Surprises, injuries, NSFW lyrics: the best (and worst) of Coachella week two (2024)

Coachella, one of America's biggest msuic festivals, and arguably the most internet-famous, has wrapped up for another year.

ICYMI, the first weekend had its share of surprises (and flops) and although the event always repeats the line-up for a second weekend, that doesn't always mean the same big moments.

This year's headliners Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator and Doja Cat all found ways to mix up their performances, while Blur and Grimes addressed talking points around their sets.

Here's all the highs and lows, hits and misses from the second weekend. Consider it the next best thing to baking under the Indio, California sun with a bunch of influencers and Zoomers.

Grimes' redemptive DJ set

Grimes had something to prove after a disastrous first weekend that saw the Canadian electronic artist formally apologising for technical issues plaguing her set at the outdoor Sahara stage.

"I HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN," she promised her more than 2.5 million Instagram followers. She also vowed to "cap the disarray" and wondered "if there's ever been a more rehearsed or fine tuned Grimes set" in a post on X (the platform run by the father of her three children, Elon Musk).

Grimes also made fun of her first weekend troubles witha self-deprecating 'breaking news' style video that opened her Saturday evening show.

Reworking the majority of her set, Grimes remixed her own music as well as splicing together BLACKPINK song Whistle with Solo by BLACKPINK member Jennie and Rihanna.

Judging by the court of public opinion (i.e. social media), Grimes won back a lot of good will but it wasn't entirely flawless — she still managed to fudge a few playbacks.

Doja Cat makes Coachella history

"Dojchella" began trending on X shortly after the 28-year-old's closing Sunday night performance – a blockbuster spectacle with stunning costumes, sharp choreography and even a raunchy mud pit sequence.

The first female rapper to headline Coachella, and second Black woman after Beyoncé's 2018 performance, Doja Cat took cues from Beychella, crafting visuals for those watching the online stream as much as those standing in the field.

The Hottest 100 topping artist alsotriumphed through technical difficulties, professionally moving through some microphone mishaps without letting it fluster her during FTG (F*** The Girls).

The set drew heavily from Doja Cat's 2023 album Scarlet, a departure from her earlier pop and R&B stylings towards rap. Admirably, she eschewed her most familiar songs – such as Say So, Kiss Me More, or even viral hit Moo – in favour of flexing tough bars and her commanding presence.

Lana Del Rey brings out Camila Cabello

Bringing out a special guest (or several) to spice up a set has become Coachella tradition, and after roping in Billie Eilish last week, Lana Del Rey welcomed Camila Cabello to the stage for Friday's headlining set to perform her new single I Luv it.

A pivot into hyperpop featuring a guest verse from Playboi Carti, I Luv It is already one of 2024's most divisive hits but Del Rey is evidently a fan.

"This is my girl. I have so much fun with her. I love this song to death," Del Rey told the audience. "Thank you so much, angel."

The feeling was more than mutual, with Cabello taking to X post-performance for a series of posts heaping praise on Lana.

"I don't really know who I would be without female artists like her who show me what's possible," she wrote.

"How to be free. How to be hard and soft at the same time. How to make your life a work of art. Thank you for including us in your moment last night. I am at your service forever my girl."

Kid Cudi breaks foot after jumping off stage

Whoopsie! A late addition to the second weekend (replacing Vampire Weekend), the singer-rapper had to cut his set short after he excitedly leaped from the stage and injured himself.

"Hey guys, so I broke my foot today at the show," Cudi confirmed wrote on X post-show.

"Never broken a bone before so this is all a bit crazy. I wanna thank u all for ur concerns and well wishes!! I love y'all man. I heard y'all still ragin' when I was offstage. Made me smile big."

Kid Cudi aired two new songs – Moon Man sh*t and Blue Sky – before taking his fall during a performance of his 2009 David Guetta collaboration Memories.

Tyler, the Creator reunites with Earl Sweatshirt

Last weekend, Tyler brought out Childish Gamibno, A$AP Rocky, Charlie Wilson, and Kali Uchis during his headlining set. On Saturday, he satisfied long-term fans with an appearance from his childhood friend and fellow rapper, Earl Sweatshirt.

Getting their big break coming up together as key members of controversial hip hop collective Odd Future, the two artists joined forces on the main stage for a rare showing of a couple of fan favourites.

Sweatshirt joined for the first performance in a decade of AssMilk – a collaboration from Tyler's 2009 mixtape Bastard – and Rusty, from Tyler's 2013 album Wolf.

Aussies Rüfüs Du Sol tease new music

ARIA and Grammy award winning electronic trio Rüfüs Du Sol are no strangers to the Californian desert, it's where they created parts of their third album Surrender.

On Friday, the Sydney-bred trio returned to Coachella to play the Quasar stage – a new stage dedicated to house and techno music – and previewed new material from an upcoming full-length studio project.

The group are taking cues from the dance music of their youth – Moby, Daft Punk and Justice — and told Rolling Stone: "We're exploring more ideas, drawing influence from more genres without being too over-analytical…"

Damon Albarn says Blur at Coachella was "probably our last gig"

Last weekend was Blur's first big American show in nearly a decade but unfortunately, the crowd's response to the Britpop legends wasn't great. It was bad enough that a visibly frustrated Damon Albarn lambasted the audience during Girls & Boys: "You're never seeing us again so you might as well f***ing sing this."

For the second weekend, Albarn addressed the elephant in the room. "This is the truth of Coachella isn't it? The second week is music fans, people who appreciate music."

Before closing number Tender, Albarn said: "In the spirit of clarity and truth, this is probably our last gig." He added the decision was "no reflection on Coachella – I love Coachalla, it's beautiful."

Last year, Blur released The Ballad of Darren, their second reunion album after surprise 2015 comeback The Magic Whip. But, by December, and a run of festival shows, Albarn said he was already prepared to "wrap up this campaign."

"It's too much for me" he told French publication Les Inrockuptibles. "It was the right thing to do and an immense honor to play these songs again, spend time with these guys, make an album, blah blah blah… I'm not saying I won't do it again. It was a beautiful success, but I'm not dwelling on the past."

Sabrina Carpenter flirts with Barry Keoghan, brings out Norah Jones

Irish actor Barry Keoghan and American pop singer Sabrina Carpenter are currently dating, which might've been obvious to anyone who caught footage of the Saltburn star filming the latter in action at Coachella last weekend.

Well, Carpenter made things a little more explicit for weekend two.

The 23-year-old has made a viral trend out of inserting new lyrics to the outro of her 2022 single Nonsense during her concerts. Playing on the main stage on Friday evening, she nodded to Barry's very NSFW scene from Saltburn while also staking a claim for a future line-up bump at the festival.

Earlier in the set, Carpenter invited out Norah Jones for a duet of the latter's triple Grammy winning song Don't Know Why, which Sabrina explained she fell in love with at age seven.

Lil Nas X joins Kevin Abstract to debut new collaboration

Kevin Abstract, solo artist and former ringleader of hip hop collective Brockhampton, surprised fans during his set by bringing out Lil Nas X.

"He means a lot to me and he means a lot to the culture and I'm very lucky to know him," Abstract said of the Old Town Road and Montero hit-maker. Together, they premiered a new song titled 'Tennessee'.

"This like the gay Watch the Throne, you feel me?" Abstract said onstage, jokingly referring to Kanye West and Jay-Z's 2011 collaborative album. He later tweeted a snippet of the studio version with the same caption.