Sure, Saturday (Apr. 14,) the 19th annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, was dedicated to Beyoncé, headlining a year after she canceled to have twins, but, the queen of Coachella wasn’t the only must-see act of the day. In fact, hidden in a sea of rappers and DJs, there were some veritable yew-worthy highlights from Coachella 2018, recognized as the country’s most prestigious music festival.
5. TASH 2.AWESOME
TASH SULTANA, performing Wednesday at The Observatory North Park, is a young, dynamic artist making waves and selling out shows worldwide. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, and playing guitar since she was three years old, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and YouTube sensation absolutely owned the stage during her Coachella debut.
4. CLOSEST THING TO A TALKING HEADS REUNION
While a Talking Heads reunion is unlikely as a The Smiths getting back together, David Byrne delivered a Heads-heavy set Saturday and it was glorious. Performing the songs “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody),” “Once In A Lifetime,” “The Great Curve,” and “Burning Down The House,” barefoot Byrne was joined onstage by an 11-piece marching group donning matching grey suits. Too awesome.
3. HALLELUJAH PRIESTS!
Rock is not dead thanks to DIY post-punkers, Priests, from Washington D.C. After gaining traction last year with its album Nothing Feels Natural, the female-fronted outfit blew minds in the desert with their high-energy, riotous performance.
2. NILE RODGERS & CHIC GET LUCKY
The first act of Saturday, legends Nile Rodgers and Chic turned the main stage into a dance party in the hot desert sun. Kicking the good times off with early singles “Dance Dance Dance” and “I Want Your Love,” Rodgers and company segued into a hit-machine of classics including Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.”
1. BEYONCÉ = FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HEADLINE
Thanking Coachella “for letting me be the first black woman to headline,” the world’s most popular / powerful female artist reunited Destiny’s Child — Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — to perform a special medley of classics “Lose My Breath,” “Say My Name” and “Soldier” to a crowd of 125,000 attendees. Also, earlier in her career defining set, she was joined by hubby JAY-Z for a duet on “Déjà Vu.” Or, it that Déjà YEW!?
https://youtu.be/r1frRkUDpQc
