The first weekend of this year’s Coachella went down with a long list of extraordinary performances, but so far, everyone can’t stop talking about Beyoncé’s game-changing show. Queen Bey turned the festival into “Beychella” (as DJ Khaled dubbed it), making history by becoming the first black woman to headline the festival and turning it into a family affair with guest appearances from Jay-Z, Solange, and her Destiny’s Child bandmates.
The 2018 lineup of Coachella also featured the largest number of Latino artists to date, from indie darlings like Buscabulla and Ibeyi, to chart-toppers like Miguel and Cardi B, who didn’t let her baby bump stop her from rapping and twerking. Legacy act Los Ángeles Azules took the festival’s main stage by storm, injecting a much-needed dose of cumbia into the festivities. Colombian-American vedette Kali Uchis celebrated her success by performing each of the 15 tracks off her debut album Isolation. VIVA! Pomona’s Rene Contreras-curated Sonora Stage was, once again, the place to be for Latinx artist lovers; festivalgoers witnessed the likes of Helado Negro, Cuco, Princess Nokia, and The Marías.
Latinxs were everywhere for the festival’s first weekend, so check out some of our highlights from the last few days below.
Beyoncé performed "Mi Gente"
Out of all the jaw-dropping moments in Beyoncé’s outstanding Saturday set, her performance of the remix of the J Balvin and Willy William track made us fall flat on our asses. Backed by the marching band The Buzz and her Le Twins-led pack of dancers, she killed her first performance of the ubiquitous EDM track.
Miguel brought out Kali Uchis to sing her unreleased "Caramelo Duro" verse
Miguel kept the heat going on the Outdoor Stage on Sunday evening with a rendition of his groovy War & Leisure song “Caramelo Duro,” for which he invited Kali Uchis to perform her unreleased verse. Drenched in red lighting, the pair’s chemistry was so intense you can even feel it emanating from your laptop screen.
Kali Uchis' guitarist got stage fright so she had to perform without one
https://twitter.com/KALIUCHIS/status/985622189813645313
Kali Uchis presented her debut album Isolation during her Friday set, but the audience may have felt there was something missing. Her new guitarist’s stage fright hit her so hard she couldn’t perform in front of the Outdoor Stage audience, so the artist and her band had to pull through without her.
Cardi B paid tribute to TLC's Left Eye, twerked while pregnant, and brought out Kehlani, YG, and Chance the Rapper
Cardi B took the Coachella Stage in an all-white outfit inspired by TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and with a little help from some friends: Chance the Rapper, YG, G-Eazy, Kehlani, 21 Savage, and BlocBoy JB all came out during her set. But all eyes were on her, as she twerked and rapped highlights from Invasion of Privacy, plus her “Finesse” verse and, of course, “Bodak Yellow.”
Justin Bieber was spotted dancing to Los Ángeles Azules at Coachella
Cumbia greats Los Ángeles Azules landed in the Indio desert for their highly awaited performance, and they had one unexpected celebrity fan vibing to their music. Justin Bieber was caught on camera dancing during their set. We are giving him an E for effort.
Rihanna showed up looking like Rey Misterio
Rihanna wasn’t slated to perform at this year’s edition of Coachella, but she sure turned heads with her lucha libre mask. We are feeling her Rey Misterio-inspired realness through and through.