Coachella 2023 Photo Gallery

The Coachella Valley Music Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual event that is as much about the people and vibe of the event as it is about the music and far-flung lineup. Here is a collection of photos I took at Weekend 2 of the Coachellafest as well as some wonderful images of the artists I caught at the fest provided by Coachella...Robert Kinsler

A view captured early on the afternoon of Friday, April 21, 2023. "Eden" is an art installation by artist Maggie West featured at Coachella 2023.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

Coachellagoers walk past "The Messengers," an art installation by artist Kumkum Fernando. Photo: Robert Kinsler

The Murder Capital was the first artist I caught at Weekend 2; the Irish post-punk band is seen performing in the Sonora Tent on April 21, 2023.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

Los Angeles-based MUNA, from left Katie Gavin and Josette Maskin,
performing on April 21, 2023. Photo courtesy of Coachella 

Guest Phoebe Bridgers singing "Silk Chiffon" with MUNA's Katie Gavin
on April 21, 2023. Photo courtesy of Coachella

Wet Leg singer-guitarist Rhian Teasdale leading the Coachella faithful during
a loud and extended scream during "Ur Mum" on April 21, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

A view of the Coachella Stage during Burna Boy's impressive Friday night set.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Nigerian singer Damini Ebunoluwa Ogula (known professionally as Burna Boy) performing on April 21, 2023. Photo courtesy of Coachella

Gorillaz singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Damon Albarn leading the collective through an impressive set on the Coachella Stage on April 21, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Bad Bunny and Gorillaz on April 21, 2023. Photo courtesy of Coachella

Acclaimed jazz singer-guitarist Nat Palm performing with the jazz-funk band Hiatus Kaiyote on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on April 22, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Coachella
 

Jenny Juarez brought her melodic pop-meets-garage rock project 
Bratty to the Sonora Tent on April 22. Photo courtesy of Coachella

Sofi Tukker (Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) killing it during a 55-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

An artful view of the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, captured on Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Coachella

A view of Coachella at dusk, including attendees checking out the "Holoflux"
art installation. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Sunset at Coachella on April 22, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Coachella

Coachellagoers getting their group photo in front of "Holoflux"
on April 22, 2023. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Coachella 2023 Favorites: Gorillaz, Sofi Tukker, Wet Leg, more!

"The Messengers" by Kumkum Fernando, comprises three monolithic figures, which appear at first as giant robots or action figures. But his “idols” — arranged in a row to create a colorful gathering place — pack volumes of meaning into their larger-than-life forms. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Robert Kinsler highlights six of his favorite performances caught at 2023's Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Images and details about some of the festival's impressive artwork is also featured in this post. A special "thank you" to Goldenvoice for the use of so many outstanding images taken at Coachella.

Los Angeles–based artist and architect Güvenç Özel engages the spectrum of human experience, from the physical to the virtual. His 60-foot-tall Holoflux is a portal to a broad digital ecosystem of ever-changing forms that you experience throughout the day. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Friday, April 21

Rhian Teasdale, left, and Hester Chambers of
Wet Leg. Photo courtesy of Coachella

Wet Leg — British indie rock duo Wet Leg (featuring singer-guitarists Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers) had a blast throughout their 40-minute late afternoon set in the Mojave tent. In fact, several times during the performance of "Too Late Now" Teasdale started laughing uncontrollably, obviously immersed in the moment. Wet Leg's super catchy New Wave-flavored indie rock was performed with an infectious energy that had concertgoers packed in the tent moving and responding to invitations to sing along. The opener "Being in Love," indie hit "Wet Dream" and ambitious "Obvious" (the latter with its Mazzy Star-flavored intro) were among the wonderful songs unleashed. Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl even joined in the fun during "Ur Mum," where he joined the band and crowd for an extremely loud and extended scream. During the closing song, the band's hit "Chaise Lounge," drummer Henry Holmes helped propel the favorite to new heights with his hard-hitting style.

Burna Boy — Afro-fusion artist Burna Boy led a large ensemble of backing singers and musicians — including a great horn section — for an intoxicating set on the Coachella Stage. The Nigerian artist and company artfully blended soul, reggae, R&B and world music across a masterful set. He closed his 50-minute appearance with a moving take on the anthemic "Last Last."

