Coachella 2025 Weekend 2 – Your Friday Guide: Who Delivered, Who Disappointed, and Who You Shouldn’t Miss

If you’re heading into Coachella Weekend 2, Friday’s lineup is stacked — but knowing who to prioritize can make or break your day (and save your feet). I kept an eye on Weekend 1, and let’s just say: some sets lit up the desert, others fizzled under the heat. Whether you’re a seasoned Coachella goer or it’s your first time, here’s a full breakdown of Friday’s sets — what worked, what didn’t, and what you should absolutely catch this weekend.

Must-See Sets (Plan your day around these)

Lady Gaga — 11:10 PM, Coachella Stage

Genre: Pop / Theatrical Pop

Set Length: 2 hours

Why Go: Lady Gaga’s Weekend 1 set wasn’t just a concert — it was a cinematic opera. Titled The Art of Personal Chaos, her show was split into acts, narrating the war between her light and dark selves using visuals, fashion, and career-spanning hits. She opened in a towering three-story gown and closed as a feathered angel against fireworks. You’ll hear Bloody Mary, Abracadabra, Shallow, Judas, Poker Face, and more.

Highlights: Gothic visuals, powerful vocals, new tracks from Mayhem, and a performance that genuinely felt like art.

Don’t Miss If: You love pop spectacle, fashion, and drama done right. This was easily THE BEST set of the weekend.

Missy Elliott — 9:00 PM, Coachella Stage

Genre: Hip-Hop

Set Length: 55 minutes

Why Go: Missy didn’t just remind us of her legacy — she proved she's still at the top of her game. From Work It to Pass That Dutch to Lose Control, it was a non-stop, high-energy masterclass in showmanship.

Highlights: Futuristic visuals, transformer-style outfits, and a live celebration of two decades of genre-shifting music.

Pro Tip: Get there early — this was one of the most packed sets of the night.

GloRilla — 10:20 PM, Sahara Stage

Genre: Rap

Set Length: 45 minutes

Why Go: Big Glo came in loud, fun, and confident. Opening in an alien mask, her Sahara set leaned into her Memphis sound with gritty, hard-hitting production and crowd-favorite energy.

Highlights: Wanna Be, TGIF, Yeah Glo, and a preview of an unreleased track. She also threw in a nod to Kanye’s All of the Lights.

What to Expect: Heavy bass, hyped-up crowd, and a no-frills, no-apology performance that proves she’s here to stay.

Mustard & Friends — 11:50 PM, Sahara Stage

Genre: Hip-Hop / Producer Showcase

Set Length: 45 minutes

Why Go: Mustard built a set that felt like a highlight reel of West Coast hip-hop. He brought out Tyga, YG, Big Sean, Roddy Ricch, and Ella Mai, with nods to both his past and present. It was part nostalgic, part hype fest.

Highlights: Rack City, IDFWU, Ballin’, Boo’d Up. Fans expected Kendrick to show up — he didn’t — but it didn’t ruin the vibe.

Heads Up: No Kendrick, no Not Like Us. Still a solid closing act with huge crowd energy.

Tyla — 6:45 PM, Outdoor Theatre

Genre: Afropop / R&B

Set Length: 40 minutes

Why Go: Tyla brought style and ambition, but Weekend 1’s set lacked consistency. Highlights included a surprise duet with Becky G (On My Body) and an acoustic version of Water in a kiddie pool. She paid tribute to Aaliyah and danced on a giant on-stage tiger.

What to Watch For in Weekend 2: She has presence, but could benefit from more vocal energy and polish. If she tightens things up, this could be a great set — especially during golden hour.

Other Notable Sets

Benson Boone — 7:05 PM, Coachella Stage

Genre: Pop / Rock

Review: He stunned Weekend 1 with a surprise duet with Queen’s Brian May on Bohemian Rhapsody. If that happens again, it’ll be a major moment. Either way, his vocals were strong, and his crowd work was surprisingly seasoned.

Worth Seeing If: You love big vocals and don’t mind a bit of pop-rock melodrama.

The Marías — 8:20 PM, Outdoor Theatre

Genre: Indie Pop / Dream Pop

Review: This was one of the most aesthetic sets of Friday. María Zardoya’s vocals were airy and intimate, and yes — they made it snow in the desert. Moody, cool, and atmospheric.

Good Break Spot: Perfect way to wind down before gearing up for Missy or Glo.

A.G. Cook — 7:40 PM, Mojave

Genre: Hyperpop / Electronic

Review: Charli XCX’s longtime collaborator delivered a glitchy, genre-blending set with remixes from Brat and a guest spot from Danny Brown. He’s a producer’s producer — weird, bold, fun.

Go If: You like synth chaos, Brat-core, or want something off the beaten path.

Skip (or Consider Only If You're Curious)

LISA — 7:45 PM, Sahara Stage

Genre: K-pop / Pop

Review: Weekend 1’s set was heavy on the spectacle, light on actual performance. Fans noted heavy backing tracks, low energy, and awkward pacing. She changed outfits five times but didn’t build momentum.

Verdict: Unless you’re a devoted BLINK, your time may be better spent elsewhere — like The Marías or prepping for Missy.

Bonus Picks for Deep Cuts or Empty Gaps in Your Schedule

Yeat (10:25 PM, Sahara): Inflatable bell on stage. Massive mosh energy. Opened with The Bell, covered Feel No Ways. Wild and chaotic.

Three 6 Mafia (5:15 PM, Sahara): Classic crunk meets surprise guests. MGK and Travis Barker popped in during Weekend 1.

The Go-Go’s (5:25 PM, Outdoor Theatre): If you want a fun nostalgia trip, they delivered tight harmonies and brought out Billie Joe Armstrong for Head Over Heels.