Another hot day in the desert kicked off Coachella 2025 Weekend Two. However, the festival that is known for attics jaw-dropping surprises, super viral moments, and memories to last a lifetime, seemed to have a certain feminine mystique on Friday. Maybe it was the queen, Lady Gaga, headlining that night, or the legendary rock girl group, The Go-Go’s, taking this stage, or the icon, Missy Elliott, but there was certainly a feminine feel in the air on Friday at Coachella.
One of the first acts to take the Coachella stage was GINGEE. Her DJ skills and abilities as a music producer led her to the Mojave stage, kicking off her set at 1:30 PM. She played a collection of her classic tunes over the past decade.
At that very same stage, the Mojave tent, up-and-coming British songstress, Lola Young, made her Coachella debut. The singer and songwriter from London is best known for her viral 2024 hit “Messy” and for being featured on Tyler, the Creator’s “Like Him” track. Apart from her vulnerability, which she shared in her music during the set, she divulged how important the honor was to play at this year’s festival and how the moment touched her. Though she previously faced challenges in her set, which included illness, she pushed through, showing resiliency and dedication to her music.
Over at the Outdoor Theater, the legendary 80’s rock girl group, The Go-Go’s, kick off a groovy set. They started with their iconic song “Vacation” and finished their set with their hit “We’ve Got the Beat.” Lead singer Belinda Carlisle even joked that most of the songs that the girls performed probably were created before most in attendance or even born, but it didn’t seem to matter, as everyone definitely had the beat.
Following The Go-Go’s, current hitmaker Tyla took the Outdoor Theater stage. Wearing a Green bikini top with folded over denim shorts (that seemed to pay homage to Britney Spears “I’m a slave for You” VMA performance outfit) and high-heeled boots, she sang on an elevated stage accompanied by background dancers. With smoke filling the air, she had fun with the audience at one point, even jumping off the stage and handing her my to a gentleman in the crowd who seemed to be reluctant to give it back to her. But like a pro, she let security handle it and kept it moving. Of course, the big moment of the show was when she sang her hit song, “Water.”
After Tyla, the highly anticipated The Marías graced the Outdoor Theater stage. Led by frontwoman María Zardoya, the American indie pop band from Los Angeles, which is known for blending indie pop with bilingual sounds and infusing it with R&B and Latin influences, got the crowd going with songs that were both in English and Spanish. They performed some of their hits like “Heavy” and “No One Noticed” with an extended outro.
On the other side of the Coachella Empire Polo grounds, BLACKPINK’s LISA returned to Coachella, but this time for her solo set at the Sahara tent. She kicked off the show with songs like “Thunder,” and “LALISA,” before changing outfits for her song “New Woman.” Her set encompassed 14 songs across five different alter egos, ending with her singing, “Rockstar.”
While female empowerment was on full display on the stages and in the tents of Coachella, Absolut Vodka was bringing their ‘Born to Mix’ DNA to the desert by hosting the Absolut House of Cosmo with Paris Hilton. The Absolut House of Cosmo featured personalized elements inspired by Paris’s bold and unapologetic style in an environment that seamlessly blended cocktails, culture, creativity, and community, all within an immersive experience. From Paris’s signature line “That’s So Hot” to bold, beautiful lips kissing the wall, the house embodied that party girl spirit.
But even better, Paris Hilton surprised festivalgoers by stopping by weekend one of Coachella and took time to spin some songs to give festivalgoers a chance to take a respite from the desert heat, but keep the party going with her music and delicious Absolut cocktails. She brought her signature energy to Absolut’s immersive experience. Paris proved that the best moments at Coachella are often the ones you don’t see coming. She toasted an Absolut Sliving Cosmo as she teased new music from her upcoming Infinite Icon Remix EP, set for release on May 30th. She was also joined by Hip-hop legend Too Short in her surprise appearance, adding to the night’s unexpected and unforgettable moments.
For weekend two of Coachella, Absolut kept the party girl alive. For the second Friday in a row, they followed the pink aesthetics with DJ Bateeza, who was making her Coachella debut. DJ Bateeza noted, “It was an incredible experience… The energy of the crowd was infectious,” while DJing at the Absolut House of Cosmo. She added, “I also loved the pink theme of the venue, which added a unique touch to the atmosphere,” which of course was inspired by Paris, who inspired her. As for Paris, DJ Bateez said, “I have immense respect for Paris Hilton, especially for her philanthropic efforts. After losing her home in the Palisades fires, she dedicated her time to helping other affected families… Her commitment to using her influence for good truly resonates with me, and she continues to be an inspiring icon.” Others who stopped by the Absolut House of Cosmo during Coachella were actor and comedian Matt Rogers, Too Short, cultural commentator Tefi Pessoa, Blake Horstmann, Scheana Shay, Brock Davies, Emma Roberts, Vas J Morgan, and Dylan Mulvaney.
Once night fell, upon the valley, Hip-hop legend Missy Elliott with her colorful presents and unapologetic feminine verses lit up the night sky at the Coachella main Stage. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee took to the stage in a trance-like former’s outfit with matching glasses. Her set was certainly futuristic while she performed songs like “One Minute Man” and “Get Ur Freak On.” Before her monster hit “The Rain,” a solo dancer performed Gene Kelly’s “Singing in the Rain,” before Elliott graced the stage and owned it. She finished the set with her beat-pulsing song “Lose Control.”
Then it was the main moment of the night, Lady Gaga! Just a little after 11 PM, Mother Monster took the stage to delight her little monsters with a stage that saw her elevated high up in the air so that all in attendance could see her. Though the performance started shaky with her microphone going out completely, Gaga didn’t miss a beat, grabbing a handheld mic and finishing the set. The loss of the microphone only added to Gaga’s authenticity as an artist. It showed that she was not afraid to sing live at such a large event, like Coachella, without a backing track. She revamped some of her major hits for the Coachella stage like “Abracadabra,” “Judas,” “Paparazzi,” and “Born This Way.” She finished the night out with her dance hit “Bad Romance.”
Not ready to let your inner party girl go? Then check out the Absolut House of Cosmo at Coachella 2025!
