like? What will the vibe be? We just have to find out, and we’re willing to bet you feel the same way.
This is another place we’ll be going into blind so I’m just going to suggest the best-sounding drink on the menu, the Sweet Tea Smash (not pictured), which features iced tea, Smooth Ambler Bourbon, lemon, peach, and mint.
Now that Weekend One of Coachella 2023 is approaching, it’s never to early to start looking ahead to possible headliners for the festival’s next few years. This year, the wildly successful music and arts festival returns for the second showing of its post-COVID-19 era. Featuring headlining sets from chart-topping K-Pop phenom BLACKPINK, Grammy-winning R&B maestro Frank Ocean, and world-conquering reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, this year’s Coachella is certainly heavy on the star power. But, even though it feels as if Coachella tastemakers select the biggest and brightest of today’s music stars to headline the festival, there are still quite a few acts that have curiously not yet headlined. As exhilarating as record-breaking tours are, Coachella is still a dependable site for iconic cultural moments — from the still-shocking Tupac hologram in 2012 to Beyoncé’s legendary tribute to historically Black colleges and universities in 2018.
The ideal Coachella headliner should be popular enough to appeal to a wide demographic, respected as an artist that delivers quality work, have the ability to put on an arresting show in terms of physical performance and setlist sequencing, and, most importantly, have at least an hour and a half’s worth of undeniable hits and notable songs. The archetype of the Coachella headlining act has evolved dramatically over the past two decades, and with the latest edition of the festival boasting its most populist and globalist lineup yet — the possibilities are endless.
Here are 10 artists that could theoretically headline Coachella in the next few years:
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has been a cultural touchstone and musical force for the better part of two decades. With hits ranging from “Baby” and “Boyfriend” to “Sorry” and “Peaches,” The Biebs has been cranking out hits across five non-holiday studio albums — four of which have received Grammy nominations. Far removed from his bowl-cut days, Justin Bieber has grown from a teener-bopper phenomenon to a global powerhouse. He’s dipped into wide range of genres making him fit for a sprawling headlining set. He can supplement his standard Top 40 smashes like “Love Yourself” and “Ghost” with hits across reggaeton (“Despacito”), country (“10,000 Hours”), and afrobeats (“Essence”). Also consider: headlining Coachella could be a nice way to formally wrap up his Justice World Tour — which was unfortunately cut short due to health concerns. Of course, it’s not a requirement, but Bieber has a wide selection of surprise guests to pull from — Ludacris, Usher, Diplo, Wizkid, Tems, Daddy Yankee, Chance the Rapper, the list goes on. Plus, Bieber loves Coachella, and has appeared in sets from the likes of Daniel Caesar and Jack Ü.
Ed Sheeran
Having already headlined comparable festivals like Glastonbury, Ed Sheeran is an easy fit for a Coachella headlining slot. From “The A Team” and “Don’t” to “Perfect” and “Bad Habits,” the British singer-songwriter has a decade’s worth of hits to pull from — and we haven’t even mentioned smashes like “Shape Of You” or “Thinking Out Loud” yet. The timing also lines up particularly well. Ed could make a stellar 2024 headliner. He’s dropping his new album, – (Subtract), in May and the supporting tour for that record concludes in September, leaving him ample time to rest up and put together a fresh set for the following summer. On that front, Ed has been handling solo stadium shows for years now, and between his hilarious onstage banter and his riveting use of the loop pedal — he knows how to captivate a crowd. It also goes without saying that Ed’s reach extends across a wide range of audiences, and his potential surprise guests prove it. Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Burna Boy, Stormzy, Fireboy DML, and Chris Stapleton are all plausible choices for his set’s surprise element.
Taylor Swift
For an artist like Taylor Swift, headlining Coachella is undoubtedly a matter of “when,” not “if.” Currently in the midst of her record-breaking Eras Tour, Swift is the ideal Coachella headliner. With hits ranging from 2008’s “Teardrops On My Guitar” to 2022’s “Anti-Hero,” she has an overwhelming amount of songs to pull from, and her current tour — which pays tribute to each of her ten wildly successful studio albums — is refining her setlist sequencing skills each and every night. Taylor also understands how to steer the dynamism of her live shows; she’s equally capable of reigning over flashy stage production (think the moving “Look What You Made Me Do” platforms from the Eras Tour or the giant snake from her Reputation Stadium Tour) and crafting slower, more intimate moments with fan-favorite ballads like “Enchanted” or “All Too Well.” Moreover, if the timing works out, then Taylor could use a Coachella headlining set to commemorate finally releasing the remaining Taylor’s Version albums (her eponymous debut, Speak Now, 1989, and Reputation).
