Protest, pop, and pandemonium

Express Tribune

22-04-2025

Each year, Coachella serves as a cultural temperature check, and in 2025, that temperature read fierce, political, and gloriously chaotic. From calls for justice in Gaza to a mic-wielding Lady Gaga and the first-ever orchestral set by the LA Philharmonic, Coachella delivered two weekends of music with meaning. Here are the standout moments from the Empire Polo Club grounds that had everyone talking.
Solidarity with Palestine
Coachella 2025 became an unexpected epicentre of global resistance, as performers across genres used the stage to spotlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Rap trio Kneecap kicked things off with visuals condemning Israel's US-backed military actions in Gaza, although, according to the group, those graphics were censored on the Sonora Stage. Twitch streamer Hasan Piker ensured the uncensored version reached audiences, streaming the performance live and loud.
Kneecap's crowd responded with chants of "Free Palestine," which the group called proof that "young people of America don't support genocide."
Meanwhile, punk-rock legends Green Day altered lyrics in their track Jesus of Suburbia to memorialise children killed in Gaza. Blonde Redhead ended their set waving a Palestinian flag and playing audio from Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by ICE following campus protests.
Other artists echoed similar sentiments: Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers gave a shoutout to Palestine alongside queer, trans, immigrant, and Ukrainian communities. Bob Vylan didn't mince words: "Palestinians have always mattered." And Darkside's Nicolas Jaar closed his set with a searing indictment of historical injustice, linking Gaza to US immigration detention.
Lady Gaga's iconic mic fiasco
What's a Gaga set without a little theatrical drama? On Friday, during her second-weekend performance, Mother Monster experienced a mic malfunction just two songs in. But in true diva fashion, she grabbed a handheld mic, balanced it with a cane in the other hand (because flair), and kept the show rolling.
Later at the piano, Gaga broke the fourth wall. "At least you know I sing live," she joked to roaring applause. "I guess all we can do is our best, and I'm certainly giving you my best tonight."
All the music that slapped
Meanwhile, Peso Pluma caused a mini-stampede when he appeared during Junior H's set, proof that the grip música mexicana has on the people is real and only getting tighter. As soon as his raspy voice hit the air, fans surged forward like a tidal wave of fringe and flower crowns. Forget surprise Drake appearances, Peso's pull might just be stronger.
Then came Megan Thee Stallion, bringing actual star power to the Coachella stage. She lit it up with surprise guests like Queen Latifah, Victoria Monét, and Ciara. Technical glitch? Megan didn't blink. Mic cut? "B*tch, they said we gotta go!" she shouted at the end, exiting with a mic-drop charm only she can pull off.
Elsewhere, Tyla gave sunset siren energy with a nostalgic nod to '90s R&B, backed by dancers and suds. She ended her set with a splashy leap into a kiddie pool for Water, and the result was pure serotonin. Not to be outdone, Benson Boone delivered one of the fest's most surreal moments when he was joined by actual Queen royalty, Brian May. "Me trying to get the Coachella crowd to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is," Boone later joked, after fans didn't give the guitar god quite the roar he deserved. But for those paying attention, that duet of Bohemian Rhapsody was the stuff of rock dreams.
Rae's questionable newsflash
But Coachella wasn't just a backdrop for celebrity romance, it was full of "did that actually just happen?" moments. Like, say, Addison Rae revealing her album drop date not with a post, but with her booty. Mid-performance with avant-garde icon Arca, Rae spun around to show "June 6th" scribbled on her underwear. In typical Coachella fashion, the crowd was unbothered.
LA Philharmonic's historic debut
Who said Coachella was only for synths and bass drops? For the first time ever, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by maestro Gustavo Dudamel, brought orchestral power to the desert stage. And it wasn't just strings and brass, they came armed with surprise stars.
Dave Grohl joined the ensemble, infusing Foo Fighters' The Sky Is a Neighborhood and Everlong with classical grandeur. Cynthia Erivo delivered a haunting rendition of her ballad Brick by Brick before asking the crowd, "Would you like a little Prince?" Cue an electrifying cover of Purple Rain that had the entire field swaying.
Other collaborators included Laufey and Paco Amoroso with Ca7riel, while Natasha Bedingfield made a return appearance to belt out Unwritten with orchestra backing, because yes, even millennials deserve a symphonic moment of empowerment.
It also marked a milestone: Dudamel's final season with the LA Phil. If this was his send-off, it was nothing short of legendary.
Fighting for justice
And then, because Coachella always has room for one more twist, Bernie Sanders showed up. Before Clairo's dreamy set, the US senator took the mic to deliver a rousing wake-up call. "Now, you can turn away and ignore what goes on," he warned, "but if you do that, you do it on your own peril." It was the rare Coachella moment that replaced glitter with grit. "We need you to stand up and fight for justice: economic justice, racial justice, and social justice."
Coachella 2025 might've been a whirlwind of heat, hydration packs, and unexpected moments, but the headline is clear: love is real, music is messier (and more magical) than ever, and in the desert, even Bernie can share a stage with indie pop.