Coachella kicks off with Sabrina Carpenter and surprise guests

Coachella Kicks Off with Sabrina Carpenter and Surprise Guests

The Coachella music festival began its run on Friday, featuring a unique twist as pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter took the stage with unexpected appearances from actors Susan Sarandon and Sam Elliott. During her headlining set, Carpenter introduced a Hollywood-themed narrative, incorporating a monologue from Sarandon as a mature version of herself. Comedian Will Ferrell also joined the performance, playing a role as an electrician in a playful cameo.

The event, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, draws over 100,000 attendees each day across two weekends. However, the opening day faced disruptions due to severe weather conditions. Strong winds forced the cancellation of DJ Anyma’s set after Carpenter’s performance, as stated in a Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Instagram message:

“Due to strong wind conditions affecting Anyma’s stage build, he is unable to perform tonight. Coachella and Anyma have made this decision together with your safety as the priority.”

Weather officials had predicted gusts reaching 25 miles per hour on Friday, leading to an air quality advisory for the Coachella Valley from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. The National Weather Service warned that windblown dust could pose health risks, stating:

“Particle pollution can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of lung infections.”

While Indio was listed as an impacted area, local air quality levels were rated as good to moderate by noon on Thursday.

Carpenter, making her debut as headliner, transformed the stage into a fictional Hollywood Hills setting, dubbing it “Sabrinawood.” Her performance opened with a short film scene where she was pulled over by Elliott, who then let her proceed. Additional Friday acts included KATSEYE and Disclosure, while Saturday’s lineup will feature Justin Bieber and Sunday’s will highlight Karol G. Notable UK artists like Wet Leg, Lambrini Girls, Little Simz, and FKA Twigs are also scheduled to perform. The festival’s schedule will repeat next weekend, continuing its 20-year tradition since 2002.