Coachella 2022 live: Billie Eilish brings out Paramore’s Hayley Williams as special guest
California festival is in full swing, with headline sets from Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.After a two-year absence, Coachella has made its highly anticipated return.
Located in Indio, California, the desert festival has gained popularity over the years for its glitzy Instagram-worthy dress code and major celebrity guest sightings.
The festival began its second weekend on Friday (22 April), following a lively first three days a week ago.
Harry Styles headlined on Friday night, delighting fans as he brought out Lizzo for his special guest (after duetting with Shania Twain last week). The singer and rapper joined him for a rendition of the One Direction song “What Makes You Beautiful”, as well as Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”.
Saturday’s (23 April) show was all about Billie Eilish, who teamed up with Hayley Williams for an acoustic version of Paramore’s “Misery Business”. However, soon after Williams left the stage, Eilish tripped over and fell flat on her face. “You guys, I seriously ate s***,” she told the crowd. “Seriously. It was pitch black.”
Read more:
- Harry Styles review: Cheesy chat, One Direction hits and a cameo from country queen Shania Twain
- Coachella 2022 Day 2 talking points: From a surprise Gorillaz appearance to The Simpsons theme, live!
- Maneskin Q&A: ‘Our new single was inspired by Ukraine – we wanted to raise our voice for something meaningful’
- The Weeknd sparks speculation over mystery voice note played during Sunday headliner set
- Teenage fan invited on stage to perform with Dave revealed to be the son of ‘Notting Hill’ director Richard Curtis
Find all the updates from this year’s festival below
Coachella is Outstanding in its Field
It’s not all bands, DJs and denim hot pants at Coachella. Some of the world’s finest cuisine also graces the festival, including a pop up from the legendary Outstanding in the Field. The global phenomenon – which sees hundreds of hungry guests gathered around the longest table this side of the Last Supper – is a farm to table experience, with renowned chefs using local produce to create incredible family style sharing meals with bottomless wine. Situated in the festival’s hidden VIP Rose Garden area, every seating is packed, despite its hefty $275 price tag.
SG Lewis plays three-hour DJ set
Coachella is always full of surprises. Not content with Billie Eilish’s unannounced Damon Albarn cameo, last night British producer SG Lewis popped up out of nowhere to play an epic three hour disco and house DJ set on the Do LaB stage.
For a full rundown of the biggest talking points from day two of Coachella, see below.
From mosh pits to shock guest appearances to adverse weather conditions, these are the buzziest moments from Saturday, according to Leonie Cooper, who’s been in the thick of it.
Day 2 Coachella highlights – from a surprise Gorillaz appearance to Billie mania
Day two of the Californian music festival featured a number of other surprise guest appearances, including by Chinese megastar Jackson Wang, and Billie Eilish’s history-making headliner set
The biggest act of the night was surely Gen Z pop sensation Billie Eilish.
“During opening track ‘bury a friend’, a woozily pulsating song about a monster under her bed, Eilish immediately heads to the place where she always looks happiest: surrounded by her fans out on a long runway,” Kevin writes, in his four-star review.
“The faces in the crowd light up as she passes, and even when she brings out Georgia-born R&B singer Khalid for their aptly named duet, ‘lovely’, all eyes remain locked on her.
“In the years since she last performed here, Eilish has grown into a polished live act, punchier and somehow more vulnerable than on record.”
Read the full review below.
Billie Eilish triumphs at Coachella 2022 with Gorillaz in her midst – review
The 20-year-old pop sensation showed composure beyond her years at the California festival, delivering a performance of power and verve that made smart use of cameos from artists including Blur’s Damon Albarn and R&B star Khalid
Danny Elfman went down better with Kevin EG Perry, with the idiosyncratic film composer providing an interesting departure from usual Coachella fare.
In a four-star review, he writes: “Elfman’s booking was undoubtedly a gamble, but it’s one that pays off many times over.
“He’s an artist with an impressive, varied and well-known back catalogue, but one who’s a long way from typical festival heritage act.”
Read the full review here:
Danny Elfman’s ‘strange’ Coachella show among this year’s most memorable - review
Danny Elfman’s booking was undoubtedly a gamble, but it’s one that pays off many times over as the ‘Simpsons’ composer delivered a multi-faceted, unusual Coachella debut on Saturday (16 April)
Leonie Cooper found things to admire in Megan Thee Stallion’s Saturday headline slot, but wasn’t quite convinced by the whole performance.
“For all the set’s powerful seizing of such sensuality, there are moments which don’t quite work,” she wrote in her three-star review. “Sure, it’s great that Megan manages to fit in a fabulous outfit change halfway through the show, returning in a spangly turquoise bodysuit.
“But when you’ve only got 50 minutes, leaving the stage for five of them seems like a waste of time and energy. Especially when Megan leaves her floundering DJ onstage to take the reins, his lacklustre hype man duties leaving the crowd confused at best and bored at worst.”
Read the full review here:
Megan Thee Stallion’s twerk-filled Coachella set didn’t all work – review
The Texan rapper gave a sensual but forceful performance at the California music festival on Saturday night, but a five-minute costume change, a lacklustre hype man and a lack of guest collaborators made it all something of a missed opportunity
In one of the more amusing stories from day two of the festival, Billie Eilish’s fans were bemused as the singer welcomed Damon Albarn on stage.
When some viewers failing to recognise the Gorillaz frontman, he was mistakenly identified as Eilish’s dad – with some even thinking it was Elton John.
Read the full story here...
Coachella fans mistake Damon Albarn for ‘Billie Eilish’s dad’ during guest appearance
Blur frontman was also amusingly mistaken for Elton John
It was a mixed night for Brockhampton fans, who announced that their shows in California would be their “last ever”.
After the band left the stage following their performance, a pre-recorded clip of frontman Kevin Abstract talking to his bandmates flashed up. He has something to tell them, he says in the video.
Fans were devastated by the revelation, with one writing: “I listened to nothing but Brockhampton for like four years straight, I can’t believe they’re really leaving us like this.”
Read the full story here...
Brockhampton announce final album at Coachella as fans left shocked
‘Brockhampton: The final album. 2022,’ the screens at Coachella’s Sahara stage flashed after the boy band’s performance
Chinese superstar Jackson Wang made a surprise appearance yesterday, becoming the first Chinese singer to perform on Coachella’s main stage.
The Independent’s Leonie Cooper caught Jackson’s performance at LA-based record label 88rising’s showcase of musical talent from Asia.
“A mini version of 88rising’s own hugely successful Head in the Clouds festival, it’s the perfect potted variety show – with spots from Thai rapper Milli, South Korean singer songwriter Bibi and Jakarta-born Taylor Swift co-signed singer Niki as well as Indonesian rappers Rich Brian and Warren Hue,” she reported.
Read the full story here...
Fans react to Jackson Wang’s ‘festival devouring’ Coachella 2022 show
Wang’s unannounced appearance makes the festival ‘lose its collective mind’
In case anyone needs a refresher – here’s how to watch Coachella if you’re one of the many who wasn’t lucky enough to attend in person.
(If you were lucky enough... what on earth are you doing reading this?)
The whole thing is live streamed on YouTube, giving music fans half a world away the chance to see some of these big acts perform remotely.
How to tune into the Coachella 2022 live stream
Includes live performances, interviews with artists, exclusive merch for purchase, and more
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments