Skip to main content
 
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • GRAMMYs
  • News
  • Governance
  • Jobs
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Login
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • More
    • MusiCares
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • Latin GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Videos
  • Music Genres
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Music Genres
    • Recording Academy

Latin GRAMMYs

MusiCares

  • About
  • Get Help
  • Give
  • News
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Person of the Year
  • More
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Person of the Year

Advocacy

  • About
  • News
  • Issues & Policy
  • Act
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
    • Recording Academy

Membership

  • Join
  • Events
  • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
  • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
  • GRAMMY U
  • GOVERNANCE
  • More
    • Join
    • Events
    • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
    • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
    • GRAMMY U
    • GOVERNANCE
Log In Join
  • SUBSCRIBE

  • Search
See All Results
Modal Open
Subscribe Now

Subscribe to Newsletters

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
GRAMMY Museum
Membership

Join us on Social

  • Recording Academy
    • The Recording Academy: Facebook
    • The Recording Academy: Twitter
    • The Recording Academy: Instagram
    • The Recording Academy: YouTube
  • GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
    • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
    • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
    • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
  • MusiCares
    • MusiCares: Facebook
    • MusiCares: Twitter
    • MusiCares: Instagram
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy: Facebook
    • Advocacy: Twitter
  • Membership
    • Membership: Facebook
    • Membership: Twitter
    • Membership: Instagram
    • Membership: Youtube
The Weeknd photographed in 2017

The Weeknd

 Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

Poll
Vote: Most Anticipated 2018 Coachella Performance? beyonc%C3%A9-weeknd-x-japan-most-anticipated-coachella-2018-performance-poll

Beyoncé, The Weeknd, X Japan: Most Anticipated Coachella 2018 Performance | Poll

Facebook Twitter Email
The final countdown to the 2018 installment of Coachella is on — which performance are you looking forward to the most?
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Apr 6, 2018 - 1:47 pm

The race to the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is winding down as we're just one week away. With headliners The Weeknd, Beyoncé and Eminem leading the slate of more than 150 festival performers, Indio, Calif., will once again be the place to be throughout the next two weekends (April 13–15 and April 20–22).

Polls

2018 Coachella: Which performer are you most excited to see this year?

Aside from the headliners, there are many artists fueling the pre-festival chatter. There's the Coachella debut of Yoshiki and X Japan; recent 60th GRAMMY nominees SZA, Cardi B, 6LACK, and Kali Uchis; the likes of Jamiroquai, St. Vincent, and Nile Rodgers & Chic; and family affairs in the form of Haim and Migos.

 

pic.twitter.com/ivjHgj9uae

— Coachella (@coachella) January 3, 2018

 

And that's but a small taste.

Are you making a roadie to the Southern California desert for the parties and music? Or will you be tuning in to Coachella via live stream? (According to Brooklyn Vegan, details on the stream are forthcoming.)

In either case, we want to know which 2018 Coachella performer you are looking forward seeing (or streaming) the most? Make sure to cast your vote in our poll!

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs" ​

Beyoncé performs at 2018 Coachella

Beyoncé

Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images

News
#Beychella: Highlights From Coachella Weekend One beyonc%C3%A9-x-japan-mason-ramsey-more-coachella-2018-weekend-one

Beyoncé, X Japan, Mason Ramsey & More: Coachella 2018 Weekend One !

Facebook Twitter Email
With reunions, special guests, explosive debuts, and plenty of only-in-Indio moments, Coachella's first weekend had festivalgoers and social media drunk in love
Steve Baltin
GRAMMYs
Apr 15, 2018 - 11:42 pm

Looking at social media this weekend, all of the music talk centered around Beyoncé's career-defining performance at Coachella on Saturday night. And rightuflly so. 

The only reunion that matters! The glorious, @DestinysChild reunited at #BeyChella!

(via Coachella/ GIPHY) pic.twitter.com/aGRqJGhXgu

— BET (@BET) April 15, 2018

 

Whether it was her precision opening that featured 100 dancers in perfect choreographed unison, the surprise appearances of husband Jay-Z and sister Solange, or the reunion with former Destiny's Child band mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, the combination of Queen Bey and Coachella proved uncontainable for pop culture. (And so did the hashtag #Beychella.)

"This is a very important performance for me," she told the crowd in between performances of "Sorry" and "Bow Down/I Been On." "I'm happy to be back home on the stage tonight."

If Beyoncé — who made history as the first-ever black woman to headline Coachella — had given the exact same performance at another festival, say Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza or New Orleans Jazz Fest, would it have had the exact same impact? No, according to her fellow Coachella performers.

"It's few and far between where there's a setting where there's so much focus. Coachella is the epitome of that. The world is watching, so the artists really put the focus in," says Odesza's Clayton Knight. "It's a cool thing to be part of and history in the making in a lot of ways. Whatever happens this weekend sets the tone for this year almost."

