Welcome to our stay protection of Day 1 of the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Friday’s headliner is Lana Del Rey, however we’ll be preserving a detailed eye on Peso Pluma, who precedes her on Coachella’s greatest stage. Tyler, the Creator tops Saturday night time’s invoice, following a much-anticipated reunion set from No Doubt. And Doja Cat closes out the competition Sunday, marking her first time headlining the fest.

The first weekend is bought out, however tickets are available for Weekend 2.

There’s extra than simply the massive names to see. Other artists on our radar for Friday embody Justice, L’Impératrice, Chappell Roan, Deftones, Sabrina Carpenter, Young Miko and Suki Waterhouse. And with rumors circulating that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are headed to Coachella, we’ll preserve an eye fixed out to see if Swift hops onstage with any of her friends performing this weekend.

From the fashion to the new Quasar stage to the very best eats, we’ll preserve you within the loop on what you received’t see on the livestream from dwelling.

Check again Friday afternoon as The Times’ Mikael Wood, August Brown, Vanessa Franko, Danielle Dorsey and Nate Jackson can be roaming the competition grounds, reporting on all the action as it happens.

And observe @latimes_entertainment on Instagram to see extra from the sphere.

2:25 p.m. Greetings and comfortable Coachella! I’ve been masking the fest since 2007 and if you depend the dual weekends, that is No. 25 for me.

There was an enormous cheer when the gates opened at 1:20, slightly bit behind the revealed 1 p.m. opening occasions, however individuals had been nonetheless feeling the nice vibes.

The fest feels slightly busier than regular on a Friday for the opening time. This weekend is bought out and I believe the nice and cozy temps within the decrease 90s introduced a few of the campers out of their tents and into the competition early.

The greatest change to the competition grounds on the Empire Polo Club in Indio this yr is that they’re considerably bigger. I joked that the Sahara Tent, which has additionally grown, is now in its personal ZIP Code. It shouldn’t be fairly that far, however it’s past the earlier footprint and alongside the blue parking path. If you are attempting to go between Sahara and the Outdoor Theatre, plan accordingly. It is a hike.

Also new for 2024 is the Quasar Stage, which is past the Craft Beer Barn the place Sahara was beforehand situated. It is about up for longer units from DJs and received’t get going till later at present.

I requested for the Coachella booklet at an data kiosk and I used to be advised they didn’t have them and weren’t anticipating them. That makes downloading the app much more essential.

As far because the artwork goes, there may be much less this yr. Beyond the perennial Spectra rainbow tower and the long-lasting balloon chain, there are solely three different giant items. One, Babylon, by Nebbia, seems to be like an enormous tower of grey rocks and isn’t a part of the often colourful Coachella nature. However, artwork at Coachella at all times has a special vibe at night time, so we’ll see the way it seems to be when the solar goes down.

— Vanessa Franko

2:30 p.m. After initially heading to the VIP Rose Garden, I had my first Coachella snack on the Craft Beer Barn. (Pro tip: The Rose Garden meals distributors had been nonetheless organising after I arrived so possibly don’t make it your first cease, until you need hand rolls from Kazunori, which had a full bar and a rising line shortly after gates opened.)

I ended up grabbing a birria quesadilla from the Goat Mafia, which was prepared nearly instantly with piping scorching consommé and juicy goat birria melding with gooey cheese. Afterward, I ducked into the Cabin for a cool craft cocktail to struggle the punishing desert solar.

— Danielle Dorsey

4:40 p.m. Walking throughout Coachella underneath the excessive afternoon solar feels akin to that scene in “The Lion King” when Simba is banished by Scar from Pride Rock and collapses within the desert from dehydration earlier than he’s saved by Timon and Pumba. But whereas trekking from 12 Peaks VIP Area to the VIP Rose Garden, I found this Coachella hack: Cut via the Basement speak-easy that’s tucked within the again nook of the Pies and Lows pizza pop-up (possibly order a drink at midnight, air-conditioned, albeit barely claustrophobic, bar earlier than you discover your manner out — supplier’s alternative) that spits you out on the Craft Beer Barn. You’ll want a password to enter the hidden bar and I used to be sworn to secrecy, however I’ll offer you a tiny trace: When Amanda Seyfried embraced camp.

— DD

5:27 p.m. I went to Coachella and entered some type of time warp. Not solely do we now have Deftones, Blur, No Doubt and Sublime on the invoice, however there have been loads of throwbacks as I’ve criss-crossed the sphere this afternoon. When I popped into The Basement speakeasy to chill off amongst black-light posters of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and Cheech & Chong, I heard the Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom,” Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” and Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You.” Then, as I used to be strolling by the Outdoor Theatre, Fundido was spinning a home remix of Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart” and later some Celine Dion. I’m not mad about any of it. — V.F.

5:31 p.m. Punishing is the phrase! Maybe I’ve simply gotten too accustomed to our new wet actuality in L.A., however the polo discipline feels particularly scorching for the time being as I soak up what’s modified and what hasn’t at Coachella. Beyond the solar taking place, what I’m trying ahead to this night is Deftones, Chappell Roan and Lana Del Rey, whose headlining set I can envision both as a bare-bones singer-songwriter session or a full-on pop spectacle. We shall see. — M.W.

6:00 p.m. French disco pop act L’Impératrice introduced the dance social gathering I wanted to recharge and prepare for the night of Coachella’s first day.

The band, which has an upcoming album referred to as “Pulsar,” got here out wearing matching mild blue outfits that gave “Fifth Element”/sci-fi vibes and included glowing discs.

“Peur des filles” was an early spotlight earlier than the band led the group in synchronized choreography for “Voodoo?” A enjoyable, funky time was had by all. — V.F.