From the much-anticipated headliner, Justin Bieber made a nostalgic return to the stage during Coachella‘s first weekend of the music in Indio, California.
Prior to delving into a journey back into the archives, the superstar singer/songwriter opened his set with tracks from his 2025 LPs Swag and Swag II.
Before performing along to YouTube videos for such iconic hits as ‘Baby’ and ‘Never Say Never, the now 32-year old asked his audience, “How far back do you go?”
Accompanied onstage by musical guests The Kid Laroi, Wizkid, Tems and Dijon, the April 11 show marked the Canadian singer’s biggest live set since he cancelled his 2022 Justice tour over health concerns, after which he experienced paralysis on one side of his face and diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. At the time, Bieber said “I wish this wasn’t the case, but obviously my body is telling me I gotta slow down.”
Taking to Twitch in 2015, the Ontario-native stated that the idea of touring again was “super daunting”, and that he was not planning to do it anytime soon. Instead, “I’m putting on a hell of a show for you guys for Coachella, getting ready, and getting inspired.”
On Sunday (4.12,) SZA denied rumors she’d been hired as a backup for Bieber, in case he pulled out at the last minute. Commenting on an Instagram post that claimed she was paid six figures to “stay Coachella-ready”, the superstar songstress responded “Lmao who made this up? I’ve seen this 4 times now. I’m in New York, no one paid me a dime.”
Coachella annually hosts around 125,000 concert-goers a day, with seven stages showcasing a variety of artists, including headliners Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, along with Moby, Geese, David Byrne, Addison Rae, the Strokes, Sombr, Iggy Pop, Ethel Cain and Labrinth over the two weekends.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Joe Bielawa from MInneapolis, USA