Rihanna
Sure, Rihanna has pretty much forsaken us to prioritize her makeup and lingerie empire (and who can really blame her?), but every now and then, Rihanna The Pop Star reemerges to placate our collective hunger. After returning with a pair of songs for the Academy Award-winning Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — including Best Original Song nominee “Lift Me Up” — Rihanna treated us to two performances that showed off different sides of her onstage capabilities. Although her headlining slot at the inaugural Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show received some lukewarm initial reviews, her set has proven to be a pop culture phenomenon, sparking trends that have reached high schools, nursing homes, and everywhere in between. Her heartfelt performance of “Lift Me Up” at the 95th Academy Awards also showed off her ability to handle a stage with just a microphone and a ballad. Between her most recent musical showings and a decade and a half’s worth of undeniable smash hits to her name, Rihanna can easily hold down a headlining set at Coachella. Whether she makes it a victory lap or the catalyst for a new album and tour, Rihchella is destined to be a career highlight. The “Love On The Brain” singer could also bring out jaw-dropping surprise gets like Jay-Z, SZA, Calvin Harris, Nicki Minaj, Buju Banton, and, of course, A$AP Rocky.
Dua Lipa
Although she only has two studio albums under her belt, Dua Lipa is more than ready to take on the Coachella mainstage. Between smash collaborations like “One Kiss” (with Calvin Harris) and her own staggering roster of solo hits — “New Rules,” “Levitating,” and “Don’t Start Now” among them — Dua’s catalog is more than capable of anchoring a headlining set. Last year, the three-time Grammy-winner embarked on her Future Nostalgia Tour which visited four different continents over the course of 82 shows. A true spectacle of fashion, vocals, choreography, and stage and lighting design, that concert tour helped further sharpen Dua’s stage presence and performance ability. With past performances at Glastonbury and We The Fest, Dua is already familiar with working festival crowds, and the historic number of streams her albums garner proves that audiences genuinely enjoy her music. The Future Nostalgia Tour featured supporting acts such as Megan Thee Stallion, Tove Lo, and Caroline Polacheck — all of whom are strong candidates for surprise guests. Nonetheless, Dua could also reunite Silk City (Diplo & Mark Ronson), bring out Calvin Harris, or treat festival goers to appearances from Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Miguel, Martin Garrix, or Miley Cyrus.
Nicki Minaj
After clinching the first solo female rap song to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in nearly 25 years — while in between album cycles, at that — Nicki Minaj is an easy pick to headline the Coachella Stage. The “Do We Have A Problem” rapper has enough hits to fill two Coachella sets with no repeats. She’s been handling legendary stages and arenas around the world for over a decade now, and her endlessly quotable bars are tailor-made for once-in-a-lifetime crowd interaction moments. Armed with hits ranging from “Itty Bitty Piggy” to “Super Freaky Girl,” a Nicki Minaj Coachella set would be a perfect storm of pop smashes, street anthems, euphoric throwbacks, and undeniable classics. Let’s be real, only Drake can compete with a setlist of so many possibilities. With past headlining performances at festivals like Wireless and Hot 97 Summer Jam, the Queens rapper is more than familiar with massive stages. There’s also the fact that Nicki Minaj has not dropped an album since 2018. Although she’s still been ever-present with hits ranging from “Yikes” and “Whole Lotta Money” (with BIA) to “Tusa” (with Karol G) and, most recently, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” a Coachella headlining set could be the perfect way to launch her fifth studio album.
Shakira
With Bad Bunny already making history as Coachella’s first Latin American solo headliner, why not continue the festival’s increasingly globalist approach by tapping one of the biggest crossover stars of the century, Shakira? While the Colombian powerhouse has long established herself as a hitmaker with seminal pop smashes like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Waka Waka,” and “Whenever, Wherever,” she’s been having something of a re-peak in 2023 as she preps the release of her forthcoming twelfth studio album. This year, the Grammy-winner has already notched a pair of Top 10 hits, one with Bizarrap (“Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”) and another with Karol G (“TQG”) — a testament to her longevity and ability to connect with audiences across generations and languages. In 2020, the “She Wolf” singer headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show alongside Jennifer Lopez, and she’s also embarked on a whopping six headlining world tours. As a multi-instrumentalist, belly dancer, and vocalist, Shakira can entertain the Coachella Valley in a multitude of ways. There’s also the fact that the “Beautiful Liar” singer could bring out a wide range of surprise guests from Beyoncé and Rihanna to Maluma and Rauw Alejandro.
