With lots of glitter and few masks, Coachella returned with thousands of attendees

Without masks or health restrictions, thousands of people in bikinis, summer clothes, colorful hair and frost-filled makeup flooded the city of Indio on Friday at the start of the first Coachella festival since the start of the pandemic, in the California desert.

Brazilian Anitta was one of the biggest attractions on the first day of the event that was forced to take a three-year break due to the advance of covid-19.

Coachella, one of the biggest music festivals in the world, is held over two three-day weekends and traditionally marks the season of great concerts. This year's edition should also be an indicator for the multimillion-dollar music touring industry, which is looking to raise its head after the impact suffered during the two-year pandemic.

The 2020 edition of the famous festival held in this desert region of California was postponed when the covid-19 pandemic was shaking the world. And, after two years of chaotic cancellations, he returned this Friday with his extravagance and seven boxes vying for the attention of thousands of fans with a diverse roster of artists.

With thermometers exceeding 30ºC in the early afternoon, fans were walking the several meters away from parking lots and camping areas to the festival. The colorful outfits did not include masks.

For those interviewed, the virus was not a concern despite the fact that in the United States cases have started to increase in recent weeks, registering up to 38,000 daily diagnoses, according to official numbers.

“I'm not afraid, and I'm excited to be out there with people,” said Saturn Risin, an assistant who traveled from Los Angeles, almost three hours away by road.

“Look at this! We just want to have fun, I don't want to think about covid tonight,” said Sarah Jones, who traveled from Oregon with her friends.

Although massive events such as Lollapalooza last year demanded some sanitary measures, Coachella, outdoors, chose not to ask for vaccinations, masks or distancing.

Due to the times of the virus, the health impact of the event should be felt in the middle of next week, just before the second weekend of the holiday, according to local health authorities.

“It's amazing”

The huge Empire Polo Club should receive about 125,000 people per day for the festival. Attendees wander, dance, eat and drink between one stage and another, also strolling through some artistic installations. Music fans race to clump together as the first chords of each show kick off, and with the movement, the grass begins to give way to a dust.

Anitta caused a revolution on the main stage. Playing a favela, the 29-year-old singer entered a motorcycle taxi wearing a bikini in the colors of the Brazilian flag. When the sun went down, he began with a video showing his native Rio de Janeiro to the rhythm of the classic “Mais que nada”.

The audience immediately went crazy when rapper Snoop Dogg appeared in surprise and soon after, Saweetie, in addition to a video screening of Cardi B of his video “I like it”.

“It's amazing,” said Alexa Davis, who came from Connecticut.

Singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Anitta danced and kissed. Several of the attendees threw themselves to the ground to move their hips to the rhythm of her super hit “Envolver”, the same one with which she made history by becoming the first Brazilian to lead Spotify's global playlist.

This Friday, those present enjoyed a surprise Arcade Fire show, while with the full moon illuminating the Californian desert sky, Phoebe Bridgers were expected and at the close of the night, Harry Styles.

Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish and Doja Cat are some of the great figures that will perform at Coachella between Saturday and Sunday, but the festival brings everything for everyone.

The Weekend and Swedish House Mafia entered the lineup at the last minute after rapper Kanye West retired from the festival.

International programming includes Argentina's Nathy Peluso, Mongolian rock band The Hu, reggaetonera Karol G, French actor L'Imperatrice, Belgian Stromae, newly Grammy-winning Arooj Aftab, Palestinian DJ Sama' Abdulhadi and South Africa's Black Coffee, who made story as the first African person to win a Grammy for best electronic album.

By Paula Ramon with Maggy Donaldson in Los Angeles for AFP

Keep reading: