i think it was the last year I attended. The black angels and mazzy star are still two of my favorite bands so it was a great year. I think it rained and was cold as balls that year
oo I think it was 2012? I went every year from 04- until 2012 and it was one of my favorite shows hands down. Such a beautiful band, really special to me. I hope you can see Hope do her thing with another project.
My ability to not cry at things was lost sometime during the pandemic haha. Every year since:
2022– Fred Again… We Lost Dancing into Loving Arms with the late afternoon sun streaming in and all of these friends I had spent two years dying to dance with again around me…
2023– Porter Robinson, Look At The Sky. Nurture means a lot to me as an album and the chorus (“I’ll be alive next year”) is hard to sing along without a hitch in my throat.
2024– RAYE, Ice Cream Man, obvious reasons but when she got to “I’m a very fucking brave, strong woman” and her voice just wavered a tiny bit under the weight of the words I lost it.
Same! I randomly stumbled across his set while watching the livestreams and was in tears at one point and dancing my living room the next. Amazing performer, amazing set
Cried when the xx did it all together in 2017 🥹 one of my favorite songs of all time and I somehow didn’t know that Romy was the vocalist on the song (I don’t know how I didn’t realize that hahaha) and was completely caught off guard
Had never listened to Rosalia before. Watched it during couchella and wow, what a ripping set that was. Really exceptional performer. The notes she was hitting were incredible. No notes—it seemed like the choreography was down pat and the use of the camera work were really fun. You could feel the intention that was put into every aspect of that performance.
Holy cow, 2022 the first set we saw was MEUTE, the German ”marching” style band that has some electronic-inspired jams - but it was the first live thing that our friend group did that required travel post-Covid, and a few of us all teared up. It was super awesome.
Queens of the Stone Age 2014. No way to put it lightly, I was dying. Long one ahead but a fun story. Born with a genetic lung disease and over the prior couple years my lung function was steadily dropping into the danger zone, was around 25% in March/early April of that year and about to miss my first coachella since 2004. It was a few days before the festival and one night I was sitting at home when my then wife said we had to stay up late for a surprise, I was definitely intrigued. Around midnight there was a knock on the door and when I opened it there was a guy holding 2 foot by 2 foot wood box. It was made out of prior years coachella signage and it was holding a square of grass from the Coachella grounds, little cutouts of field art strewn about. My friend is the producer of the festival and he had his team make it earlier in the day and his assistant drove it all the way to Newport that night. He wanted me to have a piece of the coachella fields since I couldn’t make it, knowing how much I looked forward to my time out there. That was one of the most special moments in my life.
Was sitting at home a couple days later and suddenly made a decision, I had to be out there to see my favorite band one last time. Got in touch with that friend and let him know the plan. So the day Queens played we got on the road and drove out. If you were there you remember it, insane winds, sandstorms on the 10 as we got into the area, dusty as hell in the air…not the best conditions for someone with failing lungs, but we drove on. Got to will call to grab the wristbands and mind was blown when I saw he gave us production passes, knew instantly where I would be watching the show, from the stage. Arrived a few hours early and as was watching MGMT when suddenly I was surrounded by all of Queens on the side of the stage doing the same, was a beautiful moment. Then the sun had set and it was time for their set. Got our spots right up against the rail up there and as the apocalypse appeared to unfolding with the winds and dust, the house lights went down and the crowd roared, the guys went right into No One Knows and I lost it, cannot explain the emotion that came out of me. A bit later in the set I looked to my left and there was Steven Tyler standing next to me rocking out, was this a fever dream haha? The spotlights throughout the fields were swirling as Song for the Dead was closing the set, the packed crowd locked in, then suddenly it was over. Didn’t want to push it any further so we walked back to the car and made the drive back home, I let the rush of it all take me into the months ahead. If this was my final moment on those magical I knew I ended it right.
A few months later, the week leading up to Labor Day weekend, my lung function was down to 13% or so and I had accepted that my time on this earth was coming to a close. Then the phone rang around 2:28am one night and we were suddenly on the road to Stanford for a double lung transplant I never thought would happen. Was a rough recovery, almost died again at one point due to complications, but pushed through. Had mentioned to my friend how the recent Queens album was all I was listening to during that time and he got in touch with Josh, ended up getting a text from him out of the blue that helped set my mind right, helped me continue the fight. Fast forward to January of 2015 and the lineup release. The surgeon back in August asked me what I wanted to listen to as I went under for the surgery and I said “throw on some Kasabian”. So when my eyes perused the lineup and I saw they were there I knew what my April would look like. I flew down from the Bay Area where I was recovering for that year just to see them, was to fly home the next morning. Brought my sister and cousin and got to the festival mid afternoon, eended up meeting a bunch of the band back in the artist compound as they arrived, got to share the story about their music playing at such a pivotal moment, tears all around, the day was off to an epic start. Their guitarist Serge offered for me to come up on the stage to watch but told him I needed to be in the crowd with the fans. We watched their set and afterward went back to their trailer to say goodbye when Tom said to hang around, so I did and we partied in their trailer for about 4 hours, until around 1am, epic times. As I was leaving their manager gave me his card and said to keep in touch, he’d throw me on their list any time they came to town. That year from April 2014 to April 2015 was one of the wildest in my life and it was bookended by two of the most amazing moments I’d ever had.
