Coachella 2023 was a music and arts festival that took place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The 22nd edition of the festival, it was held from April 14–16 and 21–23, 2023. It was headlined by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, South Korean girl group Blackpink, American singer Frank Ocean, and American rock band Blink-182.
Background
The dates for Coachella were announced on June 14, 2022, with pre-sale tickets going live on June 17.
Performance by Frank Ocean On the final night of Weekend 1 of Coachella, there was uncertainty over whether headliner Frank Ocean would show up to the event. Despite his exclusion from the official YouTube livestream, Ocean began performing at 10:55 p.m., an hour later than his initial booking. He performed for an hour and a half, performing a rock version of his debut single "Novacane" (2011) that references Coachella, as well as reworked versions of several of his songs, such as "Bad Religion" off of Channel Orange (2012) and "White Ferrari" off of Blonde (2016). He then explained that his appearance was in honor of Ryan Breaux, his younger brother who died in a car crash in 2020. Ocean abruptly ended his performance with a cover of The Isley Brothers' "At Your Best (You Are Love)" (1976), once covered by Aaliyah, informing the audience that it was curfew. The performance was done through large video screens; the screens obscured Ocean and his band and were poorly lit. During the middle of the set, a DJ—later revealed to be DJ Crystallmess began playing, leading many fans to believe the show had concluded, before Ocean introduced her 15 minutes later, teasing Ocean's radio show Homer Radio.
Ocean's Coachella performance was harshly criticized from audience members, critics, and fans. The Festive Owl, speaking to several sources, later stated that a group of people surrounding Ocean were intended to be ice skaters and had practiced for weeks. As Coachella set up the stage, Ocean ultimately decided that he wasn't a fan of the ice skaters, leaving the festival with no option but to deconstruct the ice rink—which had been planned for months—threatening to not perform if it was not done. Melting the ice rink caused the one hour delay in his performance. Additionally, Ocean's performance needed to be adjusted as he sustained an ankle injury during rehearsals that week, according to Rolling Stone. TMZ added that the injury occurred while he was riding bicycles artists and staff use to navigate the festival, and was reportedly serious enough that Ocean's doctors advised Coachella to change his production. Ocean announced that he had pulled out of Coachella on April 19 due to his injury, leaving Blink-182 and later Skrillex, Four Tet, & Fred again.. to headline Weekend 2.
Lineup The lineup for Coachella was announced on January 10, 2023. For the first time since the festival began in 1999, all three headliners—Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Frank Ocean—were not Caucasian, with Blackpink being the first Korean headliners. Following Ocean's departure, Blink-182, as well as Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again.., headlined Weekend 2. Coachella 2023 also featured acts fully sung in Arabic and Punjabi artist Diljit Dosanjh from India for the first time; these initiatives were part of a greater effort by Goldenvoice—the organizers of Coachella—to feature more diverse artists.
For the first time since 2019, Coachella 2023 hosted the Heineken House, a small venue sponsored by Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V., featuring American hip hop duo Method Man & Redman.
Coachella Stage
Friday Saturday SundayBad Bunny Gorillaz Burna Boy Becky G Pusha T Doechii Record Safari (Weekend 1)Calvin Harris (Returning to the Desert) Blackpink Rosalía Charli XCX 070 Shake Marc Rebillet BRN LUXXRY (Weekend 1)Frank Ocean (Weekend 1) Blink-182 (Weekend 2) Skrillex × Four Tet × Fred again.. (Weekend 2) Björk Kali Uchis Porter Robinson GloRilla Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Weekend 1)
Special guests Bad Bunny: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Jowell & Randy, Ñengo Flow, Post Malone and Jhay Cortez. During his second weekend set, he was joined by Arcángel, Grupo Frontera, Jowell & Randy, Ñengo Flow, José Feliciano and Jhay Cortez. Gorillaz: During the first weekend set, they were joined by Thundercat, Peven Everett, Jamie Principle, Bootie Brown, slowthai, Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul. During the second weekend set, they were joined by Beck, Thundercat, Bad Bunny, Moonchild Sanelly, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Yasiin Bey, Bootie Brown, Little Simz, Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul. Becky G: During the first weekend set, she was joined by Marca MP, José Ortiz Paz of Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma. During the second weekend set, she was joined by Libianca and Natti Natasha. Calvin Harris: He was joined by Ellie Goulding during the first weekend set. Rosalía: During the first weekend set, she was joined by Rauw Alejandro. During the second weekend set, she was joined by Tokischa. Charli XCX: She was joined by Troye Sivan during the first weekend set. Kali Uchis: She was joined by Tyler, the Creator, Omar Apollo and Don Toliver during the first weekend set. Porter Robinson: He was joined by Madeon and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs during both weekend sets. GloRilla: She was joined by Lil Durk and Moneybagg Yo during the first weekend set.
Outdoor Theatre Friday Saturday SundayThe Chemical Brothers Kaytranada SG Lewis Yungblud Saba The Comet Is Coming Juicewon (Weekend 1) Mimi (Weekend 2)Eric Prydz Presents HOLO boygenius SOFI TUKKER Hiatus Kaiyote EARTHGANG Rebelution Yimbo (Weekend 1) Tiffany Tyson (Weekend 2)Fisher + Chris Lake Dominic Fike Rae Sremmurd Big Wild Stick Figure Los Fabulosos Cadillacs Jaqck Glam (Weekend 1) Gabe Real (Weekend 2)
Special guests Kaytranada: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Kali Uchis and Aminé. During the second weekend set, he was joined by H.E.R., Tinashe and Anderson .Paak. SG Lewis: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Channel Tres. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Tove Lo.
