Coachella dazzles with star power, pop orchestras and Bernie Sanders moment

Lady Gaga, Green Day, and a surprise appearance by Bernie Sanders define the first weekend of Coachella 2025.

Festivalgoers watch Zedd perform at the Outdoor Theatre during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 13, 2025. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Coachella 2025 festival once again transformed the California desert into a swirling oasis of music, fashion, and cultural conversation. With chart-topping performances, orchestral experiments, and even a political cameo, Coachella 2025 delivered a first weekend that stood out for its unexpected moments and multi-genre energy. From Lady Gaga and Green Day to a rousing speech by Bernie Sanders, the premier music event of the year captured the chaotic spirit of its times in dazzling fashion.

A pop-powered opening with classical twists

Coachella 2025 opened with a heavy emphasis on pop—unsurprising given the genre's global dominance—but with a few elegant detours into classical instrumentation. Stars like Post Malone, Benson Boone, Charli XCX, and Tyla each brought their own flavor of radio-ready hits to the stages, while K-pop icons Lisa and Jennie drew screaming fans who had waited hours for a glimpse of their idols.

Jennie attends the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 13, 2025. Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard

Benson Boone, riding high on the viral success of Beautiful Things, lit up the stage with his dynamic presence—performing a live backflip mid-song before segueing into a tribute rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody alongside legendary Queen guitarist Brian May. The combination of vocal theatrics and classic rock nostalgia had the crowd roaring.

Lady Gaga proved once again why she commands arena stages around the world. Her performance of Poker Face blended dramatic choreography with vocal precision, reminding longtime fans of her genre-blending artistry and theatrical command.

Lady Gaga performs on the Coachella Stage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 11, 2025. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

But the weekend's most eclectic performance belonged to renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Their sunset show fused orchestral depth with popular styles, welcoming guests like LL Cool J, Maren Morris, and Laufey. Together, they crossed genre boundaries with arrangements that traveled from jazz and rap to country and mainstream pop—all under the golden glow of the California sun.

Rock’s resurgence hits the desert

While pop may have taken the main stage, Coachella 2025 also gave space for rock to make a long-awaited comeback. Once known as a rock-centric festival, Coachella has, over the years, tilted toward EDM and pop-heavy lineups. But this year saw a deliberate nod to its roots.

Tré Cool, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt of Green Day perform on the Coachella Stage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 12, 2025. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Green Day, headlining on Saturday, delivered a nostalgic, high-energy set that spanned their decades-long career. The crowd erupted to familiar anthems like American Idiot, Basket Case, and When I Come Around, each note a reminder of the band’s enduring cultural footprint.

The Go-Go’s, punk pioneers and one of the few all-female rock bands to break into the mainstream in the 1980s, reunited in style. Their glitter-clad performance of Vacation and We Got the Beat was a glitzy time capsule that earned cheers from both older fans and Gen Z festival-goers discovering their music for the first time.

Other notable rock appearances included Weezer, who played their beloved Blue Album hits to a sea of flannel-clad fans, and the original Misfits, whose cult punk status filled tents with mosh pits and mayhem. Jimmy Eat World and Circle Jerks also turned up the volume, solidifying rock’s place back on the Coachella map.

Bernie Sanders ignites the crowd

Of all the surprise moments during Coachella 2025, none were as unexpected—or as electric—as the unannounced appearance of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Introduced before indie-pop artist Clairo’s set, the longtime progressive politician walked onstage to thunderous applause and a sea of smartphones.

Clairo and Bernie Sanders speak onstage at the Outdoor Theatre during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on April 12, 2025. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

"I’m not gonna be long," Sanders began, pausing as the crowd quieted down. "But this country faces some very difficult challenges and the future of what happens to America depends on your generation."

The senator’s brief but powerful address touched on familiar progressive rallying points: universal health care, women's rights, climate change, and opposition to billionaires and the Trump administration. His final point—calling for an end to the war in Gaza—brought a noticeable shift in tone, with some attendees visibly moved by the weight of his message.

For 21-year-old Samara Guillory, the moment was unforgettable. "Coming here, talking to us, spreading awareness — I think this was exactly the move, honestly," she said, capturing the sentiment of many young fans who view Sanders as one of the few politicians speaking directly to their concerns.

Fashion scene: between leather, lace, and parasols

Coachella’s fashion has long been a canvas for both absurdity and trendsetting. In 2025, the spectrum was wider than ever. While remnants of the "boho-chic" era lingered—crochet tops, wide-brim hats, flower crowns—new trends emerged under the desert sun.

A surprisingly popular look was the “Italian grandma” aesthetic, with silk scarves tied under the chin becoming a functional and stylish shield from the heat. Paper parasols dotted the grounds, adding a vintage elegance to otherwise modern ensembles.

On the other end of the spectrum, many festival-goers ignored the desert climate entirely and embraced full leather outfits—corsets, pants, boots, even jumpsuits—despite the 90+ degree temperatures and dusty conditions. While many questioned the practicality, no one could deny the commitment to the look.

Lighter outfits also trended heavily. Sheer lace overlays, push-up bustiers, and bare midriffs dominated the field, with many attendees leaning into Y2K throwbacks. Halter tops, pleated skirts, low-rise jeans, and rhinestone embellishments signaled the continued reign of early-2000s nostalgia.

A general view of the atmosphere at The Overcompensating House in Coachella, California, on April 12, 2025. Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Ultimately, the fashion at Coachella 2025 wasn’t about comfort—it was about visibility, statements, and pushing style boundaries, no matter the heat or hike.

A festival redefining its future

As Coachella 2025 wrapped its first weekend, one thing was clear: the festival is no longer just a music event. It’s a pop culture barometer, a fashion runway, and even a political platform. From Lady Gaga's grand return to Bernie Sanders’ surprise speech, the weekend combined spectacle with substance.

The fusion of orchestral and pop, the return of punk and rock, and the emergence of socially conscious moments set a new standard for what this festival can offer. As weekend two approaches, the question isn’t whether Coachella 2025 can top itself—but how far it's willing to go to stay ahead of the cultural curve.

With hundreds of thousands of fans still to cycle through its gates, and a digital audience watching from across the world, Coachella has once again proved its staying power—not just as a festival, but as a mirror reflecting the spirit, sound, and style of its generation.

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