Green Day and Bernie Sanders electrify Coachella crowd with political power

Green Day's explosive set and Bernie Sanders' surprise speech make Coachella 2025's second day unforgettable.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont appears on giant screens as he speaks on stage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 12, 2025, in Indio, California. Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Day two of Coachella 2025 brought more than just music to the California desert. As thousands gathered under the sun and stars for the iconic festival’s second night, a powerful fusion of sound and politics unfolded. Green Day and Bernie Sanders electrified the Coachella crowd with political power, delivering a rare combination of nostalgia, rage, and hope that left a lasting mark on the weekend’s festivities.

The surprise appearance of Senator Bernie Sanders lit up the Outdoor Stage following his earlier rally in Los Angeles, where he had already addressed tens of thousands. His call for young people to engage in the political process and fight for justice reverberated throughout the crowd, energizing festival-goers not only for music, but for the message he delivered.

Bernie Sanders draws massive cheers with surprise speech

With the sun sinking low over Indio, Coachella's vibrant atmosphere gave way to something deeper when Bernie Sanders stepped onto the Outdoor Stage. The unbilled guest appeared just minutes after Charli XCX wrapped up her electrifying set, drawing attendees in droves from surrounding areas of the festival grounds.

"You can turn away and you can ignore what goes on, but if you do that, you do it at your own peril," Sanders said, addressing a crowd that moments earlier had been dancing to synth-pop beats. "We need you to stand up, to fight for justice. To fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice."

The roar that followed was not typical of a political rally — this was Coachella, after all — but Sanders’ message found a receptive audience among a generation increasingly aware of the intersection between pop culture and politics.

Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and Lorde shine in surreal set

Before Sanders’ dramatic arrival, Charli XCX delivered one of the weekend’s most visually immersive and musically diverse performances. In a lime-green haze of brat-pop brilliance, the British star leaned into her celebratory 2024 and brought out a trio of major names: Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan.

Her set climaxed with a live performance of "Guess" alongside Eilish — the crowd swelled with excitement as the two powerhouse artists bounced off each other with radiant chemistry. It was a moment emblematic of what Coachella does best: merging musical talents across genres and generations in one unexpected but seamless fusion.

Green Day brings pop-punk rebellion back to the main stage

Later that evening, Coachella’s main stage erupted when Green Day kicked off their 90-minute performance with "American Idiot." As the iconic chords rang out, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made sure to update the song’s message for a 2025 audience.

"I'm not part of the MAGA agenda," he shouted into the mic, twisting the lyrics in a nod to president Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement. The crowd’s reaction — a tidal wave of cheers and fists in the air — showed the band’s enduring relevance.

From "Basket Case" to "When I Come Around," the setlist covered the band’s biggest hits from the 1990s and 2000s. But it wasn’t just a nostalgic trip. Armstrong’s declaration before "Holiday" made things crystal clear: "This is an anti-war song." With that, Green Day confirmed what many already knew — their music is, and always has been, political.

Gustavo Dudamel redefines genre with LA Philharmonic

In another standout moment of the night, conductor Gustavo Dudamel transformed Coachella into a symphonic dreamscape. He led the Los Angeles Philharmonic through a set that was both unconventional and breathtaking, weaving classical orchestration with country, jazz, hip-hop, and pop.

The performance featured surprise collaborations from a stunning lineup: country singer Maren Morris, Icelandic genre-blender Laufey, Argentine rap duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, LA's pop sensation Becky G, and EDM heavyweight Zedd.

And in an unexpected crescendo, LL Cool J joined the orchestra for a mashup of "The Imperial March" from Star Wars and his own "Rock the Bells." It was a surreal, cinematic blend that pushed the boundaries of what Coachella’s stages could offer.

DJ Alok defends the soul of art in AI era

Across the field, Brazilian DJ Alok drew massive crowds to his tent with a bold message: "Keep Art Human." As artificial intelligence continues to blur the lines between human creativity and machine learning, Alok used his set to make a pointed stand for authentic artistic expression.

"To create art, you need the soul," he said after the show, speaking to the growing anxiety among creatives in a tech-dominated world. His performance, backed by immersive visuals and pounding basslines, was a battle cry for art’s future.

More standout acts and a taste of what’s next

Saturday’s highlights didn’t stop there. Japanese Breakfast’s dreamy, emotionally resonant set washed over fans like a sonic balm, while The Original Misfits reminded everyone of punk’s gritty roots. Rapper Travis Scott, despite arriving 20 minutes late, delivered an intense late-night show that balanced chaos with charisma.

And there’s still more to come. Sunday’s lineup is poised to bring another wave of unforgettable moments. Headliner Post Malone will close out the weekend with his genre-crossing set, while Megan Thee Stallion is expected to bring her high-energy, empowering performance style to the main stage. Grammy-nominated newcomer Shaboozey and the legendary Kraftwerk will add more texture to an already rich festival tapestry.

Coachella continues to blend culture, music and politics

As Coachella 2025 continues, it’s becoming clear that this year’s festival isn’t just about the music. Green Day and Bernie Sanders electrified the Coachella crowd with political power, showing that the desert stages can serve as platforms for more than just performance — they can become spaces for protest, for ideas, and for change.

Whether it’s through a surprise speech, a protest lyric, or a musical fusion that challenges expectations, Coachella remains a reflection of its times — messy, passionate, loud, and yearning for something more. The festival’s second weekend promises more of the same, and if Saturday’s moments are any indication, it will be unmissable.