HU Reacts: Coachella 2025

By: Brionna Gillis

Last weekend marked the start of Coachella 2025, the two weekend music and fashion festival. Celebrities, influencers, and average festival attendees alike suited up in their best outfits and headed out to Indio, California to participate in festivities and watch the performances. 

“Some of the outfits this year were really cute. I assumed there was an unspoken “theme” because everyone dressed the same, but I really enjoyed seeing everybody’s outfits on TikTok and Instagram,” said Amani Weather, an HU third year, Secondary English Education major.  

The festival featured a variety of artists such as Travis Scott, Greenday, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Missy Elliot, and Lady Gaga. For many, Gaga’s setlist was one of the most anticipated and positively received. 

“Lady Gaga’s set was really good from what I saw online. I mean the stage set up and the costumes, that was a peak performance,” said Malia Horton, an HU third year psychology major. 

The festival also included a variety of art installations and activities for the attendees to participate in. 

“Coachella looked really fun this weekend, I had a little bit of FOMO because I feel like it was publicized a lot more this year,” said Weather. 

Some people enjoyed this year’s iconic festival, while others had a hard time understanding the concert’s popularity during such a heightened political climate. 

“It seemed like Coachella this year was kind of a hit or miss this year. Honestly, some people I saw were struggling [at the festival] while others seemed to have the times of their lives,” said Horton. 

Coachella’s camping setup became one of the most controversial parts of the festival. People who decided to camp out in their car had to wait more than 12 hours to enter the festival grounds and find a spot to set up. 

Viral TikTok videos show some concert goers in well-spaced tents, while others had to set up in and walk through mud with a lack of bathrooms and water, sparking a conversation about accessibility and economic class. Other issues arose, such as influencer drama, ticket prices, and the combination of long lines and the hot weather. 

“I think it’s insane that there were people that camped out for that long in cars and didn’t have the proper necessities like food and water, and still weren't able to get in,” said Horton. 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Social media users have criticized the organizers of Coachella, Goldenvoice, a Los Angeles-based concert promoter, for the lengthy traffic, according to USA Today.