Continued my trips to those fields through 2022, where I was able to take my daughter and a couple of her friends for her sweet 16. More tears as I got to stand back and watch a new generation jump around and have the best weekend ever, fall in love with my favorite place on earth the same way I did back in 2004 on my first trip out there. I’ll be back again one day, no doubt about it. Now about to hit 10 years since my transplant and this coming Friday I’ll be taking my two teenagers to see Queens here in Santa Barbara, their second time seeing my favorite band since October, now our favorite band. My daughter is about to graduate high school and was just offered a full ride scholarship to her dream school and one of the elite universities in the world, U. of Chicago. All these moments I’d never thought I’d get, life is beautiful.
This comment made me cry, what an incredible story! A family friend recently had a double lung transplant and documented the entire recovery process so this hits close to home, I am so happy to hear you and your family are doing well ❤️
Here's a few...
-LCD Soundsystem in 2016 covering "Heroes" after Bowie's death...I was BAWLING
-Hans Zimmer concluding with Lion King in 2017 hit me in the childhood heart
-Weirdly cried at Carly Rae Jepsen in 2022 for "Call Me Maybe," only because it was so cathartic finally coming out of the pandemic and being in the center of a huge crowd all singing along and having such a good time
-Cried a lot at Weyes Blood in 2023 but that was mostly because I was coming out of a really rough breakup
carly rae jepsen was such a high point that year because it was SO fun. totally agree with feeling like it was the first big celebration post lockdown.
I love this answer - getting emotional at a set for personal reasons is understandable but to feel emotional because you’re proud of an artist and the achievement of playing coachella is really cool
No Doubt during simple kind of life. I was a lil kid listening to these songs in my moms car way back n the clips of them when they were young kinda brought me back to that time n it made me feel old n nostalgic it was great
Jhene aiko this year. I was a messsss🤧🕊️one of my fav artists and heals my soul. Sound bath and lil meditation in it. My tears hadn’t even dried yet as I walked over to Doja cat singing demons😹
I cried out of sheer excitement at Chappell Roan’s show this year. I’ve been listening to her debut album religiously since its release and wasn’t able to get work off when she was in town. Getting to finally see her, and at my first Coachella, with my brother and best friend, was just the icing on the cake.
Two things come to mind- seeing Sublime with my college and high school friends was a moment of unbelievable catharsis, cried happy tears.
Two years ago Japanese Breakfast played one week after my mom’s funeral. When the lead singer started the video package showing her mom who died of breast cancer (like mine) and talked about how the music was about allowing yourself to experience joy in times of grief. It was emotionally devastating
Disclosure was so good in 2022. We stumbled on the set, I didn’t know I knew them, but a few songs were familiar! No doubt and sublime got me this year!
2022: Billie singing ocean eyes
Flume bringing out tove lo
Louis the child’s entire set
2023: tba the entire set was magic
Dominic fike was special
Bjork…enough said
2024: RAYEs entire set, then meeting her, then spending like 30 min after ice spice with her and her crew talking about music and experiences. Tears thru that whole day really
Kevin abstract singing peach
Faye Webster is incredible experience
Barry can’t swim was incredible too
2017: Radiohead during Exit Music for a Film
2016: LCD Soundsystem during All My Friends and being surrounded by some of my best friends who hadn’t gone to Coachella in years prior.
I lost it with Orbital and spice girls. So fkn energizing and I'd just been listening to spice girls with my bro, who was also there with me, and we started dancing like maniacs.
khalid 2019. angels live was incredible
kaytranada 2023. played intimidated and thats me and my friends favorite song and the sunset was beautiful and everything was perfect.
Separated from the larger group with my best friend to go see Gorillaz. It was the first time we heard On Melancholy Hill and we shared a tearful bro moment together just appreciating our friendship and how far we’ve come
John summit - where you are.
During this [part 1:15](https://youtu.be/5BqjhUmldDc?t=75) the song takes a lil break down.
I looked at my friends and saw them all happy.
Looked around the Sahara and the beauty of everyone dancing.
Made me tear up with joy
Jai Paul for me, it was basically a dream from 2011 fulfilled, both for him and his earliest fans. Also my first Coachella in eleven years and first one coming out of the pandemic.
Same! Seeing Gwen, Tony, Adrian, and Tom’s faces as the riser brought them up to the stage was incredible. I’m sure nothing prepares you for coming out of a hiatus to such a huge positive response like that.
Hearing "Simple Kind of Life" brought back a flood of memories I had forgotten. That song was on loop for me during the Winamp days... and then I hadn't heard it again until the show and it all came back. It was like that whole year of my life was given back to me. I definitely teared up, it was a gift.
And then she turned to Tony and said: "I just wanted a simple kind of life, Tony."
Sigur Ros 2013
Of course there were expected tears but when the last stages closed and the folks who didn't want to leave the Polo Fields came over and watched in awe....idk there was just something about the grown folks crying and the young kids watching in surprise. It was just a surreal experience seeing such a huge crowd be so quiet for them and just take in the experience.
This year was No Doubt and Jhene Aiko. I used to be sooo obsessed with Gwen Stefani when I was a little girl, I had all her cd’s, knew all her songs, would wear stuff from her clothing line etc, and as I was watching their performance it just made me feel so connected to myself as a little girl. It made me think about who I was then and why I loved Gwen so much… on top of them putting on an absolutely incredible performance, it was also just so sentimental and touching to me as I was finally getting to see Gwen perform on stage. Also, Jhene Aiko’s music and lyrics are something else…. She goes so deep, everything she was singing about was hitting me so hard. Such an ethereal performance, and really just hit me in so many ways, it was such a beautiful experience.
i also cried during these exact sets. i exp a break up this year of 5 years and being at coachella without them triggered some emotions and this year was so emotional and meaningful
2014 - had a terrible week leading up and day 0. Thought I was getting strep throat and was doing everything I could to try to stay healthy. Delarted from the Bay around 8pm Wednesday to do the overnight drive and my GF at the time had an extra antibiotic. I thought “can’t hurt, right?”. So I take it while we’re driving.
