Coachella 2023


Coachella 2023 was a music festival that took place over two weekends in mid-April 2023. The 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella 2023 was held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The festival was headlined by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, South Korean girl group Blackpink, American singer Frank Ocean, and American rock band Blink-182.

Background

The dates for Coachella were announced on June 14, 2022, with pre-sale tickets going live on June 17.

Performance by Frank Ocean

On the final night of Weekend 1 of Coachella, there was uncertainty over whether headliner Frank Ocean would show up to the event. Despite his exclusion from the official YouTube livestream, Ocean began performing at 10:55 p.m., an hour later than his initial booking. He performed for an hour and a half, performing a rock version of his debut single "Novacane" that references Coachella, as well as reworked versions of several of his songs, such as "Bad Religion" off of Channel Orange and "White Ferrari" off of Blonde. He then explained that his appearance was in honor of Ryan Breaux, his younger brother who died in a car crash in 2020. Ocean abruptly ended his performance with a cover of The Isley Brothers' "At Your Best ", once covered by Aaliyah, informing the audience that it was curfew. The performance was done through large video screens; the screens obscured Ocean and his band and were poorly lit. During the middle of the set, a DJ—later revealed to be DJ Crystallmess began playing, leading many fans to believe the show had concluded, before Ocean introduced her 15 minutes later, teasing Ocean's radio show Homer Radio.
Ocean's Coachella performance was harshly criticized from audience members, critics, and fans. The Festive Owl, speaking to several sources, later stated that a group of people surrounding Ocean were intended to be ice skaters and had practiced for weeks. As Coachella set up the stage, Ocean ultimately decided that he wasn't a fan of the ice skaters, leaving the festival with no option but to deconstruct the ice rink—which had been planned for months—threatening to not perform if it was not done. Melting the ice rink caused the one hour delay in his performance. Additionally, Ocean's performance needed to be adjusted as he sustained an ankle injury during rehearsals that week, according to Rolling Stone. TMZ added that the injury occurred while he was riding bicycles artists and staff use to navigate the festival, and was reportedly serious enough that Ocean's doctors advised Coachella to change his production. Ocean announced that he had pulled out of Coachella on April 19 due to his injury, leaving Blink-182 and later Skrillex, Four Tet, & Fred again.. to headline Weekend 2.

Lineup

The lineup for Coachella was announced on January 10, 2023. For the first time since the festival began in 1999, all three headliners—Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Frank Ocean—were not Caucasian, with Blackpink being the first Korean headliners. Following Ocean's departure, Blink-182, as well as Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred again.., headlined Weekend 2. Coachella 2023 also featured acts fully sung in Arabic and Punjabi artist Diljit Dosanjh from India for the first time; these initiatives were part of a greater effort by Goldenvoice—the organizers of Coachella—to feature more diverse artists.
For the first time since 2019, Coachella 2023 hosted the Heineken House, a small venue sponsored by Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V., featuring American hip hop duo Method Man & Redman.

Coachella Stage

FridaySaturdaySunday

  • Bad Bunny
  • Gorillaz
  • Burna Boy
  • Becky G
  • Pusha T
  • Doechii
  • Record Safari
  • Calvin Harris
  • Blackpink
  • Rosalía
  • Charli XCX
  • 070 Shake
  • Marc Rebillet
  • BRN LUXXRY
  • Frank Ocean
  • Blink-182
  • Skrillex × Four Tet × Fred again..
  • Björk
  • Kali Uchis
  • Porter Robinson
  • GloRilla
  • Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
    • ;Special guests
    Special guests
    • Kaytranada: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Kali Uchis and Aminé. During the second weekend set, he was joined by H.E.R., Tinashe and Anderson.Paak.
    • SG Lewis: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Channel Tres. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Tove Lo.

      Sonora Tent

    Special guests
    • The Breeders: They were joined by The Linda Lindas during the first weekend set.
    • BRATTY: They were joined by Cuco during the first weekend set.

      Gobi Tent

    Special guests
    Special guests
    • FKJ: He was joined by June Marieezy and Bas during the first weekend set.
    • Blondie: They were joined by Nile Rodgers during the first weekend set.
    • Wet Leg: They were joined by Dave Grohl during the second weekend set.
    • MUNA: They were joined by Boygenius during both weekend sets.
    • BENEE: She was joined by Gus Dapperton during the first weekend set.
    • DOMi & JD BECK: During the first weekend set, they were joined by Thundercat and Mac DeMarco. During the second weekend set, they were joined by Thundercat and Anderson.Paak.
    • Labrinth: During the first weekend, he was joined by Billie Eilish. During the second weekend, he was joined by Sia and Zendaya.
    • Underworld: They were joined by Yung Lean during the second weekend set.
    • Mura Masa: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Cosha, Channel Tres, Shygirl, Bayli, Isabella Lovestory and Gretel Hänlyn. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Cosha, Gretel Hänlyn and NAO.
    • WILLOW: She was joined by Jaden Smith during both weekend sets.
    • IDK: He was joined by Rich the Kid during the first weekend set.

      Sahara Tent

    Special guests
    • Metro Boomin: During the first weekend set, he was joined by John Legend, Future, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, The Weeknd and Diddy. During the second weekend set, he was joined by The Weeknd, Future, Don Toliver and Offset.
    • Two Friends: They were joined by Bebe Rexha during the first weekend set.
    • The Kid LAROI: During the first weekend set, he was joined by Fivio Foreign. During the second weekend set, he was joined by Don Toliver.
    • A Boogie wit da Hoodie: He was joined by Tyga and YG during the first weekend set.
    • Jackson Wang: He was joined by Ciara during the first weekend set.
    • Latto: During the first weekend set, she was joined by TiaCorine, Lola Brooke and Saweetie. During the second weekend set, she was joined by Mello Buckzz.

      Yuma Tent

    Reception

    Goldenvoice was hit with a fine for breaking the event's curfew; the performances by Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris contributed to the fine.