Photo by Julia Khoroshilov. Find more of her work here.
There are plenty of reasons to drag Coachella. AEG has been tied to anti-LGBT groups, it’s a hotbed for cultural appropriation, and is less about the music and more about influencers making #sponsored posts and running around in rave outfits from Dolls Kill. While their egregious sins aren’t washed away (Mannequin Pussy posted a great tweet about how they came to terms with their involvement), this year’s lineup is at least a bit more uplifting for the future of music in general. Turning away from rock for several years in favor of pop acts, rappers, and DJs, it seems the cultural pendulum might be finally swinging back towards guitars. Acts I never thought I’d see play the festival (and to be honest, I’m not sure who in attendance will actually go check them out) are being put on one of the most mainstream bills I can think of. Here are people I would actually go see at the fest this year if you’re thinking of buying a pass for the second weekend.
(sandy) Alex G
The unofficial patron saint of indie boys.
Altin Gün
Psychedelic adolescence.
Amyl and The Sniffers
Hopefully not as sweaty as the Market Hotel show this past summer.
Beach Goons
I like these dudes a lot and they play a killer cover of “La Bamba” you didn’t know you needed in your life.
Black Midi
I’m absolutely losing my shit over them playing and I basically just wanna watch the crowd react to this happening.
Charli XCX
The common ground where the indieheads subreddit and ex-tumblr girls meet.
Crumb
Where you’ll trip.
FKA Twigs
Avant-garde high art shit and I’m here for it.
Fontaines D.C.
There gonna be The Arctic Monkeys of this generation and this is their US mainstream intro.
IDLES
Open up the pit and bring your mom.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
More drugs, but with more hair as well.
Lana Del Rey
The queen of Coachella.
Mannequin Pussy
Feel your feelings and scream about them.
Megan Thee Stallion
Euphoria made me a Megan Thee Stallion stan I can’t explain it, but I love her. I’m sure it will be a hell of a show as well.
Noname
She’s probably gonna be more selective with her shows after this so see her while you still can.
Orville Peck
Will have the best outfit there no doubt.
PUP
You can bring your friends who liked emo music back in high school and they won’t hate you for it.
Skeggs
Not from California but sound like they could be.
Slowthai
Industrial meets mainstream, I feel like everyone there will be really hot.
Snail Mail
If you need to just chill and cry for a sec.
The Chats
For when you wanna see a house show without going to a house show.
The Murder Capital
Recommended if you like UK men yelling at you and post-punk
Viagra Boys
I wanna see bros dance to “Sports”
Weyes Blood
Beautiful angel of music. The appropriate place if you went the whole hippie vibe with your outfit.
Maybe not enough to be worth the massive price tag, but better than I remember recent years being. Pick your poison friends.