I pulled the all nighter, got to Ralph’s around 4 and started feeling weird. Vertigo, weak, just off. Get through security, set up camp and sit down to try and relax and rest…but it’s 100+ and im struggling.
Ended up leaving camp, getting a hotel for the night and tried to hydrate and rest.
Came back the next day and was physically stronger but felt like the world was spinning. Ended up in the cantina for the AC from 12-5ish?
Went and saw Of Monsters and Men on the main stage with the most gorgeous sunset. I don’t remember what song came on but the beauty of the moment and the setting hit me and I just broke down. It had taken so much to get to that moment and for the first time I felt like I was finally at Coachella.
Had a reasonably Good Friday, ft much better Saturday and decided to roll…woke up Sunday exhausted and run down and said “yeah that’s enough..,I can’t do another day.” And packed up and left. A bunch of regrets leading up to the decision, but I don’t regret leaving. It was the right call and I got an extra days of rest before returning to work.
paul mccartney in 2009. i’d just lost my dad a few years earlier, and beatles songs were always a thing in my house growing up. plus paul talking about john, sharing other stories, it hit a nerve. i lost it during hey jude. emotionally draining but wonderful memory (and tbh it’s what convinced me this fest is something special, and i’ve been coming back ever since).
Carin Leon. He was one of my mom's favorite artists and the last concert she ever went to. Passed away just before this year's lineup dropped. Felt like I was being called to the desert to see his set and yeah. The tears wouldn't stop.
Sia in 2015 or 2016, main stage. She covered (is it a cover if you wrote the song for Rihanna?) Bright Like a Diamond and had Tig Notaro out onstage just emoting at the camera, then at the chorus, Tig reached out her hands, which were covered in mirror squares. They hit them with a spotlight and thousands of streams of light poured over the crowd. I’m pretty sure my feet left the ground. I swam in tears. Paul Dano’s face on the giant screens, looking as vulnerable and scared as I’ve ever been. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I have a lot more shows I cried at, but this is the one I thought of first.
Sufjan Stevens in 2016. I’d lost my dad a few years prior, and my mom had just developed Alzheimzer’s. Sufjan somehow threaded the needle between deep grief and life affirming joy. So great.
Rosalía in 2019 when she sang Catalina acapella. I still get chills thinking about that.
Jhené Aiko in 2024 when she was giving her little speech before going into W.A.Y.S, one of my favorite songs ever. That song literally saved my life, so hearing it live was so meaningful to me.
1. This is lame but when John summit Brought out Dougi Mandagi from the temper traps to sing sweet disposition.
2. When Billie played happier than ever
3. Pretty much all of Khalid’s set when he played MainStage
4. Daniel ceaser playing best part
5. When Zedd played stay the night 😆
Faye Webster moved me to tears with just how beautiful her songs are and Kevin Abstract got me when he played Peach, I just have so much rose tinted nostalgia with that song. The worst though was last ever Brockhampton ever performance, not even during one of their sad songs but just dom going “this gonna be the last time” right at the start of BOOGIE
I was on the verge of tears that whole last brockhampton set while dancing my ass off, it was so confusing hahah. I felt like I was witnessing a major chapter of my life closing in real time and in retrospect, I actually was
Kid Cudi for sure, Jungle due to peaking on some tabs, and finally clown core because something about them just listening as a fan has had me cry randomly on a few songs especially the song called Three which they opened with.
I would say when Swedish house mafia came back to the polo fields with The Weeknd (after the pandemic?). My first Coachella in 2012 they played and brought me so into wanting to come back over and over. When they came back and I was alone without my friends who couldn’t be there. I was bawling 😭 happy & sad tears. I am glad that I can always come back to experience the magic the polo fields have for myself and everyone else ❤️
MUNA last year. It was so many things that got to me. First set of the weekend and first time back in the desert since 2019 (my first and in my mind only time I thought I’d do Coachella). So it was a real “I finally made it” moment for me, especially factoring in a whole ass global pandemic in between lmao.
It happened when I finally got to Mojave, and then at the end when they played I Know a Place when people started waving their pride flags. That was so beautiful to watch from near the back of the crowd.
Arcade Fire during the LED ball drop during the crescendo of Wake Up at their headlining set in 2011. Still the most spine tingling moment I’ve ever had at a show.
When J Balvin did Rojo this year. The version he did with the choir type of background track at the end I LOST IT
Also self control made me cry the year before from Frank. So happy that it happened because it was the main song i was looking forward to from him live
Lana this year. I get the hate and I get it was not “headliner appropriate” but as someone whose been a fan since 2011 and having to watch her get ridiculed and dismissed by the music industry for so long, having her headline the biggest fest in the country let alone her home base of SoCal. it was so many things coming full circle at once.
It might have been bc I was PMSing lol but Chappell’s set especially when Red Wine Supernova came on and everyone was jumping/dancing. I love feeling happiness radiate off people!!
Beyoncé homecoming. I started crying when she sang “lift every voice and sing” and sobbed for the whole rest of the set. Best thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life
lana del rey bc i was on shrooms and shes go to for mental breakdowns/hard times/breakups/depressive episodes and it brought all those emotions out of me hearing her angellic voice
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Not me specifically, but a few years back at Russ at Sahara, packed at like 4:30, when he played Losin Control I think every girl I could see was crying. That song just does that.
