Thousands of celebrants returned to the Empire Polo Club in Indio Sunday for the third day of the two-weekend Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, featuring a wide range of artists highlighted by the anticipated performance of Doja Cat.
This weekend’s fest runs to Sunday, and then re-commences for the weekend of April 19-21. Doja Cat will close out each weekend on Sundays. She’ll be preceded this Sunday by J Balvin, Jhene Aiko, Ludmilla, Lil Yachty, John Summit and DJ Snake.
Saturday’s festival was highlighted by the reunion of 1990s Orange County punk/pop/ska band No Doubt, who hadn’t performed together in nine years. Band members Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young played for about an hour and 15 minutes, performing standards such as “Just a girl,” “Don’t Speak” and “Spiderwebs.”
At one point No Doubt was joined on stage by surprise guest Olivia Rodrigo to perform their 2000 song “Bathwater.”
Saturday’s headlining set by Tyler, The Creator lasted about an hour and 20 minutes. The artist was joined on stage by surprise guest Donald Glover in the guise of his alter ago Childish Gambino, with whom he performed “Running out of Time.” A$AP Rocky also made a surprise appearance and joined Tyler, The Creator to perform “Potato Salad” and “Who Dat Boy.”
Tyler, The Creator joked with the crowd that he used to hate both Glover and A$AP Rocky but didn’t feel that way anymore. He was later joined by Charlie Wilson for the song “Earfquake” and by Kali Uchis to perform “See you Again.”
Other performers on the Saturday slate were Ice Spice, Blur, Jungle, Dom Dolla, Bleachers and Kevin Kaarl.
An additional stage was added this year, as well as extended three- hour sets, featuring Honey Dijon and Green Velvet on Friday, Michael Bibi on Saturday and Jamie XX, Floating Points and Daphni on Sunday.
The weekend of April 19-21 will feature Rufus Du Sol the first day, Eric Prydz and Anyma the second day, and Diplo and Mau P for the closing day.
Friday’s opening day featured a surprise appearance by Colombian superstar Shakira, who took the stage during Bizarrap’s set. Shakira performed “La Fuerte” and “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53” and also told fans between songs that she’ll be launching a global tour later this year.
Also Friday, headliner Lana del Rey welcomed Billie Eilish — who was a headliner herself at the 2022 festival — and Jon Batiste.
Becky G added to the surprise appearances on Friday night when she joined Peso Pluma on stage to perform their song “Chanel.” Peso Pluma was also joined by surprise guests Junior H to perform “El Azul” and Arcangel to perform their song “Peso Completo.”
Preparations for traffic connected with the fest started last month.
Avenue 50, between Monroe Street and Madison Avenue, has been closed since March 25 and will remain shut down until May 6 for the dual-weekend entertainment and extensive post-fest cleanups.
According to Indio’s traffic plan, there will be no pedestrian access on Monroe, between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52, nor along Madison Street, between Avenues 50 and 52.
Police cautioned travel delays will be heavy along Washington Street, between Interstate 10 and Avenue 52, as well as Jefferson Street and Avenues 48 and 50 going into the Empire Polo Club grounds.
Campers began arriving to set up on Thursday. Non-campers can seek spots in the general parking area as early as 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, before the venue opens at around 1 p.m. each day. Shuttle services depart from local hotels at 12:30 p.m. daily.
Along with Indio police, other law enforcement agencies are lending support throughout the event, including the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol.
Although the National Weather Service predicted sunny skies and temperatures reaching a high of 75 on Sunday, an air quality alert was still in place due to high winds.
“Gusty winds over the mountains and deserts will occur … peaking Saturday afternoon and evening, with top gusts of 40-55 mph,” the National Weather Service stated. “A second, weaker round will occur Sunday afternoon and evening.”
Air quality regulators issued a windblown dust advisory for the area from 1 p.m. Saturday to at least 11 p.m. Sunday.
Festival information, including the entire list of musical acts, can be found at coachella.com/lineup.