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.”
Festival information, including the entire list of musical acts, can be found at coachella.com/lineup.
City News Service contributed to this article.