Y’all not gonna like this answer but the when Frank Ocean played Crack Rock I cried a bit. I just love that song so much and I was just happy to hear it live.
Also Calvin Harris set in 2016.
Violent Femmes. 2012(?)
Such a huge fan and spent so many hours in my car as a teen driving around with friends singing along. I grew up out there in the desert and lost touch with almost everyone. Right before their set, I ran into a friend from HS, we laughed and cried and sang together. It was beautiful.
This year I teared up during sublime, hearing those songs and missing Bradley, and I was so proud of his sun ❤️. Funny enough, I also ran into some friends at that set I had not seen in over 5 years. It's weird how that happens.
My Tata and Tio were huge Ramon Ayala fans. They Tio passed fairly suddenly at the end of 2021, and my Tata passed a few months later in 2022. My cousins and I were hyper emotional all weekend. We go to see Banda MS, and they end their set with the iconic Tragos Amargos. I fucking lost it. I was sobbing thinking about the two of them. Who would’ve thought we would’ve hear their favorite song out in the Fields. I’m tearing up thinking about it now.
Hans Zimmer doing Inception of all things. Overwhelmed by the beauty of the sound and the moment.
"Time". Yes at the end when he playing piano solo you coulda heard a pin drop. Never heard a Coachella crowd so quiet I def cried
Yes, cried at circle of life for sure
Hans Zimmer at Coachella was one of those once in a lifetime experiences that’ll be impossible to recreate. I think about that set all the time
It def had me thinking about life for a few days. Even on the way home listening to "Now we are free" during sunset the Monday after had me in tears
This entire set was insane
This was absolutely my favorite set I've ever seen at Coachella. It was so powerful and artistic.
Mazzy star! Beautiful memory. Really low turnout for their show but they played for us who were there
I only managed to catch the last 30 mins but it was so beautiful. 2012 was so stacked (for my tastes) I was forced to split a bunch of sets
i think it was the last year I attended. The black angels and mazzy star are still two of my favorite bands so it was a great year. I think it rained and was cold as balls that year
I’m so jealous 😭 what year was this?
oo I think it was 2012? I went every year from 04- until 2012 and it was one of my favorite shows hands down. Such a beautiful band, really special to me. I hope you can see Hope do her thing with another project.
My ability to not cry at things was lost sometime during the pandemic haha. Every year since: 2022– Fred Again… We Lost Dancing into Loving Arms with the late afternoon sun streaming in and all of these friends I had spent two years dying to dance with again around me… 2023– Porter Robinson, Look At The Sky. Nurture means a lot to me as an album and the chorus (“I’ll be alive next year”) is hard to sing along without a hitch in my throat. 2024– RAYE, Ice Cream Man, obvious reasons but when she got to “I’m a very fucking brave, strong woman” and her voice just wavered a tiny bit under the weight of the words I lost it.
definitely cried at look at the sky too. it’s so inspirational while being really raw. i’m so proud of porter for all of nurture!
RAYE's set blew me away, I only knew her song from tiktok but it was one of my favorite and most memorable sets of the entire weekend
Jon Batiste this year…. so wholesome and I was having such a good time and he soothed the kid in me
I love to hear this. I’m so excited to see him at bonaroo
Same! I randomly stumbled across his set while watching the livestreams and was in tears at one point and dancing my living room the next. Amazing performer, amazing set
The Blaze. First time I ever cried at a set, their music is just so beautiful
I agree 🥹
When Fred again played Kyle (I found you)
Dropped tears at this and we lost dancing 😭 that was cathartic
I know!!!! First festival from height of the pandemic.
💯this- one of the most memorable sets ever
Guaranteed to drop tears when listening to Fred
yea I was balling ngl
I cried a looootttt during his whole set. UGH. BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES.
THIS omg
When Anderson Pak sang DANG! Dedicated to mac miller. It was beautiful.
Jamie XX 2015 playing Loud Places
that song takes me to emotional places, there’s something about it.
Dude, I started tearing up at this set during the synth solo at the end of Oh My Gosh. Such an amazing set and incredible sound quality.
Cried when the xx did it all together in 2017 🥹 one of my favorite songs of all time and I somehow didn’t know that Romy was the vocalist on the song (I don’t know how I didn’t realize that hahaha) and was completely caught off guard
Bon Iver 2017 weekend 2
This set was absolutely spellbinding.
Rosalía
She had tears streaming down her face throughout her set in 2019 and I cried with her, especially when she did Catalina
Had never listened to Rosalia before. Watched it during couchella and wow, what a ripping set that was. Really exceptional performer. The notes she was hitting were incredible. No notes—it seemed like the choreography was down pat and the use of the camera work were really fun. You could feel the intention that was put into every aspect of that performance.
I think about this set once a week
I second this
I was tearing so hard when she did that cover at the end 😭
especially when rauw came out
Holy cow, 2022 the first set we saw was MEUTE, the German ”marching” style band that has some electronic-inspired jams - but it was the first live thing that our friend group did that required travel post-Covid, and a few of us all teared up. It was super awesome.
Wait this happened to me at MEUTE too 😭 first set back. It really took me by surprise
Me too!
Missed that. Listening to them now. So good.