Bruno Mars
Isn’t it kind of crazy that Bruno Mars hasn’t headlined Coachella yet? Widely hailed as one of the best performers in contemporary mainstream pop music, Bruno Mars has delivered two highly memorable Super Bowl Halftime Show performances, a pair of acclaimed Las Vegas residencies (one solo and the other alongside Silk Sonic partner-in-crime Anderson .Paak), and three global headlining concert tours. Since his 2010 debut, Bruno Mars has garnered 18 top ten hits on the Hot 100, eight of which reached the summit including “Grenade,” “That’s What I Like,” and the four-time Grammy-winning “Leave the Door Open.” An entertainer in truest sense of the term, a Bruno Mars Coachella set could take several transfigurations. He could use most of the time to flaunt his skills as an instrumentalist on the drums, piano, and guitar, or he could have a dance-centric set that also displays his vocal chops. Regardless of what the set looks like, it is almost guaranteed to be one of the liveliest headlining sets to ever grace Coachella. Bruno is more than capable of headlining the festival on his own, but he could surprise the Indio Valley with special guests like Cardi B, Eminem, and, of course, Anderson .Paak.
Paramore
The recent trajectory of Coachella headliners has skewed more pop-heavy than the festival’s rock and alternative roots. With a career spanning nearly twenty years and a handful of crossover hits that sit at the zenith of mainstream pop, Paramore is the perfect act to bridge Coachella’s past and present. The Grammy-winning punk-pop band has three worldwide headlining concert tours to their name, and they are currently in the throes of their This Is Why tour in support of their chart-topping album of the same name. Known for exhilarating live shows packed with hair-raising instrumental breaks and virtuosic vocal performances, Paramore is one of the strongest contemporary live acts that have yet to headline Coachella. Last year, Billie Eilish brought out frontwoman Hayley Williams as a surprise guest at her headlining set. Whenever Paramore gets their chance to headline, Hayley could return the favor — or she could opt to bring out guests like Olivia Rodrigo, who pulled from the band’s seminal “Misery Business” for her own Grammy-nominated “good 4 u.”
Lil Wayne
Hip-hop has had a presence at Coachella headlining sets for years dating back to Beastie Boys in 2003. With a discography as prolific as his, Lil Wayne is an obvious pick to continue that legacy. Like his YMCMB mentees Drake and Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne has the perfect catalog to construct a headlining festival set out of. From just the sheer amount of music he’s released, Wayne could dominate Coachella with just his mixtape cuts, let alone his bevy of crossover pop hits and rap anthems that have ruled myriad Billboard charts. With over two decades of hits ranging from 1999’s “Back That Azz Up” to last year’s Grammy-nominated “God Did,” Lil Wayne’s catalog is one for the ages, and a stage as big as the Coachella Stage is the perfect place to remind the world why he’s one of the most successful and acclaimed rappers of all time. Wayne’s 2023 touring popularity might make it a tough sell, but something like Lil Wayne and Friends could make a lot of sense, especially with a plethora of potential surprise guests — Drake, Nicki Minaj, Juvenile, Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, and Rick Ross among them.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Fans who can’t physically make it to Coachella this year are in for quite a treat, as 2023 will be the first-ever opportunity to stream performances from all six stages (Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theater, Sahara, Mojave, Gobi, and Sonora) — without leaving the comfort of your house. Both weekends of April 14-16 and April 21-23 will also be available to watch online for free.
Coachella will host a separate feed for each stage through their YouTube channel.
Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Frank Ocean are headlining this year’s festival, so you’re sure to hear some good music and won’t have to wait in seriously-packed crowds, fly a plane to Palm Springs, or battle any of the traditional festival terrains to do it.
Other acts playing at Coachella include Gorillaz, Björk, Rosalía, Becky G, Kaytranada, Kali Uchis, Boygenius, Charli XCX, Blondie, and many more. View the complete 2023 lineup here.
The festival will also be offering live chat, “in-stream shopping,” and other “exclusive Shorts” from musicians and creators — alongside the standard festival stage performances. While the daily schedules and times for the streams have yet to be released, fans who want to watch the festival can find Coachella’s official channel here and can also set reminders for each of the stages.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Metro Boomin had a great ending to his 2022 with the long-awaited release of Heroes & Villains in December. The LP, which is his third No. 1, is packed with features from artists like John Legend, Future, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Young Thug, and many more.
