Charli XCX, Green Day, and Travis Scott Ignite Coachella 2025 With Bold Music and Social Messages

Charli XCX Turns Coachella Into a Club Playground

Coachella 2025 wasn’t just another festival—it felt like its own universe, and nobody captured that wild spirit quite like Charli XCX. The English pop rebel commanded the main stage on April 13 with so much energy, it was like the festival’s heart skipped a beat. Decked out fans in "Brat" merch packed the field, and the air pulsed with anticipation. Charli didn’t disappoint. She fired up the crowd with new anthems like "365," "360," and the TikTok-fueled "Von Dutch," creating a scene that blurred the line between high-octane rave and live concert.

But Charli didn’t keep all the fun to herself; she brought a superstar crew. Troye Sivan joined her for slick dance-pop synergy, then Billie Eilish and Lorde showed up, swapping between haunting vocals and pop bravado. Their joint performances of "Talk Talk" and tracks off "Brat" gave the crowd that goosebump moment everybody comes to Coachella hoping for. The vibe? Total freedom and controlled chaos—a reminder of why her music is so addictive both online and off.

Green Day Battles Politics From the Main Stage

After the dance fever cooled, Green Day took over with a very different energy. The California punk veterans used their stage time to turn up the volume on real-world issues, concrete and loud. Billie Joe Armstrong didn’t mince words; he flipped the lyrics of their anthem "American Idiot"—with a pointed nod to America’s division, switching "redneck agenda" to "MAGA agenda" and swapping lines to highlight Palestinian children amid ongoing global tensions. It wasn’t subtle, and it wasn’t meant to be. The crowd snapped to attention, digesting every word as Armstrong and crew unleashed classic after classic.

This wasn’t just a nostalgia trip though. When they powered through tracks like "21 Guns" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," it felt like catharsis—a rally for everyone who sings along because they care about more than just the chorus. For Green Day, Coachella wasn’t just a gig. It was a statement.

Travis Scott brought a different pulse altogether. While early festival reports didn’t dive into every song choice or set moment, attendees agreed—his live energy and massive production had the whole field bouncing, drowning in that thumping bass and relentless flow. Scott’s presence proved that when it comes to drawing a packed festival crowd, few can match him for sheer spectacle.

Other acts filled out the eclectic weekend lineup: Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Phil delivered something truly different, The Misfits brought their gritty edge, and Weezer made sure nostalgia rock still burns bright. T-Pain got the crowd moving before sunset, while fans blazed back and forth under intense strobes and mind-melting visuals.

What really stuck out this year? Coachella 2025 wasn’t just a mashup of pop, punk, and rap. It was proof that a festival can be both a party and a platform, putting today’s biggest cultural voices in the spotlight—and letting them say exactly what’s on their minds.