With weekend two of Coachella quickly approaching, let’s take time to reflect on the wonderful madness that weekend one delivered.
The music festival, which is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., from April 11-13 and 18-20, draws in music lovers, fashion enthusiasts and, now, influencers from all over the world.
Since it was founded in 1999, the festival keeps people coming back for more and its become about more than just the music. Now, the festival is filled with fun activations, there’s parties happening before, after and during the festival — and getting “sprouted” is like wearing a badge of honor.
This year, since one person simply isn’t enough to experience it all, a team of writers and editors at PEOPLE made our way to the desert to experience the festival in our own ways. All festival lovers in our own right, the PEOPLE team returned to normalcy ready to share our hot takes from the weekend.
Read the PEOPLE team’s hot takes below.
Latin music fans were left wanting more
This year’s lineup, especially compared to the year prior, included a disappointing list of Latin music acts.
This year’s slate of Latin artists included The Marías (who perform in English and Spanish), regional Mexican music singers Ivan Cornejo and Junior H, hip-hop duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoros, Gustavo Dudamel with the LA Phil, Arca, Judeline and Rawayana.
Brazilian star Anitta was originally on the lineup and announced to fans in March that she was pulling out.
“I was really looking forward to being at Coachella this year, but due to unexpected personal reasons, I won’t be able to perform. I’m truly grateful to the festival for the invitation, their understanding, and continued support,” the singer wrote on X. “I hope to have the opportunity to join you all in the future and share that special moment together.”
Who did we get to replace her? Weezer and Ed Sheeran.
While I enjoy both of these artists, I still felt like the festival missed out an an integral piece of mainstream music overall — and failed Latin music fans by replacing Anitta with a non-Latin acts. Latin music, in nearly every capacity, is everywhere. And to be more specific, reggaeton is everywhere — except Coachella.
The artists on the lineup put on a great show (though most were so early in the day, they didn’t receive the love they deserved) but I can’t help but feel like there’s so many artists in Latin music who are crossing over to the U.S. market who were neglected. Sure, maybe they were busy or simply said no. But who all did we reach out to?
As someone whose first language is Spanish and who grew up in a border town, Latin music runs through my veins. Therefore, in the past, witnessing J Balvin, Karol G, Becky G, Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma perform at this festival has been the highlight every. single. time.
This year, while I did enjoy my doses of pop-girly music, getting down with the hip-hop acts and bopping around DJ sets, I left the festival feeling like something was missing.
— Daniela Avila
If you didn’t get “sprouted,” were you even at Coachella?
Upon entering my eighth consecutive year attending Coachella — well, technically 10th year if counting the two canceled COVID years — I was confident that I had the social hierarchy of festival goers down to a science.
Sure there’s the GA and VIP wristband wearers, plus the coveted artist band bracelets bearers. However, there was one status symbol that united all Coachellians this year more than ever before: sprouts.
Specifically, the gesture of “being sprouted.”
Keep your hippy-dippy, Coachella cool and don’t think too hard because being bestowed a sprout is exactly as it sounds. A fellow festival goer randomly approaches you with a tiny, green leaf and clips it onto your person (commonly atop the head, like one’s hair or the brim of a hat).
Now, full-sized humans skipping around the palm tree-surrounded desert with ultra small sprouts sticking out of their domes was something that struck me. It was a scene out of a magical storybook — and as someone who locks into a fairy-like mentality over the course of the Coachella weekend, I was inclined to ask what it was all about.
“It’s just your vibe,” one sprouted soul simply told me of the herb honor when questioned. Naturally, I had a plethora of follow-ups (and little bit of offense having yet to be sprouted myself) — but he assured me my time will come quickly because he sensed… “my vibe.”
It was actually impossible to walk anywhere without sprout spotting; and as the days went on, the sprouts seemed to multiply. On the queue for vegan burritos? Sprouts. Taking a snooze in the field? Sprouts on sprouts. Heck, one sprout spawned and hindered my view at Weezer (say it ain’t so)!
Now that I’ve returned home, I’ve come to few conclusions upon thought and ample research. The art of sprouting is form of union in the rave community, per seasoned ravers on TikTok. Being sprouted generated excitement (and curiosity), but no one asked questions. Just smiled.
My hottest hot take of all? Sprouts are the new flower crown at Coachella, and I’m here for it! #vibes
— Skyler Caruso
The walk in and out of the festival grounds feels like a punishment
Let me preface this by saying I am a New Yorker, so I am used to walking, and I am used to sweltering heat in the summer. But I was not prepared for the desert heat and the longest walk of my life from inside the festival grounds to any modes of transportation, whether it was a car, ride share or a shuttle. And this was my first Coachella, so be gentle.
On my first day, I had limo dropoff and general admission entrance, but I was too excited to really notice how far the walk was, but when I was walking back out of the festival after Lady Gaga performed, I timed how long it took. It was 35 minutes to get from the back of the crowd at the main stage to the rideshare parking lot. Even if I was stopping at the shuttle pickup — the closest point to the main gate — it wouldn’t have shaved off that much time. Sure, if you have a VIP wristband, you’re also shaving off more time, but not all of us have enough coin to have a VIP wristband, okay?
On Saturday, I arrived in the middle of the day — aka in the peak of the sun and heat — and it truly felt like the longest walk of my life getting from the car to the gate. I made a rookie mistake of not bringing my own water bottle or a fan, and I couldn’t find water fast enough. I probably scared someone by the time I made it to a place where I could buy water, but that is neither here nor there.
Here’s the thing: I had to leave again not long after to go to Revolve Festival, and walking back out in peak heat is where it feels like a punishment because that felt like the longest walk of my life. You know those cartoons where someone is trapped in the desert with the sun beating down on them and they start to hallucinate bodies of water up ahead? That was me trying to get to my car and texting my friend that I might pass out before I make it there.
Everything inside Coachella felt like a cakewalk compared to that — I’m not even mad about the food prices (New Yorker, remember?). Put me in front of a stage with Lady Gaga on it and I’m happy. Just don’t talk to me about getting to and from that stage. Next time I’ll be more prepared.
— Hedy Phillips
Being a short at Coachella is a curse — but also a blessing
I’m in the under 5-foot club and before going to my very first Coachella I had lots of fears: Would I get crushed? Would my social anxiety kick in among the crowd? And would I even be able to even see the stage? Yes, the first two came to fruition, but honestly the experience wasn’t as bad as I thought. I actually felt like I used my height to my advantage to shimmy my way up to the front for a better view or duck through the hoards of people to get from point A to B. I even saw another petite concertgoer pull out what looked to be a portable stool during Shaboozey’s set. Not all is lost when you’re short!
— Michelle Lee
Kids shouldn’t be allowed at Coachella
One thing I wasn’t prepared for was all the Coachella children — and I mean tweens, toddlers, and babies. Jarring: seeing a headphones-wearing newborn sleeping quietly in a sling during Post Malone’s set at a solid 11 p.m. Confusing: encountering two kids appearing to be under the age of 10 in the middle of the VIP section for a performance that I can tell you was not Yo Gabba Gabba!. A question for the seasoned Coachella goers? Is this…dare I say…normal? Are we really okay with walking around strollers to get to barricade or worrying about other people’s children when we’re just trying to have a good time?
— M. L.
Bring back pedicabs
Gone this year were the festival’s pedicabs, which typically would usher guests along the long walking paths from the parking lots to the entrance.
The rides were always slightly reckless and the cost shockingly steep, but the sight of the brightly decorated carts whizzing through the walkways with music ablare was missed (especially for our feet).
— Brianne Tracy
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