Coachella 2025: desert festival balances the new and the nostalgia

Coachella festival 2023 is projected to be one of the most unforgettable in recen history. It’s not only because it will feature big stars, but also because of the extremely high temperatures that are set to scorch the desert venue. Located in California, the first weekend of the two-weekend event is forecasted to reach an alarming 103 degrees Fahrenheit which is supes the average for this time of year. Regardless of the intense heat, over 125,000 participants are expected to show up everyday, and all of them are excited to watch some of the greatest musicians of out time perform live.

Garinger confirmed Lady Gaga, Post Malone, and Green Day as the new headliners, showcasing a distinct boost in anticipation for the festival after last year’s sluggish sales. It sold better in 2024 with Doja Cat, Tyler, and Lana Del Rey. However, this year’s leading trio has an added 24% boost to global Spotify streaming, which increases the hype even more. The combination of energizing high-octane performances alongside nostalgic hits for long-time fans is cherished. Lady Gaga’s comeback is major—she headlined the event back in 2017, and actually filmed bits of A Star Is Born while she was there. Gaga is also expected to perform a range of her classics along with tracks from Mayhem, but in a recent interview she said that there are still many surprises to come, hinting at more undisclosed details.

Coachella 2025 has not only its big-name stars but also a widespread lineup of performers that cover diverse genres and generations. Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Missy Elliott, and Rema are taking the stage as some of the headliners. On the other hand, Lola Young, Shaboozey, Amyl and the Sniffers, underscores, and Glorilla are among the newcomers to the desert crowd. And, for nostalgia purpose, we also have some of the veteran performers such as Kraftwerk, Basement Jaxx, Jimmy Eat World, The Go-Go’s and many more, who will perform on different stages of the festival.

The Prodigy is expected to deliver one of the most sensitive moments of the weekend. This will be their first time back at Coachella after the death of their front man Keith Flint in 2019. Band member Liam Howlett said they will not do a tribute show, as the performance will instead honor the spirit and legacy of Flint; not only on stage but off stage too, as he was an essential part to the band’s creative process.

Another throwback act, Weezer, is also drawing attention – not just for their performance, but for off-stage drama. Bassist Scott Shriner’s wife, Jillian Lauren, was recently shot by police after reportedly waving a gun at police during an unrelated investigation. Now, she is set to face attempted murder charges. Regardless, Weezer, as usual, is still slated to perform as Shriner remarked to reporters, “See you at Coachella.”

Not all scheduled artists will be able to make it, unfortunately. FKA twigs has had to pull out of the lineup due to ongoing visa problems, which, as some sources claim, stem from her production team not completing the requisite paperwork in time. In an emotional Instagram message, she laments about the inability to perform, saying it ‘devastates’ her. These problems are becoming all too common for overseas performers given the rising costs and delays. One booking agent noted that obtaining visas for Coachella performers can run close to $8,000, especially when expedited due to slow processing times.

The rising difficulty and expense of international travel for performers is just one the many challenges facing music festivals today. Coachella, with its culture benchmark status, has to juggle things like inflation and logistical burdens associated with travel and staging.

Although there are difficulties to work through, the spirit of Coachella is still intact. It still brings together different groups of people who share a fascination for music and culture. For numerous individuals, the combination of new music with nostalgic acts and the ever-changing weather in the desert makes Coachella an unparalleled experience. As the weekend approaches, individuals globally will tune in to witness how this festival adapts to the ever-changing climate, culture, and other factors.