Honesty time: This year marked the first time I ever experienced Coachella, which is mildly surprising given I cover music for a living. But thanks to Heineken, I was able to cross out a bucket list item and take on the fest with the best vibes, and the time has come for me to recap the festivities so you can go into weekend 2 armed with all the inside intel.
As soon as I touched down on the festival grounds on Friday, April 11, I pre-gamed Lady Gaga’s historic headlining slot with effortlessly cool DJ sets by Autograf and DJ Premier, as well as an energetic live show from L.A.-based hip-hop group, The Pharcyde. The crowd was packed with music lovers, industry folks, and buzzy celebs as they performed hits like “Runnin’” and “No Shit,” and as I made my way to the front of the stage, I saw Dylan Efron sip on a can of Heineken Original.
Moments before that, The White Lotus’s Lukas Gage was hanging out near the beer garden, too. The rest of the weekend’s star-studded attendees included Anderson .Paak, Outer Banks star Carlacia Grant, Summer House bro Jesse Solomon, Cierra Ramirez, Daniel Wai, and Ariana Madix.
“Coming off the smash success of T-Pain as our headliner last year, we’re looking forward to continuing to shine a light on beloved artists, while leveraging our long-standing platform to drive attention to up and coming musicians,” Christine Karimi, Heineken USA’s Director of Partnerships and Consumer Experience, said to Cosmopolitan. “Heineken is proud to provide legendary brews that every festival-goer is looking to enjoy, alongside the performances that everyone will remember.”
Speaking of which, a line curved around HH before Pusha T brought the house down with a headlining set full of hits on Saturday night. Qveen Herby and Murda Beatz also took the stage before it was Afrojack’s turn to headline and close out weekend 1 of the Heineken House at Coachella.
I ran across the desert to catch acts on Coachella’s main and outdoor stages throughout the weekend, and there was comfort in knowing I could hang at the Heineken House at any given moment. I was not only able to catch a break from the 100-degree temps thanks to its shady areas, but I stayed in the know with all the acts who came through on their own stage. In other words, I opted out of having FOMO, and it was the best decision.
From April 18 to 20, artists like Cordae, Pusha T, Qveen Herby, and Afrojack are set to take the stage. The hype surrounding the Heineken House is real—and there’s still a chance to beat your own FOMO during weekend 2.
