(Indio) The famous American festival Coachella gave pride of place this weekend to indie rock nostalgia, with the notable return to the stage of No Doubt. But it was Taylor Swift, always her, who stole the show without even performing on stage.
The gigantic musical event, which launches the festival season in the middle of the Californian desert, was buzzing with rumors about the presence of the American pop megastar, on break from his tour The Eras Tour.
Maybe even the billionaire singer — according to the latest ranking Forbes — would go on stage.
Finally, the singer appeared as a spectator, from the right of the stage, singing and twirling on the arm of her companion, football player Travis Kelce, during the Bleachers set, noted an AFP journalist.
The rock group is led by producer Jack Antoniff, who co-wrote and produced several Taylor Swift albums.
The star’s presence was immortalized in videos from fans on social networks, who also surprised him in the VIP section at the show of Bronx rapper Ice Spice.
But the crowds were there for the music, especially for headliner Tyler, The Creator, who burst onto a burning stage inside an RV parked in a mountainous desert setting. His set was enriched by guests such as Kali Uchis, Childish Gambino and A$AP Rocky.
No Doubt, Blur
The second day of concerts, Saturday, especially plunged Coachella back into the nostalgia of the indie rock years, which recalled the beginnings of the festival.
First with the group No Doubt, reformed for the first time in 15 years. At 54, Gwen Stefani took the stage with the voice of her youth, leading the crowd in singing classics such as Just A Girl And Don’t Speak.
PHOTO VALERIE MACON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
No Doubt
English rockers Blur also took the stage. And the stoner reggae rock band Sublime — known for its success Santeria — drew crowds of fans to the main stage for a sunset concert, with late frontman Brad Nowell’s son Jakob leading the way.
Another return, Vampire Weekend, who last performed more than ten years ago at Coachella.
The New Yorkers, who have just released their fifth album Only God Was Above Usalternated fan favorite songs and new compositions, including one mashup of honky tonk which lasted 15 minutes.
And, in an unlikely sequence, they brought star Paris Hilton on stage to play a game of “cornhole”, a typically North American game of skill where you have to throw bean bags into a hole.