Coachella 2014: 7 Pop Acts On Our Radar, From Lana Del Rey To Haim And Lorde

Mike Wass | April 10, 2014 6:00 am

Coachella, which officially kicks off on Friday (April 11), is a veritable smorgasbord for indie music fans with a mouth-watering range of (slightly to very left-of-center) rock, rap and EDM acts. But what if your taste runs a little more mainstream? Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of great music waiting for you in the dusty heat of Indio, California.

The multi-stage line-up can be overwhelming for the uninitiated, so we’ve combed through the mind-bending roster and picked this year’s can’t-miss pop performers as well as a smattering of rising acts that you really should check out if you’re not lying in a tent somewhere battling sunstroke. Just make sure you get there early because there will be hordes of revelers waiting for these must-see sets.

Lana Del Rey (Outdoor Theatre, Sunday at 8:15pm)

Well, this is a total no-brainer. Lana Del Rey is the woman of the moment with new single “West Coast” set to drop any minute and crazily-anticipated sophomore set Ultraviolence looming on the horizon. Who knows, you might be one of the first people on the planet to hear her new material? And even if she just does Born To Die, from beginning to end, I will be in seventh heaven.

Calvin Harris (Coachella Stage, Sunday at 7:30pm)

The Scottish DJ is a veritable one-man hit machine and will, no doubt, turn Coachella into a giant dance party with his infectious house anthems. New single “Summer” will be on his setlist but maybe Calvin will bring out girlfriend Rita Ora or another special guest to share the stage. Keep your eyes peeled!