Coachella Goes Purple: Reunions, Unexpected Guests and Prince Tributes Made Coachella 2016 Unforgettable

Stephanie Hernandez

Coachella 2016 impressed just like we knew it would but not in the ways we expected. Weekend one was full of the usual celebrity appearances and beautiful people taking in the desert sun while their favorite musicians took to the stage with surprise collaborators and guests for that extra element of awe. Full of magical moments, weekend two was set to follow the original momentum of the first but no one could predict it to exceed all expectations. The news of the passing of the iconic artist Prince marked the beginning of the festival’s second weekend; but instead of that casting a cloud of sadness over the event, it felt as though festival goers, musicians and the Coachella staff silently committed to push through to create something worthy of Prince’s legacy. The result: an utterly awe-inspiring end to the festival’s 2016 season.  

Making headlines its first weekend with the countless surprise appearances, the general feeling on the field was that anything could happen. Don’t forget that this is the occasion that finally got Guns N’ Roses back together! From Bernie Sanders’ special message during Run The Jewels’ set to Calvin Harris’ jaw-dropping onstage moment with Rihanna, fans began to expect the unexpected and to dream up what else could be in store for them through the festival’s remaining days. Just a few of the collaborations included Halsey and Brendon Urie, Disclosure and Sam Smith, AlunaGeorge and Lorde, Zedd and Ke$ha, The Chainsmokers and Tiesto, Third Eye Blind and G-Eazy, Guns N’ Roses and Angus Young, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg, Gallant and Seal and per usual Kanye making appearances all over the grounds. Night after night the fields were full of excitement and disbelief that so many unexpected performances were occurring in the span of a mere three days. Come weekend two, most attendees accepted that the glow of weekend one would be faded by the time they set up their tents on the fields but oh how wrong they were.

On Friday night, the Coachella Valley found itself cloaked in a haze of purple lights, the famed art installations were illuminated in the same royal hue; artists rearranged their light shows to reflect their respect for Prince and overnight they made sure to include their own unique tribute to the fallen star. One of the most notable being Friday night headliner LCD Soundsystem. Starting their set with a full video opener of Prince’s stunning 2008 eight-minute Coachella performance of Radiohead’s “Creep” before stepping on stage themselves left the masses feeling proud to have had such an artist grace their lives. This paired with song tributes from Major Lazer, Usher and Kamasi Washington along with dedications by countless artists, the weekend’s performances were all the better for it. Weekend two set itself apart from weekend one with more surprise onstage collaborations. During Ice Cube’s Saturday set, which included the historic Reunion of NWA for the first time in decades, the West Coast showed off by bringing everyone from Eazy E’s son, The Game, Kendrick Lamar and the elusive Dr. Dre to the stage. It is safe to say the people lost their minds. Overall, the festival’s second installment proved to be packed with countless once-in-a-lifetime moments, all caught on film for the rest of the world to witness.

We were able to catch up with first-time Coachella performer and Entertainment Voice favorite Zella Day following her Saturday afternoon set. She said: “The two weekends have been so many things, where do I start? I feel so happy and relieved today that both of my performances went off without a hitch. The crowd was more than I anticipated; there were more people than I thought there was going to be so that felt really good and validating as a new artist.” With a new album released just under a year ago, attracting a crowd of that size during the hottest part of the day is nothing to scoff at. Part of the Coachella experience is taking in the sheer amount of talent scattered throughout the festival, something Day took full advantage of. “I got to be inspired by so many artists here. I was blown away [by] Grime’s set last night. She had me close to tears; then there was Sia, she was on point; Ice Cube was on point. He was life last night,” she said. 

For someone who has been hitting the festival circuit hard this year, it can be hard to believe that artists like Day have any time for fun but she does saying, “I had margaritas for breakfast today so that should tell you where I’m at!” It’s this kind of attitude and free-spirited vibe that gives Coachella a certain je ne sais quoi and this feeling that the attendees are having just as much fun as the performers. Though the two-weekend commitment to stay on the bill seems crazy at first, it’s one of the most exciting contracts for new artists to sign. “I think it’s incredible that this festival requires everyone to play two weekends; that is a lot for all these big names and these big bands to do! There are a lot of bands on this roster that are in such high demand and it is so impressive that this place requires them to be here for a whole week!” said newcomer Day. Two weekends and twice the exposure on the desert stage is truly an amazing opportunity. 

Looking through the “Coachella” hashtag on multiple social media platforms this year will bring up just about everything you have ever wanted to see and for the first time you will notice the festival’s art installations as their very own trending topics. Known for celebrating the visual arts just as much as the sonic waves flowing through the air, 2016 seemed to be the year art took center stage in the experience of thousands of festival goers. Installations like the beautifully floral “Besame Mucho” sign that became the backdrop for everyone’s “I’m at Coachella” selfie to the avant-garde larger than life yellow “Katrina Chairs,” the mirrored “Portal,” interactive “Armpit” and the colorfully strange “Tower of Twelve Stories” became the subject for creative photos, shelters from the sun and great places to meet up with friends for post performances unpacking. They became a part of the festival, adding to the minimalistic beauty of the landscape while also allowing themselves to be used as illuminated beacons to honor Prince all weekend, reminding the attendees that he was just as much a musician as he was an artist.

Adding to the surreal atmosphere was the festival’s unbelievable dining options. From the general admission post-show pizza and churros to the VIP Rose Garden fare, the opportunities to tantalize taste buds were endless. Stepping into the Rose Garden, which would become the festival’s culinary hot spot, was like entering a relaxed oasis full of the food and craft cocktails you’d never think to expect to find in the middle of the desert. When a craving hit the Rose Garden had something to satisfy from Las Perlas Spicy Daisy Mescal margarita to legitimately everything on the menu at The Original Hand Roll Bar. Aside from just the walk-up options, Coachella made sure to include pop-ups from some of Southern California’s best chefs and restaurants. Names like The Commissary, Pok Pok LA and Rosaline made full-service appearances throughout the weekend. Outstanding in the Field also returned for another year, each day featuring a new menu guests were welcomed to a long white linen dressed table just steps away from the Sahara tent to enjoy a communal meal as the sunset winded down the evening.

A full three courses accompanied by dessert and wine pairings were served family style, allowing guests to mingle and serve one another while discovering new tastes in a casual setting. Each dinner began with guests being greeted by a specially crafted cocktail before making their way to their seats. Once seated, the experience began: the first course was brought out on large plates, allowing you to get cozy with your neighbors by helping to serve them, making what could very easily have been a stifled experience into one that was genuinely refreshing. With courses by the likes of Michael Voltaggio, Tal Ronnen, Brendan Collins, Lincoln Carson, Steven Fretz and Bradley Kilgore being served up twice a day, festival goers were given a multitude of options to take in these beautifully curated meals. Complete with wine pairings like grilled pork shoulder and a 2014 Enchante white blend from the Santa Ynez valley, there was really no way to leave unsatisfied. An escape from the madness, the Outstanding in the Field dinners remind us to stop and appreciate everything Coachella has to offer and sometimes that means taking the time to enjoy a sit-down meal with some other like minded folks who enjoy their desert festivals with a little wine.

Coachella 2016 will be forever remembered as being enveloped by a deep purple haze; surreal in every sense of the word, an otherworldly celebration of music and an unexpected tribute to one of its biggest innovators. A total of six days reminding us just how much music unites and how much it impacts our lives and the lives of others around us. The 2016 festival really highlighted its commitment to excellence in every aspect of the weekend experience. The food delighted, the art impressed and the music most importantly made us stop and listen. Well done, Coachella.