The 2023 edition of the festival, which takes place in the desert and traditionally opens the summer musical festivities with two weekends, has also featured the K-pop group Blackpink and the discreet but influential R&B singer Frank Ocean.

For two hours, Puerto Rican Bad Bunny - the most streamed artist in the world - chained his hits, paying tribute to the pioneers of Caribbean rhythmic music. Real name Benito Martinez Ocasio, the 29-year-old performed "Vete", "Titi Me Pregunto" or "Yo Perreo Sola" in front of screaming fans against a backdrop of spectacular visuals and other fireworks.

His performance was also marked by choreography and a contribution from singer Post Malone whose song "La Cancion" suffered from acoustic problems.

Favoring Spanish over English, at the express request of the public, Bad Bunny was pleased that Latinos dominate the poster at the festival. "There has never been someone like me before" at the top of the podium, he said.

All approaching or exceeding fifty, the musicians of Blink-182 - Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge -, who had not met on stage for nearly ten years, had previously ignited the audience with their hits "Rock Show", "What's My Age Again", "I Miss You" or "All The Small Things", taken up in chorus by the spectators.

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in action at the Coachella Valley Music Festival in California on April 14, 2023 © VALERIE MACON / AFP

They then rushed to another stage to hear Blondie and her hits "Heart of Glass" or "Call Me". The singer invited septuagenarian guitarist Nile Rodgers to join her on stage.

"Timid" industry

Among the artists on Friday, Belgian star Angele made her debut at Coachella amid dancers and, at times, against a backdrop of French subtitles projected behind her.

Los Angeles native Becky G (Rebbeca Marie Gomez), an American singer-songwriter of Mexican descent, paid tribute to her roots.

"A lot of Latino artists break a lot of barriers," fan Katherine Narvaez, 28, told AFP. "It's amazing to see her grow as an artist and to be a hit in a show."

In addition to Bad Bunny and Becky G, Latinos are represented at Coachella by Puerto Rican rapper Eladio Carrion, Argentine group Los Fabulosos Cadillacs or American singer Kali Uchis with Colombian origins, awarded a Grammy in 2021.

For the first time this year, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has no white headliners.

For CedarBough Saeji, a professor of Korean and East Asian studies who specializes in K-pop, the festival's programming remains timid about inviting new artists from around the world.

Blink-182 fans on day one of California's Coachella Valley Festival on April 14, 2023 © VALERIE MACON / AFP

"The American music industry, the American decision-makers, are not necessarily the most reckless," she told AFP. "They'd rather follow public demand than get wet" with creative innovations.

© 2023 AFP