Coachella 2019 Recap
A lot of new and exciting things are set to come out in 2019, from the final installment in the Avengers franchise to a Jonas Brothers reunion. 2019 is also a special year for music and art lovers everywhere: this year is the twentieth anniversary of Coachella! Didn’t have the chance to see your favorite artists perform? No problem! Here are just a few of the highlights of this year’s festival:
Rapper YG had a touching moment of silence for late musical artist Nipsey Hussle. After a deafening moment of silence, the rapper performed his set, which was dedicated to Nipsey.
Once again, pop princess Ariana Grande energized the audience with her closing performance. Surprise guests like Nicki Minaj, Diddy, and Mase rounded out her performance and closed out the first weekend with an act that would be tough for anyone to follow.
Justin Bieber landed in some hot water after being accused of lip-synching during his last-minute performance with Ariana Grande. Thankfully, Grande jumped to the Canadian singer’s defense, reminding fans that his performance involved little-to-no rehearsal time the day of.
Influencer and YouTube sensation James Charles bared it all, choosing to pair a denim thong with tan chaps. Similar outfits led to Coachella 2019 being nicknamed “Buttchella.”
Musical artist Kanye West held a church service. On the final day of the festival, Kid Cudi, Ty Dolla Sign, and Chance the Rapper were just a few of the familiar faces that could be seen singing in West’s choir. Ever the businessman, West did not sleep on the opportunity to capitalize on this performance. Clothing items such as socks labeled “Church Socks” retailed at $50, with his sweatshirts costing as much as $225.
New artists stormed the stage and made their presence known. 17-year-old Billie Eilish made an emotional debut at the venue, with her fans all singing along to her recent hit “Ocean Eyes.”
Childish Gambino worked with Google to host an art installation which promoted Gambino’s new app. PHAROS AR invites fans of the artist to journey through Gambino’s universe, creating an augmented reality through his music. Friends can view each other’s universe through the app and combine their worlds to make something new that can only be shared between them.
French musician and producer Gesaffelstein created an art exhibit that baffled onlookers. Through the use of Vantablack, Gesaffelstein crafted a monolith designed to trick the audience into thinking he was standing in front of infinite darkness.
On the first Saturday of the festivals, a fire blazed the venue, destroying a shower trailer and damaging others. Thankfully, no festival attendees or artists were injured. The fire was quickly put out before more damage occurred, thanks to the efforts of Riverside County Fire Department.
There’s no doubt that this year’s Coachella is going to be a tough one to follow!