Ask Onix
Festival kicks off with Hollywood-style spectacle
Coachella's first weekend launched Friday with a star-studded performance by pop singer Sabrina Carpenter, who transformed her set into a classic Hollywood homage-complete with a surprise appearance by actor Susan Sarandon.
Sarandon's unexpected monologue steals the show
During Carpenter's headlining set, the 77-year-old actor took the stage to deliver a monologue as an older version of the 26-year-old singer. The performance also featured cameos from comedian Will Ferrell, who played an on-stage electrician, and actor Sam Elliott, who appeared in a pre-recorded short film that opened the set.
Wind forces last-minute cancellation
Strong winds in the California desert led to the cancellation of DJ Anyma's set shortly after Carpenter's performance. Organizers announced on Instagram that the decision was made jointly with Anyma, prioritizing safety due to wind conditions affecting the stage setup.
"Due to strong wind conditions affecting Anyma's stage build, he is unable to perform tonight. Coachella and Anyma have made this decision together with your safety as the priority."
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The National Weather Service had forecast gusts reaching up to 25 miles per hour on Friday.
Air quality concerns loom over festival
An air quality advisory remains in effect for the Coachella Valley from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning due to windblown dust. The National Weather Service warned that particle pollution could pose health risks, particularly for individuals with asthma, heart or lung conditions, or those vulnerable to infections.
While Indio is listed as an impacted area, the local air quality management district reported that pollution levels have remained within good to moderate ranges since noon on Thursday.
Carpenter's 'Sabrinawood' sets the tone
Making her Coachella headlining debut, Carpenter reimagined the stage as the Hollywood Hills, dubbing it 'Sabrinawood.' Her set began with a short film featuring Elliott as a police officer who pulls her over at night before letting her go. She then emerged on stage to perform, later joined by Ferrell in his electrician guise.
Weekend lineup highlights
Friday's performances also included global girl group KATSEYE and British artist Disclosure. The weekend continues with Justin Bieber headlining on Saturday and Karol G closing the festival on Sunday. UK acts such as Wet Leg, Lambrini Girls, Little Simz, and FKA Twigs are also scheduled to perform, with the same lineup repeating next weekend.
Festival background
Coachella, held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, has drawn over 100,000 attendees daily since its inception in 2002. Organizers and local police have not reported any major incidents during this year's opening night.