De La Soul with Damon Albarn, right, of Gorillaz. 
Photo credit: Courtesy of Coachella

Gorillaz fans who caught the Damon Albarn-fronted collective on the Coachella Stage on April 21 were treated to a parade of bona fide surprises. Indeed, when Albarn declared early in the set that "Weekend 2 is better than Weekend 1," he wasn't kidding. Beck, Little Simz, Thundercat, Bootie Brown and that night's headliner — Bad Bunny — were among the high-profile guests who made notable appearances during the virtual band's 75-minute set. Highlights of the outing included the aforementioned Beck joining Damon for an energy-filled "The Valley of the Pagans," a killer run through the infectious title track ("Thunder Island") from the latest Gorillaz album with guest Thundercat, the powerful and timely "Kids With Guns" and shimmering "New Gold" (the latter featuring Bootie Brown). Gorillaz' best-known material capped the set, with De La Soul joining the fun for a spirited take on "Feel Good Inc." and Del the Funky Homosapien sharing the stage for "Clint Eastwood."

Saturday, April 22

Bratty — Culiacán, Sinaloa native Jenny Juárez brought her bedroom pop meets garage rock project known as Bratty to the Sonora Tent on Saturday afternoon. Singing in Spanish, her catchy rock style and obvious strengths as a singer and rhythm guitarist were obvious throughout her brief 35-minute set. Only 22, this charismatic young artist is definitely one to watch.

Ethel Cain on April 22, 2023.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Coachella

Ethel Cain — Singer-songwriter Ethel Cain's riveting performance in the Sonora Tent was among the best performances I caught on Saturday. Armed with a voice that is as emotionally detailed as it is beautiful, Cain delivered a seven-song set highlighted by the heavy "Family Tree," rootsy "Thoroughfare" (the latter featuring Cain's great harmonica work), brooding "Gibson Girl" and dramatic closer "Crush." 

Fans dancing during Sofi Tukker's performance on the Outdoor Theatre on April 22.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Sofi Tukker — Florida-based duo Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern — attracted a massive crowd to the Outdoor Theatre on Saturday. Halpern took the stage and asked: "Coachella!... Are we ready?" Almost instantly the large grass field was transformed into a gigantic dance floor with thousands of Coachellagoers moving to the undeniable groove of the duo's 2015 single "Drinkee." The momentum of their 55-minute outing seemed to gain sway by the minute. A creative stage setup with curved monkey bars (that doubled as a percussive instrument), a swing made from vines utilized by Hawley Weld on "Matadora" and exciting dance troupe known as Bob's Dance Shop collectively amplified the rush. Standouts included "Sacrifice" with Hawley-Weld's beautiful vocals showcased, the Latin-mining "Jacaré," catchy "Batshit" (the latter featuring Hawley-Weld's flashy lead guitar work) and rapid-fire closer "Purple Hat." 

Robert Kinsler

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Fridays, April

2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Preview

A scene at Coachella in 2022.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Music writers Robert Kinsler and George A. Paul each highlight some of their must-see artists coming to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Taking place over consecutive weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Coachellafest will be held April 14-16 and again April 21-23, 2023. This year's headliners are Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Frank Ocean. There are countless emerging and established artists performing this year.

Fridays, April 14 and 21

Gorillaz / Photo courtesy of the artist

Gorillaz — Since singer/multi-instrumentalist Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett formed Gorillaz in 1998, the collective has proven to be the world's most important and enduring virtual band. The English ensemble records genre-blending original music that is distributed via a myriad of channels including music videos, interviews, short cartoons, digital media and live performances. The band's parade of groundbreaking hits includes "Clint Eastwood," "19-2000," "Feel Good Inc." and "Kids With Guns." Gorillaz' outstanding 2023 album Cracker Island features far-flung collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Beck and many more; the album is one of the most exciting albums of early 2023. RK

Blondie / Photo credit: Rob Roth

Blondie – Led by Deborah Harry, the eclectic and influential pop/rock band emerged from NYC in the ‘70s. Best known for Billboard chart toppers “Heart of Glass,” “Call Me,” “The Tide is High” and “Rapture,” plus “One Way or Another,” “Hanging on the Telephone” and “Dreaming,” Blondie’s music is frequently covered and heard in commercials, movies, and TV shows. Since a late ‘90s reunion, the sextet has released four studio albums. 2017’s Pollinator featured Joan Jett, Johnny Marr and Sia collaborations. The excellent Grammy-nominated box set Against the Odds: 1974-1982 arrived last year. GP

