Mayhem in the Desert: Coachella 2025

Stepping out of the air-conditioned hire car and into the Indio heat delivers the first culture shock of Coachella – a world away from damp UK fields. Held at the Empire Polo Club from April 10th to 12th, the sheer scale of the festival quickly becomes apparent, with the iconic Ferris wheel shimmering in the distance, igniting true anticipation. It’s a proper city built for music in the middle of nowhere.

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

Pure, beautiful chaos. The energy was buzzing, almost frantic. Felt like everyone had circled the same handful of acts on their schedule. You physically can’tbe everywhere with so many quality acts packed in across all the stages, and the FOMO was real. Saturday and Sunday definitely had a more manageable flow, thank god. Allowed for more wandering, stumbling upon gems, and actually catching full sets without that constant ‘where next?’ panic. Still, fingers crossed they maybe tweak that Friday scheduling next year – it was brutal!

But honestly, the biggest surprise? The punctuality. It was almost unnerving how often acts started bang on time. At a festival this massive, with so many moving parts? Respect. It genuinely puts some UK main stages to shame where ‘stage time’ feels more like a vague suggestion. It made those tough choices slightly less agonising.

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

The main event; the sheer variety across the stages was incredible. You could go from the dark, sweaty techno haven of the Yuma tent, blinking into the sunlight, and wander over to the vast expanse of the main Coachella Stage, or the slightly more intimate vibes of the Gobi and Mojave tents, or even the specific energy of the Sonora or Do Lab stages. Impossible to see it all, but looking back across the weekend, here’s my personal rundown of the standouts and other notable moments, packed with a bit more detail this time:

Absolute Top Tier Highlights:

1. Lady Gaga: No contest. Headlined Friday on the Main Stage and just absolutely redefined headlining. Reviews weren’t kidding calling it a “theatrical tour de force,” “bold, bizarre, and unmistakably Gaga.” This wasn’t just a concert; it was the live debut of her Mistress Mayhem persona and concept album, structured like a five-act gothic play exploring personal chaos. Reviews highlighted the core theme – essentially Gaga battling different versions of herself on stage, visually represented by contrasting red and white/blonde personas dueling throughout the performance. She masterfully wove MAYHEMtracks like the intense “Killah” (and yes, Gesaffelsteindid come out on stage for it, masked and imposing – a massive moment!) and the live debut of their “Abracadabra” remix, with her biggest hits. Crucially, the older songs felt reimagined with fresh, often darker arrangements – “Poker Face,” “Judas,” “Paparazzi” all given the Mayhem treatment, fitting into this narrative of internal conflict. The fashion was integral – pure high-concept drama supporting the theme. And you could hear her singing her heart out – the mic was definitely on. Honestly, the perfect primer for the Mayhem Ball in London – I’m even more hyped now! A true icon proving why she’s legendary.

2. Kraftwerk: Catching these pioneers in the Mojave tent on Sunday night? Finally! It was pure electronic history. That signature minimalist aesthetic – four figures behind consoles – combined with those iconic, hypnotic 3D visuals (yes, they had the glasses!) playing classics like “The Man-Machine,” “Autobahn,” “Computer Love,” “The Model,” “Tour de France,” “Trans-Europe Express,” and finishing with “The Robots” and “Musique Non Stop”… utterly captivating. Reviews called it “dazzling,” and that barely covers it. Just legendary.

3. The Prodigy: Over in the Mojave tent on Friday night, and just relentless. Classic Prodigy. The bass literally rattles your ribcage. They haven’t mellowed one bit – pure, raw energy that had the whole tent absolutely heaving. That poignant laser outline tribute to Keith Flint during “Firestarter” was incredibly moving, just like they did at Reading & Leeds apparently. Blasting through “Breathe,” “Voodoo People,” “Omen,” and “Smack My Bitch Up” – it was pure rave energy mixed with punk attitude. Reviews rightly called it “pulse-pounding” and “electric.” Never disappoints.

