Friday night gave Coachella attendees a “Taste” of what’s in store for them this weekend.

The second weekend of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival began on Friday. The first day of the weekend brought performances across all genres, including one from headliner Sabrina Carpenter. Whether looking to dance or sing, the Coachella crowd was sure to find the perfect set, while enjoying the not-too-warm, not-too-cold weather.

Read on for the Daily Bruin’s recap of day one.

KATSEYE

Everyone’s hands, and pinkies, were up for KATSEYE on Friday night.

The multinational girl group returned to the Sahara stage on the first night of the weekend to deliver an absolutely electric set, dressed in unique outfits that all followed the same pink and tan color scheme. The girls opened up their set with their latest single, “PINKY UP,” a catchy hyper-pop number that had fans screaming from the start. The group then moved into each of their iconic singles, from their first song, “Debut,” to the popular Spanish ballad “Gabriela.” Although KATSEYE is down a member, with Manon Bannerman currently on hiatus, the group’s powerful stage presence ensured that fans never even noticed someone was missing.

What sets KATSEYE apart is their dancing prowess and vocal talent. The artists took every opportunity to show off these skills – member Lara Raj hit melodious note changes in “Gameboy,” while Sophia Laforteza led beautiful harmonies in “My Way.” Meanwhile, numerous dance breaks, from “PINKY UP” to “Debut,” had fans dancing along all night. The show ended with a dramatic performance of the famous “Gnarly,” filled with electric guitar riffs and a dance break that showcased all the training the performers put in to reach this stage.

Friday’s performance is only the start of the journey to stardom for these “Internet Girls.”

Sabrina Carpenter

Coachella took a tour through Sabrinawood during the second weekend’s first night.

Sabrina Carpenter took to the stage for an epic theatrical production, beginning with the catchy “House Tour,” which transformed the entire stage into a landscape of homes on a hill. She then transitioned into other hit songs, such as “Taste” and the ever-iconic “Manchild,” where she walked her male dancers, dressed up as dogs, across the stage. Each and every song was a spectacle of its own – there were even some sets used only for one song, such as a bar for “Nobody’s Son” where Carpenter drank with her friends. Beyond the dancing and choreography, Carpenter also managed to deliver spectacular vocals, with bridges such as the one on “My Man on Willpower” showcasing her wide vocal range and powerful voice.

Carpenter did not shy away from immersing the audience into the Hollywood theme, playing into the theatricalities of each new set, even going as far as having five different looks throughout the night. Carpenter raised the bar when performing “Juno” as her iconic bit “have you ever tried this one?” transitioned into the intro of Madonna’s “Vogue” as the latter joined Carpenter on the stage. With Friday marking almost 20 years since Madonna’s last Coachella set, both singers dove into the Queen of Pop’s discography, singing two more of her iconic songs – “Bring Your Love” and “Like a Prayer.”

After over an hour and a half worth of music, the Coachella crowd was left in “Tears” to see Carpenter go.

Ethel Cain

Everyone wishes they “made it off for California” to see Ethel Cain’s set.

Hayden Silas Anhedönia, the artist behind Ethel Cain, returned for a second weekend at the Empire Polo Club. At 10:45 p.m., the Mojave stage was illuminated with a growing blue light, which quickly turned into a warmer color as Anhedönia took the stage. The singer wore a long black flowy dress as she settled herself in a small platform on the stage, placing herself within the light and creating an ethereal glow around her body that would become a theme throughout the performance.

Anhedönia opened her performance with the iconic track “American Teenager” – one of the eight songs of the setlist. The setlist was composed with songs from her 2022 album “Preacher’s Daughter” – such as the opening track – as well as a few tracks from her latest LP “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You” such as “Nettles” and “Dust Bowl.” While Anhedönia’s quieter voice ofter seemed to drown among the instruments, the singer was able to still capture the audience with her higher vocal range, which echoed through the crowd. The star of the night, however, was the stage design. Creating a forest-like scene, the stage was covered with greenery, with Anhedönia singing with a mic stand that resembled a tree trunk – fully welcoming the singer into the space.

Ethel Cain transported the Coachella crowd to an enchanted forest Friday.