Sunday marked the conclusion of Weekend 1 of the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and though it had plenty of surprise guests, still provided its fair share of lows in contrast to the highs (especially when compared to Friday and Saturday).
The festival will return for the second weekend on Friday.
Here are a few of the high and low points of Sunday’s action, which included Post Malone and Megan Thee Stallion on the main Coachella Stage.
THE HIGHS
Short lines getting into the Empire Polo Club
Maybe it was that Travis Scott went past the 1 a.m. curfew to end Saturday and the crowds were sleeping in Sunday morning. Or it could be that the fatigue of two days under that sometimes irritating Coachella Valley sun had caught up to festivalgoers. Either way, the lines were noticeably shorter getting into the festival site once the gates opened on Sunday.
For those of us who were there, it was a welcoming sight. On both Friday and Saturday, the lines were lengthy, though crowds moved through security checks fairly quickly.
Crowds picked up on the site in the mid-afternoon on Sunday.
A festivalgoer takes shade behind a trash collection point at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Shaboozey brings out Noah Cyrus, captivates on the main stage
Shaboozey brought it.
The Grammy-nominated singer, who is known for the unique blend of hip-hop, country and rock elements in his music, put on a fun show on the Coachella Stage Sunday afternoon. He sang his most popular song, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and during the set brought out Noah Cyrus for their song “My Fault,” which they recorded together for Shaboozey’s popular 2024 album, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.”
The singer played just nine songs but sang “Blink Twice” and “Amen” for the first time live.
Only real complaint is that this set probably would have been even better had it been played in the evening, after the sun had dropped behind the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Shaboozey performs on the Coachella stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Megan Thee Stallion plays energetic set
I wouldn’t call myself a fan of the 30-year-old rapper and singer, but even I cannot deny the energy she brought to the Coachella Stage Sunday evening. She even brought some recognizable guests on stage with her.
The set included a guest appearance from Queen Latifah, and the two sang “Plan B” and performed Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y” for a crowd of around 50,000.
Victoria Monét was also brought on stage and she and Megan performed “Spin” and “On My Mama,” the latter of which is a Monét song.
Ciara was also brought on stage to sing “Roc Steady”/”Goodies,” a mashup the two recorded last year.
THE LOWS
Lack of star power
Look, nothing against those playing on Sunday. Overall, the lineup was solid. But I personally thought that the lineup was simply better on Friday and Saturday, when we had multiple superstar acts playing.
Post Malone was the headliner, with Megan Thee Stallion playing on the Coachella Stage just prior. Go ahead and include Grammy-nominated Shaboozey, but if we’re talking star acts, in my opinion it ends there.
Compare that with Saturday, which included sets by Weezer, Green Day, Clairo, Charli XCX, Jimmy Eat World and Travis Scott, and Friday, which featured The Go-Go’s, Benson Boone, Missy Elliott and Lady Gaga and you get my point.
Sunday seemed like more of a chill day, which is fine. But it felt like a bit of a letdown.
Fewer big-name guest star appearances
Perhaps we were spoiled on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, Tyla brought out Becky G, Mustard brought out 2Chainz, Ella Mai, YG, Big Sean and Roddy Ricch, Queen’s Brian May joined Benson Boone and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong joined The Go-Go’s for a song.
On Saturday, Flava Flav and Thundercat joined Yo Gabba Gabba!, Clairo brought out Sen. Bernie Sanders and Charli XCX brought Troye Sivan, Lorde and Billie Eilish on stage.
Other than Zedd (who brought out Bea Miller, Elley Duhe, Maren Morris, John Mayer and Julia Michaels) and Megan Thee Stallion’s star-studded sets, we didn’t have quite as many big-name guest appearances on Sunday, and that was a bit disappointing.
Santiago Corxes and Mercedes Sanchez of Mexico City watch Junior H perform on the Coachella Stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on Sun., April 13, 2025.
Longer lines for food, pop-ups
This is merely an anecdotal observation, but it felt like the Sunday lines were longer for food and for many of the pop-ups around the festival site. Who knows why, but it was noticeable to both me and others covering the festival.
It was a minor inconvenience, if at all, but still less than ideal when navigating the festival experience.
Andrew John is a reporter covering Coachella for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella Day 3 highs and lows: Shaboozey, Megan Thee Stallion shine