4. MARINA: Back on the main Coachella Stage on Friday afternoon and absolutely commanding it. What a presence! That nice comeback with “CUNTISSIMO” energy I felt was real – she was fierce, playful, powerful, totally in control, rocking a sleek pale pink hooded dress that reviewers compared to Grace Jones or Kylie. Hearing the crowd roar along to the big hits like “How to Be a Heartbreaker” and “Primadonna,” and especially going wild for the closer “Bubblegum Bitch”? Proper moment. Pure star power.

5. Missy Elliott: Then lighting up the Main Stage on Friday. Honestly, just pure fun from start to finish. She brought that whole ‘Out of This World’ energy reviewers mentioned, with the futuristic screens, tons of dancers, and that iconic voiceover kicking things off (“This is the one and only time…”). She didn’t mess about, just launched into a breathless run of classics – “Throw It Back,” “Cool Off” (nice Kendrick touch!), “We Run This,” “4 My People,” “Sock It 2 Me,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Work It,” “Get Ur Freak On,” “Pass That Dutch”… felt like a greatest hits party. You could see she was having a blast, proper masterclass in stage presence. Left with a massive grin, easily one of the most enjoyable sets.

6. Green Day: Headlining the Main Stage on Saturday, they absolutely proved why they’re punk rock legends still going strong. The energy in the crowd was immense, proper unity, everyone singing along. Reviews mentioned their “superb rock showmanship,” and they weren’t wrong. They smashed through classics from Dookie (“Basket Case,” “Welcome to Paradise”) and American Idiot (“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”), even changing the lyrics in “American Idiot” to take a swipe at the “MAGA agenda.” Plus new stuff like “Bobby Sox” sounded massive. Billie Joe Armstrong was on fire, bringing fans up on stage, and the pyrotechnics were insane – fireworks going off constantly. Finished perfectly with “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” Just a brilliant, high-energy headline set.

7. 2hollis: This was my surprise find of the weekend, stumbled into their set in the Gobi tent on Saturday evening. Barely knew the name, but was instantly hooked. Reviews confirmed the tent was packed and the crowd response was passionate. You can see why – really unique sound, described as “glitchy sequences over bass and ambience,” “beautifully vulnerable,” “exhilarating.” It felt really fresh and unexpected, kind of emotionally striking but melodically intoxicating, as Pitchfork apparently put it. Even Finneas shouted him out online apparently. Sometimes the best festival moments are these random discoveries.

8. HorsegiirL: One of the most enjoyable dance sets, hands down took over Mojave tent, late Saturday night. Dark, sweaty, lasers going mental, everyone just losing it. Found some Reddit comments afterwards confirming the vibe – people calling it one of the best sets, jaws on the floor, insane energy. Pure, unadulterated, slightly bizarre fun.

9. Shaboozey: Made a point to catch him on the main Coachella Stage on Sunday afternoon after seeing his track blow up. Totally get the appeal now. He’s got this effortless cool, blending country storytelling with rock and hip-hop beats. Great live band, really engaging performer, reviews mentioned his swagger. Apparently Noah Cyrus even popped out for “My Fault” during Weekend 1. Definitely one to watch.

10. Benson Boone: Also caught him on the Main Stage on Friday evening. Good energy, solid pop performance, definitely connected with the younger fans down front. Reviews highlighted his powerhouse vocals and energetic stage presence (even doing backflips!). The big moment everyone talked about was him bringing out Queen’s Brian May for “Bohemian Rhapsody” and his own hit “Beautiful Things.” Pretty mad debut moment for him!