Chemical Brothers - Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons performed on Day 1 of the first Coachella in 1999. This writer recalls it being a mind-blowing performance. A leading light in the electronica movement, the British duo formed while Manchester University students, first gained attention as DJs and then put out full-length debut Exit Planet Dust in 1995. Through the years, the Chemical Brothers became sought-after remixers and tapped an impressive array of guest vocalists – Noel Gallagher, Bernard Sumner, Beck, Tim Burgess, Bobbie Gillespie, Wayne Coyne, Richard Ashcroft, and St. Vincent among them – to appear on their albums. 2019’s No Geography won a Grammy.  GP 

Wet Leg
Photo credit: Hollie Fernando

Wet Leg — Rising British indie rock duo Wet Leg feature Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. Although their appearances at Coachella may be their introduction to many area concertgoers, their 2022 self-titled debut album landed at number one on the UK Album Charts, Australia's ARIA Albums Chart and the Irish Albums Chart. Thanks to instantly-infectious tracks such as "Wet Dream," "Angelica" and New Wave-styled "Chaise Lounge," it's likely they will have large crowds moving with the music at their two performances in Indio. RK

Saturdays, April 15 and 22

The Breeders – Originally a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal (Throwing Muses’ Tonya Donelly was a member on first album Pod in 1990), alt-rockers the Breeders became a full-time endeavor for Deal once her main band broke up. Sophomore effort Last Splash went platinum in ’93 on the back of top 5 modern rock radio hit “Cannonball,” as well as “Divine Hammer” and “Saints.” The following year, they appeared at Lollapalooza. Various members came and went during the 2000s, but the classic lineup with Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim MacPherson has been together since 2012. Courtney Barnett guested on 2018’s All Nerve. GP 

The Linda Lindas
Photo credit: Zen Sekizawa

The Linda Lindas — Los Angeles-based power-punk band Linda Lindas is comprised of two sisters, a cousin and their close friend. The energetic quartet successfully mines some of the best punk, New Wave and alt rock instincts of the late 1970s and early '80s. The explosive "Growing Up" (the title track off their 2022 Epitaph Records debut) captures the youthful spirit of teenagers moving into young adulthood while holding fast to their friendships, the propulsive sound recalling early tracks from the Go-Go's and the Muffs. Just as infectious is the punk rocker "Oh!," a track that recalls the sonic spirit of early Devo or the B-52's. Equally intoxicating is the shimmering indie rocker "Magic." All four members of the Linda Lindas (Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza and Mila de la Garza) provide lead and backing vocals. RK

Sundays, April 16 and 23

Björk
Photo credit: Vidar Logi,
courtesy Sacks & Co. 

Björk – The unique singer put Icelandic music on the map with The Sugarcubes’ 1988 debut Life’s Too Good. When that group dissolved in 1992, Björk went onto much bigger success as a solo artist. Her run of gold and platinum albums during that decade spawned such alt-rock and dance hits here as “Human Behavior,” “Big Time Sensuality,” “Army of Me” and “All is Full of Love.” Björk’s concerts are always a fascinating visual spectacle – like when she appeared on the Coachella main stage in 2007. The presentation for last year’s intriguing avant-pop effort Fossora should be no different. GP 

Weyes Blood — Weyes Blood — the moniker for American singer-songwriter Natalie Laura Mering — is appearing at Coachella in the wake of her outstanding 2022 album And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow. The songstress' style draws comparisons with the celebrated likes of Aimee Mann, Karen Carpenter, Joni Mitchell and Harry Nilsson; indeed her singularly beautiful mix of soft rock and chamber pop completely immerses the listener with layers of vocal and instrumental magic. It's clear original gems such as "It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody," "Children of the Empire," "God Turn Me Into a Flower," "Hearts Aglow" and "A Given Thing" will create a marvelous moodscape at Coachella. RK

Coachella 2023 lineup announced! View the lineup and get all the details on the two-weekend festival coming in April 2023!