Sonora Tent Friday Saturday SundayUncle Waffles Sasha Alex Sloan TV Girl Magdalena Bay DannyLux Soul Glo Lava La Rue The Murder Capital Jim Smith (Weekend 1) Dave from the Grave (Weekend 2)NIA ARCHIVES Bakar Sunset Rollercoaster The Breeders The Linda Lindas Ethel Cain Destroy Boys BRATTY Scowl Horsegirl Buster Jarvis (Weekend 1) Triste Juventud × TÓTEM (Weekend 2)Sudan Archives Knocked Loose Mareux Alex G Momma Sleaford Mods El Michels Affair Los Bitchos Conexión Divina Argenis (Weekend 1) Eric Sanchez (Weekend 2)
Special guests The Breeders: They were joined by The Linda Lindas during the first weekend set. BRATTY: They were joined by Cuco during the first weekend set.
Gobi Tent Friday Saturday SundayAshnikko Whyte Fang The Garden Yves Tumor Tobe Nwigwe Overmono Gabriels ¿Téo? Jupiter & Okwess Desert Cahuilla Bird SingersDonavan's Yard Chromeo Monolink Eladio Carrión Yaeji Shenseea Dinner Party UMI Elyanna dxsko (Weekend 1) Kershawn tha Don (Weekend 2)DPR Live + DPR Ian DRAMA Cannons 2manydjs Romy Fousheé Joy Crookes Ali Sethi Gingee (Weekend 1) BRIGGS (Weekend 2)
Special guests Tobe Nwigwe: He was joined by Coast Contra, Chamillionaire and Olu of EarthGang during the first weekend set. Chromeo: They were joined by La Roux during both weekend sets. Fousheé: She was joined by Steve Lacy during the second weekend set.
Mojave Tent Friday Saturday SundayFKJ Angèle Blondie Wet Leg MUNA BENEE DOMi & JD BECK Lewis OfMan Black Jade (Weekend 1) Record Safari (Weekend 2)Labrinth Underworld Jai Paul Remi Wolf Mura Masa Yung Lean Snail Mail AG Club wave Groove (Weekend 1) Juicewon (Weekend 2)The Blaze WILLOW Christine and the Queens Weyes Blood Noname IDK Paris Texas DJ Lil Buddha (Weekend 1) Muezette (Weekend 2)
Special guests FKJ: He was joined by June Marieezy and Bas during the first weekend set. Blondie: They were joined by Nile Rodgers during the first weekend set. Wet Leg: They were joined by Dave Grohl during the second weekend set. MUNA: They were joined by Boygenius during both weekend sets. BENEE: She was joined by Gus Dapperton during the first weekend set. DOMi & JD BECK: During the first weekend set, they were joined by Thundercat and Mac DeMarco. During the second weekend set, they were joined by Thundercat and Anderson .Paak. Labrinth: During the first weekend, he was joined by Billie Eilish. During the second weekend, he was joined by Sia and Zendaya. Underworld: They were joined by Yung Lean during the second weekend set. Mura Masa: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Cosha, Channel Tres, Shygirl, Bayli, Isabella Lovestory and Gretel Hänlyn. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Cosha, Gretel Hänlyn and NAO. WILLOW: She was joined by Jaden Smith during both weekend sets. IDK: He was joined by Rich the Kid during the first weekend set.
Sahara Tent Friday Saturday SundayMetro Boomin Two Friends Jamie Jones Blink-182 (Weekend 1) MK (Weekend 2) Vintage Culture Malaa Dombresky Mary Jane (Weekend 1) Yimbo (Weekend 2)$uicideboy$ The Kid LAROI Tale of Us Diljit Dosanjh Elderbrook Kenny Beats Flo Milli Venessa Michaels (Weekend 1) Saish K (Weekend 2)Boris Brejcha A Boogie wit da Hoodie Jai Wolf Jackson Wang LØREN (Weekend 1) Latto MK (Weekend 1) GORDO (Weekend 2) Pi'erre Bourne Loboman (Weekend 1) sir skrause (Weekend 2)
Special guests Metro Boomin: During the first weekend set, he was joined by John Legend, Future, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, The Weeknd and Diddy. During the second weekend set, he was joined by The Weeknd, Future, Don Toliver and Offset. Two Friends: They were joined by Bebe Rexha during the first weekend set. The Kid LAROI: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Fivio Foreign. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Don Toliver. A Boogie wit da Hoodie: He was joined by Tyga and YG during the first weekend set. Jackson Wang: He was joined by Ciara during the first weekend set. Latto: During the first weekend set, she was joined by TiaCorine, Lola Brooke and Saweetie. During the second weekend set, she was joined by Mello Buckzz.
Yuma Tent Friday Saturday SundayMaceo Plex TESTPILOT Mochakk Idris Elba Nora En Pure Dennis Cruz + PAWSA Oliver Koletzki Kyle Watson Chris Stussy Juliet MendozaKeinemusik Hot Since 82 WhoMadeWho Jan Blomqvist DJ Tennis + Carlita Mathame Colyn Chloé Caillet Francis Mercier TalonGORDO (Weekend 1) Adam Beyer CamelPhat Sasha & John Digweed Cassian TSHA LP Giobbi Airrica Minus the Light
Reception Goldenvoice was hit with a fine for breaking the event's curfew; the performances by Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris contributed to the fine.
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References