Coachella, hosted in April, featured everything from jaw-dropping celebrity performances to tents flying away in the strong winds. However, according to thousands of attendees, this year’s Coachella was one of the most unforgettable experiences, for both the right and wrong reasons.
Many reactions from those who have attended were shown in disgust, as people were waiting twelve hours to even enter the festival, with no open bathrooms available, while only $12 small sandwiches were available for purchase. For an event that had a general admission cost of $600, hundreds of participants complained about the inhumane environment. The harsh reality is that many commodities in Coachella can be extremely expensive, leaving them less accessible to those who can’t just burn money. Many also reported the abnormally high temperatures and winds as a negative, dampening the mood.
Outside of the open controversies, Coachella included performers like Lady Gaga, The Marías, and Green Day. A plethora of different reactions have surfaced in the media, including positive and not-so-positive ones. Fans in support of these performances seemed to be in awe of the artists. In contrast, hundreds of clips have circulated, showing the audience’s underwhelming response. For example, during Benson Boone’s cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” original guitar soloist Brian May made a surprise appearance, emulating an amazing performance, only to be rewarded with an unenthusiastic crowd. Another issue attendees critiqued was the malfunctions artists had to face. During Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” performance, her microphone started to bug out. Entire parts of her song were cut. Aside from these performances, other special guests appeared, such as Bernie Sanders, who gave an empowering speech for the younger generations attending. CHS Spanish teacher, Mrs. Hedding, shared her experience.
“Coachella was a little tiring because it was a lot of walking, but it was still really fun,” Hedding said. “My favorite performances were Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and Justin Bieber for sure.”
Although Hedding had a magnificent time, she further explained her experience.
“My friends and I did not eat much at Coachella, we were mostly in VIP. My friend works for a radio station, so the food in VIP was decent, especially the tacos.” Hedding said. “But others do camping and bring their food, which can be pretty hard.”
While the conditions were great in more enclosed areas, the typical experience for others may not have been as luxurious.
Whether it be the celebrity drama, weather mishaps, or dedicated fans showing up at the crack of dawn, Coachella 2025 left a (lasting impression)—not just for its star-studded performances, but also for the chaos and extremes that defined the unforgettable weekend. Whether you came for the music or for the Instagram post, one thing’s certain: Coachella 2025 won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
