The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival concluded its final day and final weekend on Sunday, April 20, which coincided with Easter.
Many of the festivalgoers and even some performers were seen wearing bunny ears throughout the Empire Polo Club, which saw slightly warmer temperatures, but nothing as hot as the first weekend. While there were more surprise guests overall last weekend, there were still a few notable ones this last day.
Post Malone performed his country set as Sunday’s closing act with “Better Now,” “Fall Apart,” and “Circles,” but he also welcomed two special guests that weekend, one of whom didn’t. Weekend two’s Sunday crowd was treated to a performance with Jelly Roll for “Losers” and Ed Sheeran for “Sunflower.”
Megan Thee Stallion also returned to close out day three for a packed crowd on the main stage, with fans nearly stretching to the periphery of the Outdoor Stage. It was well-deserved: the female rapper brought a classic Coachella performance to Sunday night, complete with tight choreography, incredible light work and so much energy. The performance was just plain fun. She was joined by a massive snake prop during “HISS;” the crowd became electrified during “Mamushi;” not a soul wasn’t rapping along during the oh-so-classic “Savage.”
One of the most emotional performances of weekend two came from country rocker and rapper Shaboozey, who choked up as he took in the sight of all the fans that had come to see his afternoon main stage set.
“I see a lot more people here than last weekend,” he told the crowd. Then he told them that the first time he came to Coachella was years ago as a fan, and now, here he was, on the main stage, performing his blend of country, hip hop, Americana, and rock.
“It’s changed my life, honestly,” he said, as his voice cracked and he held back tears.
The crowd roared in approval as he continued with a country-heavy set with his backing band, who, like Shaboozey, were all dressed in matching maroon-colored western gear. The 45-minute sets included songs like “Last of My Kind,” “Annabelle,” and new music from his upcoming deluxe album. The show ended with his biggest hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which, like Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” and Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar,” has become a classic sing-along bar song. His fans sang along with the rising star, who smiled from ear to ear as he danced, sang, and closed his milestone show.
“This is the most amazing show I’ve ever played,” he said.
One of the most prominent Latino acts to perform this year got the festival’s last golden hour set on the Coachella stage. Junior H opened his performance with vintage footage of himself showcasing his early days and then mixing in some of his more recent music. His set was slightly shorter than last week because he didn’t bring out Peso Pluma and Tito Double P for the end. Still, he performed some of his hits, including “Miéntele” and “A Tu Nombre.”
Perhaps one of the most creative productions and performances was led by Ginger Root in the Sonora tent. The band’s show balanced audio and visuals to produce a unique experience not seen on the festival stages, or anywhere else, for that matter. While there are only three members up on stage performing with instruments, the unofficial addition of David, a character dressed in an all-red jumpsuit, was also onstage filming the group. The live footage is then filtered through an analog camcorder to the live monitors, but he isn’t just capturing the moment; he’s adding flair. David’s camera work incorporates several techniques, such as zooming, spinning, and other unorthodox techniques that parallel cinematic art. It almost seems choreographed, and whether it is or it isn’t, it was impressive.
Ginger Root’s musical style is led by visionary Cameron Lew, who intricately mixes the music with keyboards and soundboards, while Dylan Hovis adds a funky and jazzy bass, and drummer Matt Carney keeps a thunderous, commanding tempo. Ginger Root sounds like what would happen if the elements of video game beats and indie soul came together. However, the group has described themselves as “aggressive elevator soul.” The trio’s setlist was popular among the packed Sonora tent and had fans grooving to “All Night,” “Only You,” and “Loretta.”
Earlier in the day, the Beaches took the stage at the Gobi tent with an eccentric set that makes the indie dance music that you play with your friends on a road trip. They performed “Cigarette,” “Jocelyn,” and “Everything is Boring” to swaying and dancing fans. The Canadian bandmates are each rock stars in their own right, adding a layer of chemistry to the music and their live presentation.
Muni Long delivered an intimate and sensual set evoking imagery of Roman-like fashion. She, her backup singers, and dancers were dressed in all gold togas with a giant hand fixture sporting acrylic nails. The R&B singer, who has spoken about the challenges of being a Black woman in show business, made sure to represent her proud identity with all Black supporting dancers, singers and bandmates. Long also welcomed onstage Amerie for a cover of “1 Thing,” and performed other hits such as “Slow Grind,” “Hrs & Hrs” and “Ruined Me.”
Soft Play fans at the Sonora tent, who were hoping for a surprise appearance from Keanu Reeves may have been a tad disappointed, but at least they were still treated to the same guest appearance of fellow U.K. rockers Bob Vylan for “One More Day Won’t Hurt.”
By late night in the Sonora tent, electric duo Snow Strippers brought the energy right when it was needed. The pair from Detroit delivered a 9 p.m. performance filled with hyperpop, dancing and flashing lights. Songs like “So What if I’m a Freak” brought the crowd to life, with Tatiana Schwaninger serving as the perfect hype woman for her tracks.
Kraftwerk also led another late night performance in the Mojave tent. The electronic band – often credited with being pioneers of the genre – delivered an iconic performance to a crowd that was filled with loyalists and newbies alike. It was hard to walk away, whether it was the hypnotic music or the outfits (the foursome was wearing light-up suits) that captivated your attention.