The Neighbourhood’s Zachary Abels concurs. 

"It feels a little different. There's an aura around it," said Abels while at the KROQ House. "You feel like you're someplace special."

Outside of Beyoncé dominating this weekend's headlines, per usual, Coachella offered an abundance of moments that stirred up social media.

She is amazing. I wanted to watch #Beyonce , but we are playing at the same time @coachella. @XJapanOfficial #Coachella https://t.co/4fGdNAWi27

— Yoshiki (@YoshikiOfficial) April 16, 2018

For starters, there was the typical plethora of big-name guest stars. Just on night one, GRAMMY winner Kendrick Lamar made surprise appearances with both Vince Staples and SZA; Steve Aoki joined Alan Walker; and Carly Rae Jepsen played with Jack Antonoff and Bleachers. For her Sunday Coachella set, Cardi B brought out Chance The Rapper, G-Eazy and Kehlani for her reported $300,000 set.

One-off collaborations like these are part of what make Coachella so unique according to Odesza's Harrison Mills.

"I think what's cool about Coachella is because there are so many eyes on it, it can create collaborations you would never think of, like just celebrities in the crowd seeing acts they would never see otherwise cause their lives are so intense," says Mills.

#IG | Justin Bieber has now posted the photo on his Instagram. pic.twitter.com/F43KAnYcO6

— Greta Van Fleet Updates (@GVFDaily) April 14, 2018

 

Proving Mills' point, Justin Bieber posted a photo hanging out with up-and-coming rock stars Greta Van Fleet. Maybe the photo-op doesn't represent a potential musical pairing per se, but given Bieber’s staggering 98.6 million followers and the photo's 3 million-plus likes, it equated to tons of exposure for the Detroit rockers. And it happened at Coachella, of course. 

There's no question the proximity to L.A., and the fact that the festival has become the epicenter of glitz and glamour in the music world for the two weekends, plays a big part in Coachella's lofty status. It's a chicken and egg question as to whether the celebrities have helped make Coachella or Coachella was so big already and that's why artists like Madonna were willing to play it as far back as 2006.

Coachella has transcended music to also become a major event for fashion. For an artist like X Japan's Yoshiki, the marriage of music and fashion that takes place is part of what excited him to travel all the way around the world be one of the major rock acts on this year's bill.

Music Festival Essentials: 11 Must-Haves, From Apps To Packs & More

"Coachella is not only one of the biggest festivals in the world, but very edgy [and] fashionable," says Yoshiki. "I love the style, so we wanted to do something unusual. I'm heavily influenced by David Bowie, so fashion wise I wanted to do something exciting."

.@reddit : #Holograms return to #Coachella! #XJAPAN !!@Coachellahttps://t.co/2EJgFcyos3 pic.twitter.com/aWH9awzjko

— X Japan (@XJapanOfficial) April 16, 2018

 

Speaking of exciting, X Japan's set featured hologram technology that allowed them to feature late band members Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto and Taiji Sawada for a set that also garnered plenty of chatter.

As for other weekend one highlights, David Byrne masterfully showcased Talking Heads' classics like "Once In A Lifetime " and " Burning Down The House"; Chic and Nile Rodgers got funky with classics such as Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" — two songs Rodgers produced and co-wrote, respectively; Illenium, one of the top young electronic artists in music, incited thousands of festivalgoers to dance in frenzied joy; and Tyler, The Creator created a series of new worlds with every song — including "Boredom" and "911/Mr. Lonely" — to a stunning visual showcase that was as much live cinema as music.

yo @whethanmusic just brought out the yodel kid at coachella!! pic.twitter.com/BIBqv3UEFo

— paul.psd (@pauldonatelli) April 13, 2018

 

Then there was the "yodeling Walmart kid," Mason Ramsey, who traded up his YouTube star status for a chance to perform alongside DJ  Whethan on Friday afternoon.

With such a diverse lineup of talent — from the jazz of Kamasi Washington to the folk-pop of First Aid Kit and the plethora of dance music, including icons such as Jean-Michel Jarre — Coachella even turns the performing artists into fans.

"Whatever happens this weekend sets the tone for this year almost." — Odesza's Clayton Knight

"I went to see St. Vincent, saw Vince Staples bring out Kendrick, that was a really cool. Beyoncé [was] the thing to see ... David Byrne, I’m a big fan of Talking Heads," says English singer/songwriter Declan McKenna, who performed at his first Coachella.