    
    

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

And the quality elsewhere was just so high across the three days. On Friday, LISA delivered that visually stunning, high-production K-Pop set in the Sahara tent everyone talks about – 13 songs, five outfits (from futuristic silver to Hello Kitty!), aggressive rap, soaring vocals on tracks like “Money” and “Dream,” and that boundary-pushing choreo. Caught bits of Lola Young‘s soulful set in the Mojave – fair play to her for performing brilliantly while admitting she was sick, playing hits like “Messy” and new tracks like “Spiders.” Later this evening, The Marias brought their dreamy, gothic-tinged indie-pop to the Outdoor Theatre, captivating the audience with María Zardoya’s ethereal vocals and a mesmerising stage presence. Enjoyed the late-night vibes from electronic acts like Vintage Culture bringing the house energy to the Yuma tent and A.G. Cook in the Gobi (reviews confirmed Danny Brown did guest appear, popping out of a red phone box apparently!).

On Saturday, stumbling upon Viagra Boys in the Gobi tent was brilliantly chaotic fun – frontman Seb Murphy is always unpredictable. At the same time, T-Pain brought a high-energy performance to the Coachella Stage, complete with a steampunk aesthetic, running through his hits and surprising the crowd with his vocal range on covers like “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Over in the Mojave tent, Sam Fenderdelivered a powerful set of his anthemic rock, even bringing out Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs for collaborations on tracks like “Seventeen Going Under.” Plus, great seeing Polish talent smash it with VTSS delivering relentless, hard techno over at the Sonora Tent.”

On Sunday, Jennie brought her K-Pop star power to the Outdoor Theatre – reviews raved about her Weekend 2 improvement, showing more confidence, stamina, live vocals on tracks like “FTS” and “Zen,” plus a surprise performance of “SOLO.” Megan Thee Stallion absolutely owned the Main Stage despite some early mic issues (handled like a pro: “Somebody come out here and fix my motherfucking mic!”) – pure professionalism, and bringing out legends like Queen Latifah, Victoria Monét, and Ciarawas incredible. Loved Amaarae‘s unique style (“Afro-fusion,” alt-R&B, hyperpop) and captivating performance in the Gobi tent, and Ty Dolla $ignbrought his signature smooth R&B energy to the Sahara tent later that night. Closing out the main stage on Sunday was Post Malone. Reviews seemed a bit mixed, calling his set solid but maybe “underwhelming” or lacking the “spark” of Gaga’s Friday headline slot. Sounded like he played the big hits (“Rockstar,” “Psycho”) mixed with his newer country stuff. Didn’t catch it all myself, but seemed like a competent closer even if it didn’t set the world alight for everyone.

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

But, Keeping It Real – The Disappointments:

1. Charli xcx: Okay, gonna stand by this. The Main Stage on Saturday was packed, obviously. And yes, Weekend 1 bringing out Lorde, Billie Eilish, and Troye Sivan? That’s huge guest energy. But the actual set? Felt like I’d seen it before, very reliant on the brat hype. And honestly, listening closely… reviews mentioning vocal issues (“flat,” “rusty,” “unrehearsed”) or heavy autotune (“malfunction vibes”) weren’t wrong. It felt more like a DJ set with occasional live vocals sometimes, leaning heavily on backing tracks. The energy from the crowd was undeniable for her fans, but the performance itself felt a bit… phoned in? And the “Miss Should Be Headliner” sash stunt felt awkward after Green Day’s masterclass. Just didn’t hit right for me.

2. Rema: This was genuinely annoying. Was really looking forward to his Mojave tent set Sunday evening, but he was so late – reviews confirmed delays of 20-30 mins, calling the start a “disaster.” His reps cited major technical issues with sound monitoring and mics that weren’t fully resolved, but he chose to go on anyway. Fair play for trying, but the delay meant I had to make a dash for another stage and missed him completely. Tight schedules mean delays like that are killer. Shame.

3. Travis Scott: Main Stage headliner Saturday night. Look, not my usual cup of tea, but you expect something massive. The staging was huge – fire, moving platforms, performing in the crowd, that whole “12 million dollar stage” thing reviews mentioned. But it felt… hollow? Reviews noted the energy disconnect, the crowd thinning out, complaints about quiet sound. He started 15 minutes late, ended abruptly, cut songs short (that run of “NO BYSTANDERS,” “FE!N,” “SICKO MODE,” “Antidote,” “goosebumps” felt incredibly rushed according to reviews). Production stunts like walking down the wall during “Skyfall” were visually cool, but didn’t save the overall vibe. And hearing about that dodgy “it ain’t a mosh pit if ain’t no injuries” lyric during “STARGAZING” just felt grim given the history. All spectacle, not enough substance for me.

