The band’s set mixed crisp Vampire Weekend oldies and a few knottier new tunes from its just-released fifth album, “Only God Was Above Us.” An unlikely guest appearance during the set: Paris Hilton, who popped out to play a round of cornhole as the veteran indie-rock band did a countrified take on its “Married in a Gold Rush.” “I haven’t played this game since ‘The Simple Life,’” the reality-TV personality said, referring to her mid-2000s series with Nicole Richie. — M.W.

The celeb sighting everyone predicted: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Bleachers

Taylor Swift turned up — not as a performer but as a fan — to take in a set by her longtime producer Jack Antonoff’s band. The pop superstar and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, were standing (and singing and clapping) at the side of the stage in the Mojave Tent as Bleachers ran through a characteristically exuberant set of its post-Springsteen rock. — M.W.

The unexpected Mexican music history lesson: Peso Pluma

Toward the end of Peso Pluma’s set, he moved beyond old-fashioned acoustic corridos to draw from thumping reggaeton and muscular Latin rap. But he finished the show with a kind of historical primer, celebrating the names and faces of some of Mexican music’s greats — among them Chalino Sánchez, Joan Sebastian and Ariel Camacho — in front of Coachella’s massive audience. — M.W.

The set that reminded you that at its core, Coachella is about the music: Jon Batiste

The singer’s set harked to the early days of Coachella, before it was experienced as a series of Instagram moments — when it was more about just about letting ourselves be moved by music. Batiste morphed the grade-school chant “If You’re Happy and You Know It” into “When the Saints Go Marching In,” then brought hip-hop legend Juvenile onstage for “Back That Azz Up.” Batiste also debuted a new song with Willow Smith, a fun, breezy, Afrobeats-tinged single that shows off Smith’s youthful soprano ahead of the release of her just-announced “Empathogen” project. —D.D.

The surprise guest who could headline Coachella 2025: Shakira

She may not have headlined Coachella this year, but judging by the roars for her surprise set with the Argentine DJ Bizarrap in the Sahara Tent, she may as well have been. His churning trap and hard house was already a dance music highlight of the night, but his cut with Shakira — “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 53,” an all-time torching of her ex, who will never recover — was a phenomenon, and she performed it here with a vengeance deserving of the main stage soon enough. — A.B.

Best flex we heard this weekend: Chappell Roan

“This one goes out to my ex because, bitch, I know you’re watching.” That’s how Chappell Roan — long red hair spilling over a T-shirt reading “EAT ME” — introduced “My Kink Is Karma” near the end of her electrifying set in the Gobi tent. And she was probably right: This proudly theatrical pop singer is on a serious come-up right now, having just dropped her acclaimed debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” and wrapped an opening gig on Olivia Rodrigo’s current tour. — M.W.

Most interesting new addition: Quasar Stage

Quasar is 55 feet tall, 235 feet wide and its screens have 660 LED panels and was designed for longer DJ sets.

Late in Michael Bibi’s set Saturday night the screens looked like kaleidoscopic insect wings as he dropped Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Then they morphed into a beautiful stained glass pattern that was almost church-like, but still pulsing to the beat. — V.F.

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