That is Coachella, where, as Odesza says, everybody has to up their game. And that was shown time and again this past weekend. For some, like Illenium, it is a coming-out party. For Haim, who performed in front of tens of thousands thanks to being the direct support for Beyoncé, it was the best night of their lives, according to Este Haim, who told a hilarious story about her unique experience being at Coachella for Prince back in 2008 with her close friend Kesha. Playing the main stage of what they called their "hometown festival" topped that, she told the audience.

For so many artists, who live and attend shows in L.A., Coachella represents a major goal. "It's a big thing growing up in L.A. — everybody wants to go to Coachella," says Sage Chavis of the L.A.-based Regrettes.

If weekend one is any indication, Coachella's reputation as the most unique festival going in music looks to be secure.

"It's like no other festival I've ever been to," says McKenna.

(Steve Baltin has written about music for Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, MOJO, Chicago Tribune, AOL, LA Weekly, Philadelphia Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and dozens more publications.)

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Beyoncé on stage at Coachella weekend two

Beyoncé

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

News
Who Won Weekend Two At Coachella? beyonc%C3%A9-ariana-grande-cardi-b-light-coachella-2018-weekend-two

Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Cardi B Light Up Coachella 2018 Weekend Two

Facebook Twitter Email
A dominant performance, a surprise appearance and an a chart-topping rapper were the talk of the desert at weekend two in Indio, Calif.
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 23, 2018 - 8:52 am

After an unforgettable weekend one of Coachella 2018, many were left wondering, "What could possibly come next?" Their questions were answered weekend two as #Beychella continued, a pop superstar made a surprise appearance to perform her new single, and the new queen of rap brought the house down.

https://twitter.com/coachella/status/988118525557424128

Highlights 2018: Day 2, Weekend 2: https://t.co/gkaAUS4bP6 pic.twitter.com/rtwCtLQ9jC

— Coachella (@coachella) April 22, 2018

Beyoncé set a new standard weekend one, reuniting Destiny's Child, featuring surprise appearances by Jay-Z and Solange, and earning the highest YouTube livestream numbers ever. Not to be outdone by anyone, even herself, Bey returned with repeat reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, saying, "Give it up for my best friends," and her special husband and sister guests. She also added a new surprise with J Balvin joining her for "Mi Gente," resulting in a "more charming and off-the-cuff" performance, according to Rolling Stone, putting #Beychella 2018 to bed. 

But the biggest surprise of weekend two came from an appearance by way of pop superstar Ariana Grande. After releasing "No Tears Left To Cry," the first single from her forthcoming album, Grande surprised the Coachella audience by performing the song after Norwegian DJ Kygo's set, sending her fans into a frenzy and causing them to launch the counter-hashtag #Arichella.

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/987722844128690176

#NoTearsLeftToCry #Coachella ♡ pic.twitter.com/dLTGxhxQPk

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) April 21, 2018

Cardi B played a guest-heavy set, bringing up Balvin and Bad Bunny for "I Like It" and welcoming SZA on stage to sing "I Do." Cardi's Sunday night set featured several selections from her debut album, Invasion Of Privacy, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 upon its release just one week prior.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh5ilzejZZ9/?hl=en&taken-by=sza

GRAMMYs

Content Not Available

With Coachella 2018 officially in the books, which must-attend music festival will you be looking forward to next?

More Music Festivals
Prev
Next
The Weeknd photographed in 2017
The Weeknd
 Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

Vote: Most Anticipated 2018 Coachella Performance?

Mavis Staples, 2018
Mavis Staples
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Avett Brothers, Mavis Staples Hit Moon River Fest

Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Keith Urban To Perform At SXSW 2018

Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com

Willie Nelson's July 4th Picnic Lineup

Fischerspooner, 2010
Fischerspooner
Photo: Steve Mack/Getty Images

Phase 2 Lineup Announced For ULTRA 2018

Martin Garrix
Martin Garrix
Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Music Festivals 2018: EDC China Lineup Announced

The 1975 perform at Scala, London, 2012
The 1975 perform at Scala in London
Photo: Joseph Okpako/Getty Images

Independent Venue Week Will Honor Music Hot Spots

Carl Cox, 2016
Carl Cox
Photo: Future Music Magazine/Getty Images

Lineup Unveiled For ULTRA 2018's RESISTANCE Stages

Zedd, 2017
Zedd
Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Who's Headlining Air + Style Festival 2018?

The National's Matt Berninger, 2014
The National's Matt Berninger
Photo: Jason LaVeris/Getty Images

Who's Helping Celebrate The National's Homecoming?

The Killers, 2011
The Killers
Photo: Steven Lawton/Getty Images

Firefly Festival 2018 Headliners Announced

Lucy Dacus photographed in 2017
Lucy Dacus
Photo: Timothy Hiatt/WireImage.com  

Who's Playing The Decemberists' Festival?