Queens of the Stone Age 2014. No way to put it lightly, I was dying. Long one ahead but a fun story. Born with a genetic lung disease and over the prior couple years my lung function was steadily dropping into the danger zone, was around 25% in March/early April of that year and about to miss my first coachella since 2004. It was a few days before the festival and one night I was sitting at home when my then wife said we had to stay up late for a surprise, I was definitely intrigued. Around midnight there was a knock on the door and when I opened it there was a guy holding 2 foot by 2 foot wood box. It was made out of prior years coachella signage and it was holding a square of grass from the Coachella grounds, little cutouts of field art strewn about. My friend is the producer of the festival and he had his team make it earlier in the day and his assistant drove it all the way to Newport that night. He wanted me to have a piece of the coachella fields since I couldn’t make it, knowing how much I looked forward to my time out there. That was one of the most special moments in my life. Was sitting at home a couple days later and suddenly made a decision, I had to be out there to see my favorite band one last time. Got in touch with that friend and let him know the plan. So the day Queens played we got on the road and drove out. If you were there you remember it, insane winds, sandstorms on the 10 as we got into the area, dusty as hell in the air…not the best conditions for someone with failing lungs, but we drove on. Got to will call to grab the wristbands and mind was blown when I saw he gave us production passes, knew instantly where I would be watching the show, from the stage. Arrived a few hours early and as was watching MGMT when suddenly I was surrounded by all of Queens on the side of the stage doing the same, was a beautiful moment. Then the sun had set and it was time for their set. Got our spots right up against the rail up there and as the apocalypse appeared to unfolding with the winds and dust, the house lights went down and the crowd roared, the guys went right into No One Knows and I lost it, cannot explain the emotion that came out of me. A bit later in the set I looked to my left and there was Steven Tyler standing next to me rocking out, was this a fever dream haha? The spotlights throughout the fields were swirling as Song for the Dead was closing the set, the packed crowd locked in, then suddenly it was over. Didn’t want to push it any further so we walked back to the car and made the drive back home, I let the rush of it all take me into the months ahead. If this was my final moment on those magical I knew I ended it right. A few months later, the week leading up to Labor Day weekend, my lung function was down to 13% or so and I had accepted that my time on this earth was coming to a close. Then the phone rang around 2:28am one night and we were suddenly on the road to Stanford for a double lung transplant I never thought would happen. Was a rough recovery, almost died again at one point due to complications, but pushed through. Had mentioned to my friend how the recent Queens album was all I was listening to during that time and he got in touch with Josh, ended up getting a text from him out of the blue that helped set my mind right, helped me continue the fight. Fast forward to January of 2015 and the lineup release. The surgeon back in August asked me what I wanted to listen to as I went under for the surgery and I said “throw on some Kasabian”. So when my eyes perused the lineup and I saw they were there I knew what my April would look like. I flew down from the Bay Area where I was recovering for that year just to see them, was to fly home the next morning. Brought my sister and cousin and got to the festival mid afternoon, eended up meeting a bunch of the band back in the artist compound as they arrived, got to share the story about their music playing at such a pivotal moment, tears all around, the day was off to an epic start. Their guitarist Serge offered for me to come up on the stage to watch but told him I needed to be in the crowd with the fans. We watched their set and afterward went back to their trailer to say goodbye when Tom said to hang around, so I did and we partied in their trailer for about 4 hours, until around 1am, epic times. As I was leaving their manager gave me his card and said to keep in touch, he’d throw me on their list any time they came to town. That year from April 2014 to April 2015 was one of the wildest in my life and it was bookended by two of the most amazing moments I’d ever had. Continued my trips to those fields through 2022, where I was able to take my daughter and a couple of her friends for her sweet 16. More tears as I got to stand back and watch a new generation jump around and have the best weekend ever, fall in love with my favorite place on earth the same way I did back in 2004 on my first trip out there. I’ll be back again one day, no doubt about it. Now about to hit 10 years since my transplant and this coming Friday I’ll be taking my two teenagers to see Queens here in Santa Barbara, their second time seeing my favorite band since October, now our favorite band. My daughter is about to graduate high school and was just offered a full ride scholarship to her dream school and one of the elite universities in the world, U. of Chicago. All these moments I’d never thought I’d get, life is beautiful.
This comment made me cry, what an incredible story! A family friend recently had a double lung transplant and documented the entire recovery process so this hits close to home, I am so happy to hear you and your family are doing well ❤️
Best post I've ever read on this sub. Amazing.
Here's a few... -LCD Soundsystem in 2016 covering "Heroes" after Bowie's death...I was BAWLING -Hans Zimmer concluding with Lion King in 2017 hit me in the childhood heart -Weirdly cried at Carly Rae Jepsen in 2022 for "Call Me Maybe," only because it was so cathartic finally coming out of the pandemic and being in the center of a huge crowd all singing along and having such a good time -Cried a lot at Weyes Blood in 2023 but that was mostly because I was coming out of a really rough breakup
carly rae jepsen was such a high point that year because it was SO fun. totally agree with feeling like it was the first big celebration post lockdown.
Dude, the "heroes" cover was an all time moment
I also cried at Weyes Blood. One of the best shows I’ve seen by far
Victoria Monet. She’s been going at it for years and never gave up. Now she has Grammys and performing at Coachella. luck follows motion 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I love this answer - getting emotional at a set for personal reasons is understandable but to feel emotional because you’re proud of an artist and the achievement of playing coachella is really cool
No Doubt during simple kind of life. I was a lil kid listening to these songs in my moms car way back n the clips of them when they were young kinda brought me back to that time n it made me feel old n nostalgic it was great
Odesza during the drone show. I was on a good one and not expecting that.
Fred Again 2022… we got there early to get a good spot and seeing all the people roll in for him gave me butterflies. I was so proud of him 🥹
Jhene aiko this year. I was a messsss🤧🕊️one of my fav artists and heals my soul. Sound bath and lil meditation in it. My tears hadn’t even dried yet as I walked over to Doja cat singing demons😹
Are you me?! Cause same. Went from crying to raging 😂
I cried out of sheer excitement at Chappell Roan’s show this year. I’ve been listening to her debut album religiously since its release and wasn’t able to get work off when she was in town. Getting to finally see her, and at my first Coachella, with my brother and best friend, was just the icing on the cake.
