Coachella’s long-awaited return continued on Saturday night with headlining Billie Eilish, some festival surprises and A-listers arriving at the desert’s biggest parties.
On the main stage, which Harry Styles graced the night before, Eilish kicked off her 90-minute set at 11:30pm, playing her greatest hits with support from brother and musical partner Finneas and special performances from Khalid and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn .
Eilish, who appeared further down the festival list in 2019, repeatedly expressed shock at being asked to headline Saturday’s shows, telling the crowd throughout the night, “That’s one hell of a trip” and “Dude, this is so weird, I shouldn’t be headlining this shit!”
“I’m so freaking grateful that I’m here and you’re all here, this is such a dream come true, I feel crazy,” Eilish continued at one point during the show. “And it’s been three years, man! I have three rules for the night. Rule #1 is don’t be an asshole, it’s that simple. Number 2 is don’t judge anyone out here – I say that every time. And #3, have fun bitch.”
You should see that @billieeilish on the @youtube Live broadcast. Now at https://t.co/369m1pEHng pic.twitter.com/BvOjmtihhV
— Coachella (@coachella) April 17, 2022
When he brought out Albarn, who joined her for appearances on Getting Older and Feel Good Inc. Eilish explained, “This man changed my life in so many ways and completely changed my perspective on what music could be, what art could be and what creation could be. My very first favorite band was The Good, the Bad and the Queen when I was six and Blur changed the world and Gorillaz changed the world. This man is literally a genius and that’s it.”
And after the high-energy show wrapped up with performances from “Bad Guy” and “Happier Than Ever,” Eilish teased, “Thanks Coachella, I’m sorry I’m not Beyonce. I love you good night.”
Elsewhere during Saturday’s shows, Megan Thee Stallion played new music and Flume (with special guest Beck), Disclosure, 21 Savage, Danny Elfman, Giveon and Brockhampton also took the stage. In addition to appearing on stage with Eilish, Khalid joined Disclosure to perform their successful collaboration Talk. Over on the main stage, K-pop group 2NE1 reunited for their first performance since 2015, joining former bandmate CL during the set of 88rising. Also, Phoebe Bridgers graced the desert stage again, joining Arlo Parks for her set just as the singer had done for Bridgers the night before. In the Sahara tent, Brockhampton delivered his penultimate performance as a group, the last of which will be on the second weekend. As a surprise to the crowd, the hip-hop boy band announced that their final album will be released later this year before the group officially disbands.
Jared Leto and Brent Bolthouse attend Levi’s And Tequila Don Julio Neon Carnival with Hydration By Liquid IV on April 16, 2022 in Thermal, California. (Photo by Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for Neon Carnival) Photo by Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for Neon Carnival)
Outside of the festival, Saturday also saw the biggest Coachella parties of the weekend, including the first day of the Revolve Festival (featuring a performance by Post Malone and guest Quavo) and the return of the afterparty Neon Carnival, which saw guests late to the shows – nightly carnival-style games and amusement park thrills. The event, presented by Levi’s and hydrated by Liquid IV Tequila Don Julio, saw a star list of attendees including Leonardo DiCaprio, Megan Thee Stallion, Timothée Chalamet, Paris Hilton, Jared Leto, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Chloe and Halle Bailey, Lilli Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Charles Melton, and KJ Apa.
Rachel Zoe’s Zoeasis party also brought some Hollywood faces, including Keke Palmer, Gavin Leatherwood, Behati Prinsloo, Olivia Culpo, Nicole Scherzinger, Ava Phillippe, Jabari Banks and Yellowjackets stars Samantha Hanratty and Ella Purnell.
“This is my first time at Coachella ever, probably it’s the big break of anything that would make me want to come,” Palmer told THR at the daytime party, outlining plans to go with the flow when it comes to weekend plans went: “For me it’s all about having as much fun as possible in relation to a good environment. It’s a lot of energy, so I try to find the best and most comforting ones.”
Keke Palmer and Behati Prinsloo Shutterstock for BDG
Purnell and Hanratty also attended the festival for the first time, as Hanratty gushed about being “a giant Harry [Styles] Fan.”
“I had a panic attack,” the actress said of the headliner’s performance. “But not because of Harry, because of everyone’s claustrophobia. So I had to get out of the front. I ended up on the back end, but it was great.” Purnell didn’t stay with Styles for the entire set as he missed Shania Twain’s performance. “I was so nervous that we wouldn’t get a cab that we literally left,” Purnell said. “I didn’t know they had fireworks, goddamn it!”
Hanratty also spoke candidly about the return of events amid the pandemic. The actress said: “If we’re being completely honest, my anxiety has gotten a lot worse. Getting back into society was a bit more of a challenge than I expected. I also just allow myself to feel it and then I just get over it. If you can’t be in the middle of the crowd, go to the outside of the dance, you know what I mean? So I think I’m just figuring it all out. But it was really exciting and really fun to finally see friends and dance and be crazy.”
Purnell continued that sentiment, confirming how good it feels to meet friends at events like Coachella, also mentioning Paris Fashion Week, which the actress attended earlier this year. “There is such an atmosphere because everyone has been locked away for so long. Especially in Paris it’s like you can’t walk down a street and not meet someone you know or something crazy [happening]. The mood is insane right now.”
Other celebrations on Saturday included Liquid IV House of Hydration, where Jack Harlow and Saweetie both performed; Interscope Records’ Sixth Annual Celebration with participants Charlie Puth, Kathryn Newton and Benny Blanco; Spotify’s Desert Kickback, which featured Maggie Rogers, Victor Cruz, Damson Idris, Sabrina Carpenter and Lena Waithe; and H&M’s Hotel Hennes Soiree starring Zoey Deutch, Ava Phillippe, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Indya Moore, Lexi Underwood and Storm Reid.
Soho Desert House, Hugo House, Desert Gold, Tao Desert Nights, Rolling Stone Live and HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant Preflight Lounge rounded out the desert party scene. The festival continues on Sunday with headliners The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia.
Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan and Lili Reinhart at H&M Hotel Hennes BFA