4. FKA twigs: And obviously, a big disappointment was FKA twigs cancelling altogether. She confirmed it was due to visa issues affecting her US dates. Bit of déjà vu after pulling out of Primavera last year too. Was really looking forward to seeing her unique performance style.

5. GloRilla: Maybe it was just the context – rushing off pre-Gaga – but her Sahara tent set felt a bit flat compared to her recorded energy. Reviews actually praised her power and previewing new music sampling Keyshia Cole, so maybe it was just me needing to be elsewhere! The hits were there, but it didn’t quite ignite like I’d hoped at that moment.

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

But Coachella isn’t just about the music, is it? The place itself, the desert environment, plays a massive part. That relentless sun beats down, making constant hydration less of a tip and more of a survival tactic – seriously, you’re always clutching a water bottle. Finding shade becomes a mission, so mad props to Neutrogena for those free SPF stations dotted around; genuinely useful! And then there’s the art. Huge, colourful, interactive structures loomed out of the landscape – you couldn’t escape that giant astronaut on Instagram, right? And seeing the rainbow tower light up as the sun dipped behind the mountains was pretty special. That day-to-night transition is something else; the temperature just plummets once the sun’s gone, reminding you you’re actually in a desert. The only real downside atmospherically? The sound bleed could be pretty noticeable sometimes. Trying to get into a quieter set in the Mojave while the thumping bass from the Sahara invaded your space wasn’t ideal – definitely killed the vibe in a few spots.

Navigating all that required fuel, and let’s be honest, food and drink were festival-priced. But still I grabbed some decent burrito that set me back $15, and a huge portion for two big cowboys of tasty Korean-style chicken and fries for $25. Good quality compared to some soggy festival nutritions back home. The craft beer barn looked decent too, though the queues could get long later on. Big plus were the water refill stations everywhere – absolutely crucial for surviving the heat, and managed to stay pretty hydrated to avoid the next day hangover.

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

What really elevated the whole experience though, even more than the punctuality, was the cleanliness. I know I keep banging this drum, but it was remarkable. Seeing dedicated recycling crews constantly working, actual bins being used, the grounds staying relatively pristine all weekend… it’s just night and day compared to that swamp of discarded cups and wrappers you wade at the British festivals. Genuinely couldn’t believe the difference.

And honestly, comparing the overall cost to some big European festivals, Coachella didn’t actually feel thatmuch pricier, especially considering the experience. But maybe that’s just me – I’m a bit of a master when it comes to travel hacks and finding deals, so feel free to DM me @mateuszniesmialek if you want some tips!

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)

That positive vibe definitely extended to the people as well. Everyone just seemed genuinely chilled, friendly, open for a chat while waiting for acts or grabbing food. Had a funny moment where practically everyone I spoke to seemed to have Polish relatives (lol!). Just a real lack of that aggro you sometimes get in big crowds; people looking out for each other, which makes a huge difference. The only real logistical hurdle was getting out at night – those shuttle passes are pretty much essential if you’re staying off-site. Be prepared for the buses getting rammed – it’s a squeeze – but they seemed to run efficiently enough considering the thousands heading out.

So, Coachella 2025? More than just a festival, it’s a full-on desert whirlwind. The sheer scale, the incredible highs from Gaga’s artistry to Kraftwerk’s legacy, the unexpected gems, the impressive organisation – it all blends into this unique, slightly surreal experience. Despite the Friday chaos and a few misses, the overwhelming feeling is one of awe – at the music, the vibe, the place itself. Would I brave the dust, the crowds, and the cost again? Absolutely. Coachella gets under your skin. Start planning now, I guess!

Coachella 2025 (Photo Credit: Mateusz Niesmialek)