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2023 LINEUP WITH

BAD BUNNY, BLACKPINK, BLONDIE, FRANK OCEAN

RETURNING TO THE DESERT

CALVIN HARRIS

DESPACIO ALL WEEKEND LONG

VERY LIMITED WEEKEND 1 PASSES REMAIN

REGISTER NOW FOR ACCESS TO PASSES AT COACHELLA.COM

Los Angeles, CA (January 10, 2023) – Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for two weekends set for April 14 – 16 and April 21 – 23, 2023 with Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean, Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, Björk, Burna Boy, ROSALÍA, Eric Prydz presents HOLO, Kali Uchis and more performing both weekends. (Full lineup as of January 10 below).  Very limited Weekend 1 passes remain. For your best chance at passes, look to Weekend 2. Register now for access to passes at coachella.com. Presale begins Friday, January 13 at 11am PT. This is a presale and does not guarantee pass type, packages or camping. YouTube returns in 2023 as the exclusive livestream partner for both Coachella weekends on our official YouTube channel; delivering iconic performances, exciting behind-the-scenes content, and so much more to millions of fans around the world.   Official Hotel Packages that bundle festival passes with local lodging and transportation are available for weekend one and weekend two, sold exclusively through Valley Music Travel. For more festival information and updates, please visit www.coachella.com. The complete Coachella lineup in ABC order is as follows: $uicideboy$ ¿Téo? 070 Shake 1999.ODDS 2manydjs A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Adam Beyer  AG Club Airrica Alex G Ali Sethi Angèle Ashnikko Bad Bunny  Bakar Becky G BENEE Big Wild  Björk BLACKPINK Blondie Boris Brejcha boygenius BRATTY Burna Boy  Calvin Harris Camelphat Cannons Cassian Charli XCX Chloé Caillet Chris Stussy Christine and the Queens Chromeo Colyn Conexión Divina DannyLux Dennis Cruz + PAWSA Despacio  Destroy Boys Diljit Dosanjh  Dinner Party ft. Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington DJ Tennis + Carlita Doechii Dombresky Domi & JD Beck  Dominic Fike Donavan's Yard DPR LIVE + DPR IAN DRAMA EARTHGANG  El Michels Affair Eladio Carrión Elderbrook Elyanna Eric Prydz Presents HOLO Ethel Cain Fisher + Chris Lake FKJ Flo Milli Fousheé  Francis Mercier Frank Ocean Gabriels GloRilla Gordo Gorillaz Hiatus Kaiyote Horsegirl Hot Since 82 IDK Idris Elba  Jackson Wang Jai Paul  Jai Wolf Jamie Jones  Jan Blomqvist  Joy Crookes  Juliet Mendoza Jupiter & Okwess Kali Uchis Kaytranada Keinemusik Kenny Beats Knocked Loose Kyle Watson Labrinth Latto Lava La Rue Lewis OfMan Los Bitchos Los Fabulosos Cadillacs LP Giobbi Maceo Plex  Magdalena Bay Malaa Marc Rebillet  Mareux Mathame Metro Boomin Minus the Light MK Mochakk Momma Monolink MUNA Mura Masa NIA ARCHIVES Noname  Nora En Pure Oliver Koletzki Overmono Paris Texas Pi'erre Bourne  Porter Robinson  Pusha T Rae Sremmurd  Rebelution Remi Wolf Romy ROSALÍA Saba Sasha & John Digweed Sasha Alex Sloan Scowl SG Lewis  Shenseea Sleaford Mods Snail Mail SOFI TUKKER Soul Glo Stick Figure  Sudan Archives  Sunset Rollercoaster Tale Of Us TESTPILOT The Blaze The Breeders The Chemical Brothers The Comet Is Coming The Garden The Kid LAROI The Linda Lindas The Murder Capital Tobe Nwigwe TSHA TV Girl Two Friends UMI  Uncle Waffles  Underworld Vintage Culture Wet Leg Weyes Blood WhoMadeWho  Whyte Fang Willow  Yaeji Yung Lean YUNGBLUD Yves Tumor ### ABOUT GOLDENVOICE Goldenvoice, creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, operates successful Los Angeles and Bay Area music venues including the Fonda Theatre, The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre, The Novo, Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, The Regency Ballroom and The Warfield. Goldenvoice holds exclusive booking deals at Brookside at The Rose Bowl, Santa Barbara Bowl, Mountain Winery and Frost Amphitheatre. They also have produced events such as Desert Trip, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Day N Vegas, Just Like Heaven and many more. Beginning as an independent punk rock promoter in the early 1980s, Goldenvoice grew to be the preeminent alternative promoter in Southern California by forging strong relationships with both bands and music fans. Currently, Goldenvoice promotes over 2,000 concerts a year in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada plus recently adding North American tours to their growing list of accomplishments. For additional info, please visit www.Goldenvoice.com.