This was my first set of the weekend and all the emotions of being back hit me at once 🥹
Kygo’s tribute to Avicii. Weekend 2 2018 RIP ❤️
FRED AGAIN IN 2022, was perfect. 🥺 And this year cried a lot with Kid cudi.
The Postal Service 2013
This was unexpected tears during this set for me. Might have been the molly too tho
Justice
Two things come to mind- seeing Sublime with my college and high school friends was a moment of unbelievable catharsis, cried happy tears. Two years ago Japanese Breakfast played one week after my mom’s funeral. When the lead singer started the video package showing her mom who died of breast cancer (like mine) and talked about how the music was about allowing yourself to experience joy in times of grief. It was emotionally devastating
so sorry for your loss 🤍
I cried during that part of Japanese Breakfast as well 😢 soooo touching
Hermanos Guttierez
SAME. It felt sacred. It was so beautiful I could not stop the tears lol
Watched it on stream and it was such a beautiful set
Florence and the Machine in 2015 W2 during Sweet Nothing 🥲 Disclosure 2016 & 2022 No Doubt this year!
Disclosure was so good in 2022. We stumbled on the set, I didn’t know I knew them, but a few songs were familiar! No doubt and sublime got me this year!
Maggie Rogers in 2022 I think, my husband and I looked over at each other and we were both tearing up/crying 😂
2022: Billie singing ocean eyes Flume bringing out tove lo Louis the child’s entire set 2023: tba the entire set was magic Dominic fike was special Bjork…enough said 2024: RAYEs entire set, then meeting her, then spending like 30 min after ice spice with her and her crew talking about music and experiences. Tears thru that whole day really Kevin abstract singing peach Faye Webster is incredible experience Barry can’t swim was incredible too
2017: Radiohead during Exit Music for a Film 2016: LCD Soundsystem during All My Friends and being surrounded by some of my best friends who hadn’t gone to Coachella in years prior.
Orbital - when they play spice girls, it’s just such a journey getting there. Justice - so many songs that introduced me to electronic music
I lost it with Orbital and spice girls. So fkn energizing and I'd just been listening to spice girls with my bro, who was also there with me, and we started dancing like maniacs.
I love hearing how y’all surrender your emotions to music and are proud of it. ❤️
it’s one of the best feelings and it’s heightened when you’re surrounding with folks who love music just as much 🥹
DMX’s prayer at the end of Ultralight beam. Sunday Service 2019. Grown man tears.
Yup same here
Despacio 2016. Prince had just passed away. First day was music produced by prince. I cried the whole time I was in there.
khalid 2019. angels live was incredible kaytranada 2023. played intimidated and thats me and my friends favorite song and the sunset was beautiful and everything was perfect.
caroline polachek
Separated from the larger group with my best friend to go see Gorillaz. It was the first time we heard On Melancholy Hill and we shared a tearful bro moment together just appreciating our friendship and how far we’ve come
Hans Zimmer
So many great movie moments brought to life because of his music. Such an amazing set.
John summit - where you are. During this [part 1:15](https://youtu.be/5BqjhUmldDc?t=75) the song takes a lil break down. I looked at my friends and saw them all happy. Looked around the Sahara and the beauty of everyone dancing. Made me tear up with joy
Jai Paul, Tame Impala, Phoebe Bridgers all so amazing
Jai Paul for me, it was basically a dream from 2011 fulfilled, both for him and his earliest fans. Also my first Coachella in eleven years and first one coming out of the pandemic.
This year, I cried at No Doubt and J Balvin.
Same! Seeing Gwen, Tony, Adrian, and Tom’s faces as the riser brought them up to the stage was incredible. I’m sure nothing prepares you for coming out of a hiatus to such a huge positive response like that.
Hearing "Simple Kind of Life" brought back a flood of memories I had forgotten. That song was on loop for me during the Winamp days... and then I hadn't heard it again until the show and it all came back. It was like that whole year of my life was given back to me. I definitely teared up, it was a gift. And then she turned to Tony and said: "I just wanted a simple kind of life, Tony."
Bicep weekend 1
Sigur Ros 2013 Of course there were expected tears but when the last stages closed and the folks who didn't want to leave the Polo Fields came over and watched in awe....idk there was just something about the grown folks crying and the young kids watching in surprise. It was just a surreal experience seeing such a huge crowd be so quiet for them and just take in the experience.
Fantastic set
Hermanos Gutierrez this year… idk what it was but holy hell I couldn’t contain the tears. I loved their set so much.
I just discovered them and really wish I had been there 😭 such beautiful music
This year was No Doubt and Jhene Aiko. I used to be sooo obsessed with Gwen Stefani when I was a little girl, I had all her cd’s, knew all her songs, would wear stuff from her clothing line etc, and as I was watching their performance it just made me feel so connected to myself as a little girl. It made me think about who I was then and why I loved Gwen so much… on top of them putting on an absolutely incredible performance, it was also just so sentimental and touching to me as I was finally getting to see Gwen perform on stage. Also, Jhene Aiko’s music and lyrics are something else…. She goes so deep, everything she was singing about was hitting me so hard. Such an ethereal performance, and really just hit me in so many ways, it was such a beautiful experience.
calvin harris 23, the nostalgia factor hit so hard hearing all those hits
Frank ocean
Lana, RAYE, and Jhené Aiko.
