Coachella kicks off with Sabrina Carpenter and surprise guests
Coachella Kicks Off with Sabrina Carpenter and Surprise Guests
The Coachella music festival began on Friday with a unique twist, as pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter took the stage and was joined by a surprise guest appearance from veteran actress Susan Sarandon. The actor stepped into a role as a mature version of Carpenter during her set, delivering a scripted monologue that added an unexpected Hollywood flair. Comedian Will Ferrell and actor Sam Elliott also made appearances, contributing to the star-studded, classic-themed performance.
Festival Attendance and Weather Challenges
Located in the California desert, the massive event draws over 100,000 visitors daily across two weekends, according to Indio city police. However, weather conditions disrupted the schedule, as strong winds forced the cancellation of a set by DJ Anyma following Carpenter’s performance. In a statement shared on Instagram, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival explained,
“Due to strong wind conditions affecting Anyma’s stage build, he is unable to perform tonight. Coachella and Anyma have made this decision together with your safety as the priority.”
The National Weather Service had warned of wind gusts reaching 25 mph, prompting an air quality advisory for the Coachella Valley from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning.
Stage Transformations and Performers
Carpenter reimagined the stage as the Hollywood Hills, jokingly calling it “Sabrinawood” during her headlining act. She opened her set with a short film where she was pulled over by actor Sam Elliott, who let her off with a warning before she returned to the stage. Later, comedian Will Ferrell joined the performance, pretending to be an electrician for comedic effect. Additional acts on Friday included the global girl group KATSEYE and British artist Disclosure.
Upcoming Line-Ups
On Saturday, Canadian singer Justin Bieber will headline the festival, followed by Colombian artist Karol G on Sunday. The lineup also features several UK acts, such as Wet Leg, Lambrini Girls, Little Simz, and FKA Twigs. The schedule will repeat next weekend, with the festival continuing to take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, since its inception in 2002.
