Coachella 2025 Recap: Best of Weekend 1 and Festival Tips
All from the comfort of my couch & a few years of experience
Every year, I would think to myself I’m not going to have fomo for going to Coachella but after watching the livestream and watching everyone recap over the past weekend I would be proven otherwise. This year, the fomo hit me a lil extra this year, especially because of how artists that have been in the industry for years went beyond my expectations, and I’m a sucker for some really good music. As a past attendee of one of the biggest festivals in the world, Coachella is an entirely different world I love to live in, in spite of its challenges. Its position in the desert is ideal to escape from daily life and to have a completely immersive experience that will have you reeling to return no matter how long it’s been since the last time. I’m gonna go through my favorite sets for this year as well as give a few tips on how to make the best of your experience so that the music feels unforgettable and the desert heat feels sweeter.
1) Lady Gaga
In retrospect, I realize that I took this year’s lineup for granted. Seeing names that have been in the mainstream consciousness for an upward amount of 10+ years, I didn’t expect anything from watching Lady Gaga’s set. But luckily having that mindset prepped me for a cinematic experience into the depth’s of Gaga’s mind. Headliner artists are known to utilize the Main Stage to its capacity —- from Tyler the Creator’s Canyon set to emulate his Floggnaw aesthetic to Doja Cat’s mud pit in her performance for “Wet Vagina” — but nothing could have prepared me for Lady Gaga’s theater production for the full portfolio of her work. I thought to myself, Gaga is a mainstay in the cultural consciousness, how astounding could her set be juxtaposed against the time of her career? From transitioning from songs from her most recent release ‘Mayhem’ to the hits ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Judas’ that solidified her place in the industry, and swirling them all into a type of grotesque that’s raw and captivating, Gaga exceeds her reputation and places her set as one of the best that Coachella has ever had on their Main Stage.
2) Megan Thee Stallion
What I loved about Megan’s set the most is seeing the reverence that she has for black women in the industry, especially for those that contributed to hip-hop and southern R&B. Having surprise guests such as Queen Latifah, Ciara, and Victoria Monet (also thank you to the both of them for their lesbian moment on stage) signals to me that Megan is loved and respected by the greats. To see the full discography of her work and recognize how strong her relevance is in every era —- from her 2018 release of ‘Tina Snow’ to ‘Megan: Act II’ that includes one of my recent favorites ‘Bigger in Texas’ — Megan solidifies her position in Hip-Hop and pop culture as one of THEE biggest closing acts for Coachella.
3) Ravyn Lenae
Seeing Ravyn Lenae’s performance on the livestream felt like such a beautiful moment. I felt that her angelic voice and sweet stage presence soothed the desert heat and reminded me of the value of seeing music live. Seeing her perform ‘Skin Tight’ had me surprised as she sounded even better in person. Her voice was a part of the pantheon of alternative R&B girls that was in every indie lover’s playlist in the late 2010s and it’s apparent that she’s not forgotten. Her virality with her most recent album ‘Bird’s Eye’ may have catapulted her to attention, but with her consistent presence, vulnerable storytelling, and ethereal voice, Ravyn Lenae’s set was a beautiful amalgamation of a decade of work, and I’m rooting for her every time.
4) T-Pain
Literally put some more respect on T-Pain’s name, because the amount of people at his 5pm set shows how much the man is loved. With nostalgic hits like ‘Kiss Kiss’, ‘Bartender’, and ‘All I do is Win’, T-Pain was a good time with amazing mash-ups. Thinking of how I and many people have grown up with listening to T-Pain at the function, and seeing his impact with how many people showed up to his stage (and online) makes me happy to see his flowers.
5) Trixie Mattel
I love how a queen can come out of the woodworks (I had no idea she was performing) and I would not question it. If anything, my fomo was exaggerated after her set, a little mad at myself even. Trixie Mattel is DJ’ing at the Do Lab? That’s such a small stage for a main headliner. Trixie is a girl that can do it all: a DJ that can give you bright and bumping pop vibes while ab-libbing whatever is on her mind and landing the joke every single time. Her contributing to the relieving and chill energy of the Do Lab during the daytime gave the feeling that the shoes, dress, and the gloves fit seamlessly.
6) Charli XCX
At its worst and not being anything of the sort in my opinion, people would say that her set was a listening party of ‘Brat’ and some of her top tracks, but at its best and for what it really is: it was Charli’s declaration of her cultural impact over the past year. We’re all aware of how Brat Summer shaped the latter half of 2024, but I think what made Charli’s set so compelling was her breaking the fourth wall in the last 5 minutes and acknowledging how its influence could live past her name (I’ve noticed this with attendees and people hashtagging #bratchella instead of #charlichella). After bringing out some of the top collaborators on the project — Troye Sivan, Lorde, and Billie Eilish —- Charli thrashes into an ending that questioned her relevance. Seeing the last minutes of her set live, in my car and in the small portal of a phone, I teared as she put parts of her on the screen. Charli XCX has been working within the industry for years, and for her to come to the possibility that the movement and her name could be a thing of the past is something that’s not seen often on the big stage. For her to declare that at the end of it, she’s still her and she’s knows that she’s still here is a powerful thing to witness.
Overall a common theme I’m seeing with all of the artists on the lineup that peaked my interests is that they spoke to a generation that had time to cherish and enjoy the bodies of work that are out in the world. There were many artists that were getting their flowers after 10+ years of being in the industry and artists that reminded the public of their influence through their artistry. It renditioned an idea of nostalgia and brought it to the present, and made it clear as to why they are mainstays of music culture. Coachella is a beautiful place to celebrate this in spite of its searing heat and gagging dust, and that’s why ultimately I’ll always end the discourse about it with mentioning the possibility of “…so see you next year?”.
With seeing the logistical challenges of getting to the festival this year for Day 0 and recalling my own experience with going to Coachella and other music festivals, I want to share a rapid fire list of tips that I use for those that are going to Weekend 2 or are gearing up for festival season. I want to preface this list by saying that generally, going to a festival where 100K+ people are congregating to every day and having a world-level of popularity is bound to have its chaos. Having a positive perspective on going overall & preparing to make the most out of the weekend by finding ways to make it as comfortable as possible is the way to go:
Going to Weekend 2 is better than Weekend 1: Weekend 2 is widely known as the non-influencer weekend, making the energy more relaxed and not as stuffy. It’s also when the festival organizers and attendees take notes and provide recs & improvements from Weekend 1 so you can use this to improve your experience when you go!
Going early and leaving early: Entering and exiting a festival could result in not seeing one of the top artists or sitting in the heat, but it’s so, so much better than entering/leaving the festival at the same time as everyone else. The urban planning around the festival grounds cannot sustain that many people at a time so beat the crowds and use that time to buy merch, explore the exhibits, enjoy smaller artists, and give yourself more recovery time at the end of the night.
Staying together with a small group of friends: Personally, I think going with 5-6 friends max and staying together for the majority of the time is the sweet spot. Not only is it safer if you’re looking to ‘elevate’ your experience but also it’s easier to keep up with your friends if you have a certain schedule you want to stick to.
Research the festival map: If you are going to a festival with a large group or are planning to meet up with them, deciding on a landmark to meet at before entering the festival grounds will be extremely useful, as cell service can get spotty and it would be a backup location if anyone in the group gets lost. This is also a great way to get familiar with the entrances and exits people are less likely to go through. I hear that this year the entrance near the Do Lab is the best way to go.
Create a meal plan for the weekend: You’ll be going through the grounds for at least 8+ hours a day with some ways to ‘elevate’ your experience, so hydration and nutrition is a must! It’s also cost-effective and time-effective: you’ll have meals prepared at where you’ll stay and you’ll have more time to get ready and have fun:)
Have your personal supply of appliances if you’re camping: Camping at Coachella is on my bucket list, but it will be a mission to make it as comfortable as possible. If you can, also bring a portable shower, your own supply of water, a fridge, even a generator so that you’re not waiting in line or out of luck when the time comes. I would also strongly recommend these tips from a mutual who is also a Coaching camping veteran!
Bring drug test kits: Self-explanatory, it’s important to stay safe while having fun! These may also be available at med tents throughout the venue as well.
Keep a water pack on you: Strongly recommend, and also a cost-effective and time-effective tip! You can fill up at the start of the day and you don’t have to wait in line or pay out for expensive water.
Find a balance with style and comfort for your fits: As someone that can get overstimulated easily, finding the sweet spot helps me feel good and allows me to be present as possible. It also allows me to get even more creative with my fits working within style constraints.
Make time to meet all of the exhibits and art installations: This is especially true for Coachella with the speakeasies that are dispersed throughout the venue. There are so many ways to cool down and relax during your down time.
Mentally prepare to have no sleep bc it’s worth it: It is some of the only times of the year that you’ll be able to see all of your favorite artists in one place with your closest friends and loved ones. It’s bound to be a mission, but don’t let it overshadow how much you waited for this moment. Have fun in the present, take care of each other, and make the most of it!
Have fun and be safe this festival season!
love this recap! these are some of my fav performances too !!