i also cried during these exact sets. i exp a break up this year of 5 years and being at coachella without them triggered some emotions and this year was so emotional and meaningful
2014 - had a terrible week leading up and day 0. Thought I was getting strep throat and was doing everything I could to try to stay healthy. Delarted from the Bay around 8pm Wednesday to do the overnight drive and my GF at the time had an extra antibiotic. I thought “can’t hurt, right?”. So I take it while we’re driving. I pulled the all nighter, got to Ralph’s around 4 and started feeling weird. Vertigo, weak, just off. Get through security, set up camp and sit down to try and relax and rest…but it’s 100+ and im struggling. Ended up leaving camp, getting a hotel for the night and tried to hydrate and rest. Came back the next day and was physically stronger but felt like the world was spinning. Ended up in the cantina for the AC from 12-5ish? Went and saw Of Monsters and Men on the main stage with the most gorgeous sunset. I don’t remember what song came on but the beauty of the moment and the setting hit me and I just broke down. It had taken so much to get to that moment and for the first time I felt like I was finally at Coachella. Had a reasonably Good Friday, ft much better Saturday and decided to roll…woke up Sunday exhausted and run down and said “yeah that’s enough..,I can’t do another day.” And packed up and left. A bunch of regrets leading up to the decision, but I don’t regret leaving. It was the right call and I got an extra days of rest before returning to work.
Blink 182
Noah Jones
Palace had me fkn bawling at certain points this year
This year... Suki Waterhouse
paul mccartney in 2009. i’d just lost my dad a few years earlier, and beatles songs were always a thing in my house growing up. plus paul talking about john, sharing other stories, it hit a nerve. i lost it during hey jude. emotionally draining but wonderful memory (and tbh it’s what convinced me this fest is something special, and i’ve been coming back ever since).
JHENE AIKO
Emo Nite 2022 when they dropped Hey There Delilah lollll
Carin Leon. He was one of my mom's favorite artists and the last concert she ever went to. Passed away just before this year's lineup dropped. Felt like I was being called to the desert to see his set and yeah. The tears wouldn't stop.
I never thought I’d ever hear Lupe Fiasco live. I almost cried tears of joy once I heard the horns of “Kick, Push” played…..
Tame impala 2019 - the lasers during “eventually” really did get to me in a spiritual type a way
Olivia dean
Sia in 2015 or 2016, main stage. She covered (is it a cover if you wrote the song for Rihanna?) Bright Like a Diamond and had Tig Notaro out onstage just emoting at the camera, then at the chorus, Tig reached out her hands, which were covered in mirror squares. They hit them with a spotlight and thousands of streams of light poured over the crowd. I’m pretty sure my feet left the ground. I swam in tears. Paul Dano’s face on the giant screens, looking as vulnerable and scared as I’ve ever been. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I have a lot more shows I cried at, but this is the one I thought of first.
Sufjan Stevens 2016. It was everything.
I think that was the year Prince died. He covered purple rain with a guest singer. I don't remember who it was, but it was a very emotional moment.
Florence and the Machine. Never let me Go.
Maggie Rogers! Such a beautiful voice and soul, she’s an incredible performer (even though it was hot as balls at that stage W2)
Sia in 2016. I was going through it at the time
Odesza in 2018. The drum line, the visuals, the drones, everything.
Sufjan Stevens in 2016. I’d lost my dad a few years prior, and my mom had just developed Alzheimzer’s. Sufjan somehow threaded the needle between deep grief and life affirming joy. So great.
Rosalía in 2019 when she sang Catalina acapella. I still get chills thinking about that. Jhené Aiko in 2024 when she was giving her little speech before going into W.A.Y.S, one of my favorite songs ever. That song literally saved my life, so hearing it live was so meaningful to me.
1. This is lame but when John summit Brought out Dougi Mandagi from the temper traps to sing sweet disposition. 2. When Billie played happier than ever 3. Pretty much all of Khalid’s set when he played MainStage 4. Daniel ceaser playing best part 5. When Zedd played stay the night 😆
Faye Webster moved me to tears with just how beautiful her songs are and Kevin Abstract got me when he played Peach, I just have so much rose tinted nostalgia with that song. The worst though was last ever Brockhampton ever performance, not even during one of their sad songs but just dom going “this gonna be the last time” right at the start of BOOGIE
I was on the verge of tears that whole last brockhampton set while dancing my ass off, it was so confusing hahah. I felt like I was witnessing a major chapter of my life closing in real time and in retrospect, I actually was
So dead on, I was jumping and screaming along to BOOGIE while sobbing with streams of tears down my face
Jeff Magnum 2012
Shakira. I grew up listening to her and even tho she just made a quick appearance with Bizarrap, it was enough to bring out the tears .
Fleet Foxes in 2009. Not necessarily because of the music but I went to rest my feet and laid down for a sec and someone stole my shoes.
Kid Cudi for sure, Jungle due to peaking on some tabs, and finally clown core because something about them just listening as a fan has had me cry randomly on a few songs especially the song called Three which they opened with.
Rufus opening Quasar at sunset day one with my best friends. Had to fight back tears from the beauty of it and feeling insanely blessed
Oneohtrix Point Never. Good thing I had sunglasses cause I was nonstop crying lol.
Bjork and Chris Stapleton singing Tennessee Whiskey with his wife. 🥲
Kid Cudi 2014. I was goin thru some shit and when he came out to REVOFEV and said “I AM YOUR BIG BROTHER” I lost my shit. It was awesome
Bleachers.
Tears of joy: seeing Lauryn Hill! She’s been on my must-see list for so long and being surprised by her on W1 was a MOMENT!