Mija (Amber Giles) in 2015
Mija (Amber Giles)
Photo: Nicholas Rhodes/Getty Images

Dirtybird Campout East: 2018 Lineup Announced

Kirk Franklin speaks onstage in 2017
Kirk Franklin
Photo: Erika Goldring/WireImage.com

Kirk Franklin To Host Exodus Music & Arts Fest

Armin Van Buuren in 2015
Armin Van Buuren
Photo: El Pics/Getty Images

Ultra Music Festival 2018 Headliners Announced

GRAMMYs
Pharrell Williams and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong
Photos: WireImage.com

Global Citizen Festival Announces All-Star Lineup

Ghost performs live in 2017
Ghost's Papa Emeritus III
Photo: Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images

Rocklahoma 2018: Have You Seen The Lineup?

Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar
Photo: Raajessh Kashyap/Hindustan Times/Getty Images

Music Festivals 2018: Big Ears Experimental Fest

Babymetal perform live in 2016
Babymetal's Su-metal and Moametal
Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images

Who's Playing At The 2018 ROTR Festival?

Paramore in 2017
Paramore
Photo: Heidi Gutman/Getty Images

Paramore Announce Lineup For Parahoy! Cruise

Kygo at Electric Forest 2014
Kygo at Electric Forest 2014
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Festival Lineup For Electric Forest 2018

Bjork
Bjork
Photo: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

London's Brand New Music Fest: All Points East

Jack White circa 2018
Jack White
Photo: Yui Mok - PA Images/Getty Images

Which Music Festivals Are You Going To In 2018?

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

The Weeknd

The Weeknd

Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

News
The Weeknd, Eminem, Beyoncé To Headline Coachella coachella-2018-weeknd-eminem-beyonc%C3%A9-headline

Coachella 2018: The Weeknd, Eminem, Beyoncé To Headline

Facebook Twitter Email
The full lineup for the popular festival has been announced
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 3, 2018 - 11:38 am

We already knew Beyoncé was going to make an appearance at the 2018 installment of Coachella, since she had to reschedule last year's performance due to her pregnancy. But on Jan. 2 the full lineup was announced for the popular festival.

Beyoncé wins Best Urban Contemporary Album GRAMMY

Headliners joining Beyoncé's Saturday performances are GRAMMY winners The Weeknd and Eminem, who will cover Friday and Sunday performances, respectively. A plethora of other notable artists are also on the performance roster, including SZA, St. Vincent, War On Drugs, Haim, Tyler, The Creator, Post Malone, Odesza, Portugal. The Man, Cardi B, Migos, and Miguel.

pic.twitter.com/ivjHgj9uae

— Coachella (@coachella) January 3, 2018

The first weekend of Coachella kicks off April 13, with the second weekend concluding April 22. Passes for both weekends go on sale at noon Jan. 5 via Coachella's website.

11 Must-Attend 2018 Music Festivals: SXSW, Coachella, Lollapalooza & More

Cardi B & Rihanna

Cardi B & Rihanna in 2019

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

News
Vote: What 2021 Album Can You Not Wait For? cardi-b-rihanna-rosal%C3%ADa-more-which-artists-2021-album-are-you-looking-forward-most

Cardi B, Rihanna, Rosalía & More: Which Artist's 2021 Album Are You Looking Forward To The Most?

Facebook Twitter Email
With a new year comes new music. Vote on the album you can't wait for in our latest poll
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jan 19, 2021 - 3:26 pm

We're only three weeks into 2021, which means we have plenty of time left for new music releases. There are already some big albums confirmed and many more TBD ( based on artists' hints in interviews and social posts).

While Rihanna's long-awaited, "dangerously anticipated" ninth LP may be gifted to fans this year, it seems very likely music lovers will also be granted new albums from Adele, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Brazilian pop queen Anitta, Gwen Stefani, Lil Nas X, Kacey Musgraves, Sade, Rosalía, Lorde, and many more.

Let us know whose new album you are most excited to hear this year in our poll below:

Polls

What 2021 Album Are You Most Looking Forward To?

Poll: What's Your 2021 Musical New Year's Resolution?

Grammys Newsletter

Subscribe Now

GRAMMYs Newsletter

Be the first to find out about winners, nominees, and more from Music's Biggest Night.
Top
Logo
  • Recording Academy
    • About
    • Governance
    • Press Room
    • Jobs
    • Events
  • GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Store
    • FAQ
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Cultural Foundation
    • Members
    • Press
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • COLLECTION:live
    • Explore
    • Exhibits
    • Education
    • Support
    • Programs
    • Donate
  • MusiCares
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
  • Advocacy
    • About
    • News
    • Learn
    • Act
  • Membership
    • Chapters
    • Producers & Engineers Wing
    • Songwriters & Composers Wing
    • GRAMMY U
    • Join
Logo

© 2021 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Contact Us

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.