By Rachael Darner, Erin Estocin, Sydney Friedt, Andrea Nedelcu, Samantha Port, and Sara Tallon
The Coachella 2024 music festival is quickly approaching and the lineup is extensive. With 146 popular music acts this year, deciding who you most want to see may be hard. From Lana Del Rey to Lil’ Uzi Vert and all genres in between, we’ve compiled the top 15 sets we’re most excited to see take the stage, either in-person or on the festival’s YouTube livestream.
Rachael’s Picks
(Uncredited / Associated Press)
Reneé Rapp rose to fame as Regina George in the Broadway version of Mean Girls and later in her starring role on HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. Now she is distancing herself from acting to focus on her music career, which has been off to an electric start. With her extensive background in musical theatre, Rapp never fails to deliver incredible vocal performances. I am especially excited to hear her perform “Snow Angel,” a fan-favorite track from her debut record of the same name, which features chill-inducing vocals (especially during the song’s bridge). She is also likely to perform “Not My Fault” from the 2024 Mean Girls movie (with a surprise appearance from featured artist Megan Thee Stallion, perhaps?).
Chappell Roan has amassed a cult following over the past few years, amplified by the release of her debut record entitled The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The album’s synth-pop sound transports listeners straight to an ‘80s club. Her fiery, crowd-pleasing songs “HOT TO GO!” and “Red Wine Supernova” will surely be on the setlist, alongside the heart-wrenching ballad “Casual.” The indie-pop singer-songwriter also opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her GUTS World Tour, which stopped by Nationwide Arena on March 22nd. She is also set to headline a show at KEMBA Live! this summer.
ATEEZ are making history as the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, following in several of their female counterparts’ footsteps, including BLACKPINK’s headlining set last year and aespa’s appearance in 2022. The group is known for their high-energy, visually stunning performances, which blend elements of hip-hop, pop, and even rock. Their ultimate hype songs “Guerrilla” and “Bouncy” are sure to exhilarate any crowd of music-lovers.
Sydney’s Picks
Sabrina Carpenter has recently been becoming more and more popular in the pop genre. With the release of her newest album, Emails I Can’t Send, she gained her entry way into pop stardom as more and more people began to listen and relate to her songs. She is currently opening for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour with her catchy songs like “Feather,” “Vicious,” and of course, “Nonsense.” Many festival goers can expect to hear a personalized and custom outro that she creates to end her Coachella set.
No Doubt is reforming to perform at Coachella this year after being disbanded since 2015. The band is an American rock band that was created in 1986 but disbanded years later as the members went to pursue solo projects. The lead singer, Gwen Stefani, rose to her own fame by creating a more pop sound with her new music. When the band was together, they won Grammy awards, MTV awards, World Music Awards, and more, showcasing their popularity. It is very likely that festival goers will be able to hear their greatest hits like “Don’t Speak,” “Hey Baby,” and “Just a Girl” live for the first time in years.
Erin’s Picks
Lana Del Rey is the top headlining artist at Coachella this year. Her recent album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, was nominated for five Grammys. Lana Del Rey has been making music since 2010, with very notable and popular songs that you can expect to hear at Coachella. Some songs she is likely to perform from her most recent album include “Margaret (feat. Bleachers)” and “Let the Light in (feat. Father John Misty).”
Bleachers will be playing at Coachella this year after recently releasing singles and announcing an upcoming self-titled album, releasing March 8, 2024. Their new singles are “Tiny Moves,” “Alma Mater” and “Modern Girl.” The band’s lead singer, Jack Antonoff, is known for his collaborations with other artists, including Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, and Lorde.
Victoria Monét will be performing at Coachella this year after winning best new artist, best R&B album, and best non-classical engineered album for her debut record JAGUAR II at the 2024 Grammys. After being behind the scenes for years and working with artists like Fifth Harmony and Ariana Grande, Monét is finally taking the stage herself and stepping into the spotlight. Some songs to expect from her at Coachella are “On My Mama” and “Alright.”
Samantha’s Picks
Known for his smooth, tranquil-like music feel, Tyler the Creator will definitely set a high standard for the performers of Coachella. Being one of the top headliners, thousands of Coachella-goers will look forward to what Tyler the Creator has in store. Hopefully, he’ll play some of his most popular, dreamy songs such as “Earfquake,” “Are we still friends,” and “A boy is a gun.”
Additionally, Doja Cat will be performing at Coachella this year. She is known for her one-of-a-kind costumes, her empowering songs about being a woman, and her hilarious social media presence. Surely, she will encourage the crowd to keep their energy levels high when performing hit songs such as “Paint the Town Red” and “Say So.”
One of the most well-rounded performers to take the stage this year at Coachella is Jon Batiste. Batiste is well-known for his infectious energy, colorful sets, and soulful performances. He uniquely blends jazz, funk, and contemporary sounds to create his own genre of music. Jon Batiste will undoubtedly have a great impact on the overall Coachella experience.
Andrea’s Picks
Deftones is one of the most iconic bands to emerge from the 90s alternative metal scene with tunes such as “My Own Summer,” “Be Quiet and Drive” and “Change (In the House of Flies).” They are a staple act for any festival bridging the mainstream with the niche underground music scene.
Inspired by Deftones’ angst, emo youngbloods Narrow Head are an up-and-coming band emerging from the underground “grungegaze” scene, who is one of the pioneers of pushing this genre from online music forums to the public eye. Their most popular track, “Ashtray,” is the epitome of grungegaze with a blend of dreamy, droning sounds flowing into heavy, hardcore-esque guitar riffs.
Emo veterans Taking Back Sunday will also perform iconic anthems from the early 2000s such as “Cute Without The E” and “Makedamnsure.”
Coachella’s inclusion of Japanese virtual singer Hatsune Miku on the lineup was an unexpected, yet welcome surprise. Miku is the iconic blue-haired mascot of a synthetic voice bank called “Vocaloid” whom many artists use to create music with. Since Miku is a fictional anime character, her show will have DJs playing her famous songs and using holograms of her dancing on stage. Check out her iconic songs such as “World is Mine,” “Vampire,” and “Rolling Girl,” featured in games such as Colorful Stage – Project Sekai and Project Diva.
146 music sets, 146 amazing artists, and 146 ways to spend your time at Coachella. We’re thrilled to see Deftones, Sabrina Carpenter, Victoria Monét, ATEEZ, Bleachers, and many others on this year’s lineup. Which band or artist are you most excited about?