Coachella 2024 day two: Tyler the Creator joined by A$AP Rocky and Donald Glover for headline set
Saturday at Coachella saw Paris Hilton playing cornhole with Vampire Weekend and Grimes suffering a major technical malfunction. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the festival’s final day
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Tyler, the Creator delivered a sharp, varied and spectacular headline set on the Saturday night of this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024, joined by guests including Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), A$AP Rocky, Charlie Wilson and Kali Uchs.
Earlier, No Doubt’s first show in nine years saw a special guest appearance from Olivia Rodrigo, Paris Hilton played cornhole with Vampire Weekend and Grimes suffered “major technical difficulties”.
On the opening Friday night of the festival, Lana Del Rey was joined by Billie Eilish and Jon Batiste during her rapturously received and beautifully staged headline performance.
Earlier in the day there had been performances from rising Mexican singer Peso Pluma, rapper Lil Uzi Vert, French dance act Justice and a history-making set from K-pop boyband Ateez. Shakira made a surprise appearance during DJ Bizarrap’s set, and announced a new world tour while she was there.
Doja Cat is set to close the festival tonight. The second weekend will take place from Friday 19 April to Sunday 21 April, with the same artists performing at both events.
Asides from its reputation for drawing influencers, many celebrities have been known to attend the event over the years, with Vanessa Hudgens being unofficially dubbed the Queen of Coachella. This year, even power couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have made the trip out to the desert - clearly not put off by reports of ridiculous traffic jams and overpriced burritos.
The festival also includes some must-see art installations, food and drink, and immersive experiences for ticket holders, which you can read about here.
Blur arrive with screaming guitars and a punk snarl
Much has been made of the dearth of guitar bands on the Coachella lineup this year, so when Blur arrive on the main stage in a squall of guitars, spitting out last year’s single “St Charles Square” (from the five-star album The Ballad of Darren), they seem both out of place and decidedly at home. “It’s very nice to be on this stage again,” announces Damon Albarn, shortly before breaking into classic 1997 single “Beetlebum”. The most retro thing about their set so far, though? Alex James smoking a cigarette onstage. Hasn’t he heard everyone vapes now?
Blur share spotlight with local Native American group Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers
Blur invited members of the local Native American group Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers to share the main stage of Coachella with them, and the result was unforgettable. First, the singers (and dancers) performed one of their traditional bird songs, which describe the experience of the Cahuilla people as they migrated south long ago. Then they teamed up with Blur for a staggering reworking of 1997 single “Death of a Party”. “Wow,” says Damon Albarn as they leave the stage. Wow is the word.
The move also went down well online, with one X/Twitter user writing: “Thank you, Blur, for the indigenous representation”.
Important Update: Taylor and Travis are here after all
We’ve received a breaking news update that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have finally arrived at Coachella. Eager-eyed fans spotted the pop culture power couple side of stage for her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff’s set with Bleachers on the Mojave Stage. More as we get it.
Ice Spice brings hometown aesthetic to Coachella debut
It’s Ice Spice’s first time at Coachella, so she’s brought some memories of home with her: The fast-rising rapper performs on an elaborate set styled to look like Fordham Road Station in the Bronx, near where the 24-year-old grew up. Sad news for any Swifties in the crowd, though: Although Ice Spice performs her remix of Taylor Swift’s “Karma” early on, the pop superstar’s vocals are prerecorded and Swift is nowhere to be seen.
No Doubt bring out Olivia Rodrigo
The first No Doubt show in almost a decade was already providing Coachella with one of its biggest “moments” even before Gwen Stefani brought out pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo, wearing an ‘I heart ND’ shirt, to duet on 2000 hit “Bathwater”. The Guts singer’s excitement at the moment was infectious.
Grimes screams onstage as Coachella set plagued by ‘major technical difficulties’
The start of Grimes’ set on the Sahara Stage earlier was so much fun that it seems a shame she was hit by technical gremlins. Now some on social media are calling it “‘the worst performance in the history of Coachella”. Here’s the story:
Grimes screams onstage as Coachella set plagued by ‘major technical difficulties’
Social media critics brand Sahara Stage set ‘the worst performance in the history of Coachella’
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Update
The couple were last spotted vibing out at Jungle’s floor-filling set at the Outdoor Theatre.
Tyler, the Creator is the last boy scout
Tyler, the Creator initially appears for his Saturday night headline set dressed like a respectable scout leader, but the look doesn’t last as he swaps into something more relaxed for a boisterous performance of “Lemonhead”.
This is Tyler’s third time playing Coachella, but the first time he’s ever taken the headline slot. He played high up the stage on the Outdoor Theatre in 2015, and he played the main Coachella stage in 2018.
Tyler, the Creator joined by Donald Glover, A$AP Rocky and Charlie Wilson during headline set
Tyler, the Creator’s headline set on Saturday night has proved to be one for the ages, and it’s not short of surprise guests. First, a laidback Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) takes the stage for a version of Tyler’s “Running Out Of Time”:
Then A$AP Rocky comes out for the live debut of 2018 Tyler collab “Potato Salad” and 2017’s “Who Dat Boy”. Oh, and then they both get abducted by a UFO. How’s that for a unexpected appearance?
And then it’s the turn of soul singer Charlie Wilson, who joins Tyler at the piano for their 2019 song “Earfquake”.
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