So it’s expected that the rapper will bring out friends during his Coachella performance. He seemed to confirm it today on Twitter. First he wrote “Grateful for this opportunity to bring my vision and ideas to the big stage at @coachella this year. I promise you that the same level of effort that I put into my music is going into this performance. Going to give you a real experience. Real legacy defining moment otw.” Then, he added: “Metro and friends .”
Grateful for this opportunity to bring my vision and ideas to the big stage at @coachella this year. I promise you that the same level of effort that I put into my music is going into this performance. Going to give you a real experience. Real legacy defining moment otw
What’s more, Jai Paul is performing his first live show ever. The 34-year-old songwriter and producer is known for his enigmatic nature. Fellow Coachella performer Kaytranda expressed enthusiasm on Twitter: “forget about me performing, i’m going to see Jai Paul.”
forget about me performing, i’m going to see Jai Paul
Paul returned in 2019 with his first material since his debut album leak in 2013. “I wanted to use this opportunity to share a little information about what happened regarding my music in April 2013,” he wrote at the time. “As you may know, some of my unfinished demos were put up for sale illegally via Bandcamp. The leak consisted of a fairly random collection of tracks I had made over quite a long period of time (from roughly 2007 to 2013), in various stages of completion. Some are short skits and beats from my MySpace page back in the day before I signed a record deal. A large proportion of this music was to be completed and released officially in some format.”
He’ll be performing Sunday, April 16 and 23, the same days as Ocean.
The 2023 Coachella lineup has been announced and among some truly historical moments — the lineup features both the first K-pop girl group and Latin music headliners, cementing both genres’ rising prominence in the American pop cultural landscape — one question hangs over everything else: Where are all the rap artists?
To be certain, rap has been a fixture at the festival, even though it started out as a rock-centric event, for the past few years. I’ve written about it a few times, including last year, when the festival returned after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19. Coachella added its first rap headliner with Jay-Z in 2010, and since then, Outkast, Eminem, Drake, Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg, and Outkast have all delivered iconic moments (Travis Scott, billed to perform in 2020, was removed from the 2022 lineup when the event returned in the wake of his disastrous Astroworld Festival in 2021).
In 2022 alone, rap music dominated the lineup, from stars like Doja Cat, Lil Baby, and Megan Thee Stallion in the second line, to up-and-coming acts City Girls, Denzel Curry, JID, and Vince Staples peppered throughout the three biggest stages. This year, hip-hop barely cracked the second line, limited to a handful of big-name acts like A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (whose name was shortened for space), Pusha T, and hitmaker Metro Boomin. Hip-hop is technically still the most popular genre in the world, so what gives?
However, scratching the surface might actually present one of the more interesting opportunities for some lesser-known names to climb the marquees of other festivals throughout the year and gain the sort of recognition that can see their tour venue caps jump up a level if they play their cards right. For one thing, there are the underground and indie favorites, many of whom Uproxx has covered pretty extensively as they built a buzz just below radar level. Those would be your AG Clubs, IDKs, and Tobe Nwigwes, the artists whose fans won’t shut up about them, even as they have yet to truly gain a toehold on the pop charts.
It looks like Noname is making her return to the Coachella stage after threatening retirement, while Doechii, GloRilla, Flo Milli, and Latto’s presences are making this year’s hip-hop offerings at Coachella something a women’s empowerment forum — something the rap scene sorely needs after the latter half of 2022 devolved into a maelstrom of counterproductive bickering among the top names.
Meanwhile, with producers like Kaytranada and Metro Boomin near the top of the bill, surprises could abound. Metro Boomin is almost certain to bring along the usual assortment of collaborators, the possibilities of which range from Atlanta trap mainstays like 21 Savage and the surviving Migos members to a potential impromptu ASAP Rocky sub-headlining set fueled by their extensive collaboration on Don’t Be Dumb. Kaytranada’s work with everyone from Anderson .Paak to IDK to Phonte Coleman to his own brother Louie Phelps could see him joined on stage by a who’s-who of some of rap’s most respected. Kenny Beats is up there too, opening the doors for Rico Nasty, Zack Fox, and many, many more to shock fans with unannounced cameos.
Even the Gorillaz, whose work has defied categorization for nearly 20 years, has a Rolodex of rappers ranging from the newly liberated De La Soul and other ’90s mainstays like Bootie Brown, Del The Funky Homosapien, Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey), and Snoop Dogg, to British grime breakouts like Slowthai and Octavian (as well as contemporary faves Danny Brown, Little Simz, Schoolboy Q, Vince Staples, and more). So while the big names in hip-hop might well be taking a break from the desert this year, there will be just as many opportunities for discovery and the possiblity of more surprise appearances that might drop as many fans’ jaws as bars.
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