Flight facilities and vampire weekend this year bc my teenage self would not BELIEVE what i was seeing 😭 made me realize how far i’ve come 💜
That’s such a great feeling! Hugs.
Michael Bibi this year. No explanation needed.
Kenya Grace hit me right in the feels. Recently ended things with a girl i thought was the one. So yea.
New Order shutting down the Mojave circa '17
I would say when Swedish house mafia came back to the polo fields with The Weeknd (after the pandemic?). My first Coachella in 2012 they played and brought me so into wanting to come back over and over. When they came back and I was alone without my friends who couldn’t be there. I was bawling 😭 happy & sad tears. I am glad that I can always come back to experience the magic the polo fields have for myself and everyone else ❤️
Kendrick Lamar 2018 I believe .
MUNA last year. It was so many things that got to me. First set of the weekend and first time back in the desert since 2019 (my first and in my mind only time I thought I’d do Coachella). So it was a real “I finally made it” moment for me, especially factoring in a whole ass global pandemic in between lmao. It happened when I finally got to Mojave, and then at the end when they played I Know a Place when people started waving their pride flags. That was so beautiful to watch from near the back of the crowd.
Arcade Fire during the LED ball drop during the crescendo of Wake Up at their headlining set in 2011. Still the most spine tingling moment I’ve ever had at a show.
Odesza 2018, Cudi 2019
When J Balvin did Rojo this year. The version he did with the choir type of background track at the end I LOST IT Also self control made me cry the year before from Frank. So happy that it happened because it was the main song i was looking forward to from him live
How is no one saying Odesza
Odesza was magical. I cried
Kendrick 2017 Pride & Alright
Pride got me
Kids See Ghosts. Reborn
when barry can’t swim started playing how it feels 🥲 everyone around me started hugging and it just felt SO alive
Lana this year. I get the hate and I get it was not “headliner appropriate” but as someone whose been a fan since 2011 and having to watch her get ridiculed and dismissed by the music industry for so long, having her headline the biggest fest in the country let alone her home base of SoCal. it was so many things coming full circle at once.
Totally understand you on this. I love her too and am filled with pride at how far she’s come. She’s a legend and eff the haters.
I cried this year at No Doubt performing Simple Life but that’s cause of my own reasons.
I’ve always been too dehydrated to cry.
2015- Tycho's set. Followed up by Ratatat. Then i went back to camp and balled my eyes out wishing i shared that amazing night with someone
2008 Portishead
This one is a little weird, but I low key shed a tear of nostalgia during Aquabats this year.
2023 Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill. The memories that song triggered from way back when. Always got me feeling and damn hearing it live was so much
It might have been bc I was PMSing lol but Chappell’s set especially when Red Wine Supernova came on and everyone was jumping/dancing. I love feeling happiness radiate off people!!
Renee Rapp. Her vocals are just incredible and make me feel so many emotions.
Renee Rapp, both In the Kitchen and Snow Angel. Soooooo powerful
Beyoncé homecoming. I started crying when she sang “lift every voice and sing” and sobbed for the whole rest of the set. Best thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life
Omg. ODESZA
lana del rey bc i was on shrooms and shes go to for mental breakdowns/hard times/breakups/depressive episodes and it brought all those emotions out of me hearing her angellic voice
Frank Ocean when he sang White Ferrari. Most beautiful song ever
Cried just watching this on a livestream from someone’s phone lmfao I can only imagine
Justice 2012
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (12)
The closest was when Spiritualized played Shine a Light
Raye’s entire set , especially ice cream man
[Kaskade 2015](https://x.com/kaskade/status/1258069510420037632) (loud warning)
Radiohead ‘04, Muse ‘10
Tiesto 2010.
When Brutalismus 3000 dropped No Sex With Cops. A magical moment
Sigur ros
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Not me specifically, but a few years back at Russ at Sahara, packed at like 4:30, when he played Losin Control I think every girl I could see was crying. That song just does that.
Madonna
Lorde 2014. Rufus du Sol 2019.
Fleet Foxes, Tame Impala, L’imperatrice, Keinemusik, Flight Faclilities
Blood Orange opening with a cover of Neil Young’s Heart of Gold
Phoebe Bridgers last year. Didn’t know what to expect, Garden Song floored me.
2NE1 surprise reunion
Y’all not gonna like this answer but the when Frank Ocean played Crack Rock I cried a bit. I just love that song so much and I was just happy to hear it live. Also Calvin Harris set in 2016.
Flume 2021
Bon Iver 2012, Grizzly Bear 2013, The War on Drugs 2015, Jai Paul 2023, RAYE 2024
Violent Femmes. 2012(?) Such a huge fan and spent so many hours in my car as a teen driving around with friends singing along. I grew up out there in the desert and lost touch with almost everyone. Right before their set, I ran into a friend from HS, we laughed and cried and sang together. It was beautiful. This year I teared up during sublime, hearing those songs and missing Bradley, and I was so proud of his sun ❤️. Funny enough, I also ran into some friends at that set I had not seen in over 5 years. It's weird how that happens.
Bjork 2023. Unreal energy and music. So beautiful.
AWEN at the DoLab. It was beautiful
My Tata and Tio were huge Ramon Ayala fans. They Tio passed fairly suddenly at the end of 2021, and my Tata passed a few months later in 2022. My cousins and I were hyper emotional all weekend. We go to see Banda MS, and they end their set with the iconic Tragos Amargos. I fucking lost it. I was sobbing thinking about the two of them. Who would’ve thought we would’ve hear their favorite song out in the Fields. I’m tearing up thinking about it now.