From Ariana Grande To BLACKPINK, 20 Must-See Acts At Coachella 2019

Mike Nied | January 4, 2019 5:44 pm
Coachella 2019 Line-Up
The lineup for Coachella 2019 includes Ariana, BLACKPINK and Childish Gambino.

As usual, Coachella is destined to be one of the biggest music festivals of the year. This week, organizers unveiled the lineup of performers, and it is a predictably star-studded event. A bevy of the hottest names from a variety of genres will descend upon the polo grounds of Indio, California on April 12 (and once again April 19). Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala stepped up to headline the main event. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. BLACKPINK will become the first K-Pop girl group to play Coachella, while iconic Japanese girl-group Perfume is also gearing up for a set of their own. Here are the 20 acts we are most excited to see in alphabetical order.

Ariana Grande

Between Sweetener and “thank u, next,” Ariana Grande dominated 2018. And with plans to drop a new album sometime early this year, she deserves the honor of being Coachella’s youngest act (and one of only four women) to headline the festival. From “Into You” to “God Is A Woman,” she’s got the hits to keep the main stage going all night long.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “breathin”

Bad Bunny

2018 saw Bad Bunny secure his first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with a feature on Cardi B’s “I Like It.” The Puerto Rican superstar followed it up by hitting the Top 5 with his Drake-assisted “Mia.” Now, he will highlight some of his biggest global hits during a set in the desert. Perhaps we will even get a cameo from reverse-aging legend Jennifer Lopez if he chooses to play “Te Guste.”

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Mia”

Bazzi

“Mine” was one of the breakout hits of 2018, and Bazzi hasn’t let us down since. The 21-year-old has the golden touch when it comes to pop bops, and he’s gotten co-signs from the likes of tour mate Camila Cabello. Hopefully the pair will get together to treat us to a stunning rendition of “Beautiful” for the first time this April.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Beautiful”

Billie Eilish

If you need any more evidence that Billie Eilish is poised to be one of the Next Big Things in pop, look no further than her placement on Coachella’s lineup. The 17-year-old streaming phenom made the leap from small stages to one of music’s biggest festival platforms in just one year.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “you should see me in a crown”

BLACKPINK

K-Pop has left a lasting impression on America, and that trend shows no signs of slowing down in 2019. Boy bands like BTS and Monsta X have played sets across the country, and now it is time for the ladies to showcase their talent. BLACKPINK will do just that when they take the stage to power through international hits like “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” solo releases like JENNIE’s “SOLO” and (prayerfully) their Dua Lipa collab “Kiss And Make Up.”

Song we’re most excited to see live: “DDU-DU DDU-DU”

Childish Gambino

Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) has proven to be an exceedingly visual artist. “This Is America” captured the public’s attention and shed light on a plethora of hot-bed issues plaguing the country. And he is bound to effortlessly make the transition from video to stage with one of the year’s most engaging performances.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “This Is America”

Christine And The Queens

Christine And The Queens (real name Héloïse Letissier) will return to Coachella in 2019. The French pop star last graced the stage in the desert in 2016. With the unveiling of last year’s Chris, the rising star has a slew of new material to perform, and she’s sure to deliver one of 2019’s must-see sets.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Girlfriend”

Diplo

2018 was a year of unexpected collaborations for Diplo. The EDM superstar linked up with Sia and Labrinth to form LSD and partnered with Mark Ronson under the moniker Silk City. That means there will be no shortage of bangers for him to perform when he reclaims the stage. As an added bonus, we’re all but guaranteed some truly tantalizing cameos.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Thunderclouds”

DJ Snake

Speaking of cameos, DJ Snake’s discography guarantees the same. The French hitmaker can call down anyone from Justin Bieber (“Let Me Love You”) to Selena Gomez, Cardi B and Ozuna (“Taki Taki”). Suffice to say that there will be no shortage of hits during this fierce performance.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Taki Taki”

Ella Mai

From “Boo’d Up” to “Trip,” Ella Mai has kept us on our toes with her R&B stylings. And she’ll have no shortage of bops to choose from when she makes her debut at Coachella this year.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Boo’d Up”

J Balvin

Could Beyonce be returning to Coachella in 2019? Queen Bey left a lasting impression when she headlined the festival in 2018, and she’d surely be welcomed back for a rehashing of J Balvin’s “Mi Gente.” Either way, the Latin legend is sure to light up the stage when he touches down.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Mi Gente”

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe never disappoints. Dirty Computer is without a doubt one of 2018’s most critically acclaimed albums. And the Grammy nominated opus is bursting with bangers. From the vaginal “PYNK” to the funky “Make Me Feel,” there’s plenty of seriously fiery anthems to keep the audience on their feet.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “PYNK”

Kacey Musgraves

Oh look, it’s time to pull out the chaps and cowboy hat! No one blends country and pop with a more deft hand than Kacey Musgraves. The 30-year-old is almost single-handedly responsible for making gay bars across the globe embrace the twang with her disco-infused bops last year. And just imagining her doing the same on Coachella’s stage is enough to make us say yeeha.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “High Horse”

Khalid

After the breakout success of American Teen, Khalid’s hot streak continued through 2018’s acclaimed Suncity. And he’s already teasing the release of his sophomore LP ahead of his set at Coachella. This means the 20-year-old will have a wealth of new material to perform when he finally takes the stage.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Better”

King Princess

King Princess caught lightning in a bottle with her debut single “1950.” The streaming giant is a queer love song for the ages, and the rising star has done no wrong since its release. That trend is sure to continue with her first appearance at Coachella in the new year. Hopefully this means that even more new music is on the way before her set.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Talia”

Maggie Rogers

After dropping one of 2017’s best EPs, Maggie Rogers’ debut LP – Heard It In A Past Life – is one of our most anticipated albums for Q1 2019. Everything we’ve heard has been utter perfection thus far. And if the trend continues, it will be impossible to predict what hits she’ll select for the stage.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Light On”

Solange

Does this mean we’re finally getting a follow-up to 2016’s A Seat At The Table? Solange has been teasing new music for the better part of a year now. She told T magazine she’d been inspired by jazz and trunk-rattling hip-hop, both of which are perfectly suited for a must-see set.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Cranes In The Sky”

Perfume

Get ready to visit the future when J-Pop legends Perfume take the stage at Coachella. The trio unveiled their sixth consecutive chart-topping album in Japan last year. And they’re sure to bring a wealth of their beloved material to life with chic looks and plenty of choreography when they become the first J-Pop act to touch down at Coachella.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Future Pop”

Wallows

We have yet to see the full extent of what Wallows is capable of. The talented hitmakers showcased their creative range on Spring this year, and they’ll hopefully provide a taste of their forthcoming debut album when they touch down at Coachella this year.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Pictures Of Girls”

Zedd

Zedd had his hands in some of 2018’s biggest hits. From his Maren Morris-assisted “The Middle” to his bubbly “Lost In Japan” remix, the German producer undeniably packs a punch. And his set is bound to be another star-studded extravaganza.

Song we’re most excited to see live: “Happy Now”

Who are you most excited to see live? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!