American festival Coachella gave pride of place to indie rock nostalgia this weekend. No Doubt, Blur, Vampire Weekend and above all, Taylor Swift.
The billionaire singer was content to attend the shows, singing on the arm of her companion Travis Kelce in the VIP area. But the crowds were there for the music, especially for headliner Tyler, The Creator, who burst onto a burning stage inside a camper van parked in a mountainous desert setting. And, in an unlikely sequence, they brought star Paris Hilton on stage to play a game of “cornhole”, a typically North American game of skill where you have to throw bean bags into a hole. But it was again and again Taylor Swift who stole the show, attracting all eyes, without even performing on the festival stage. The rock group is led by producer Jack Antoniff, who co-wrote and produced several Taylor Swift albums. And stoner reggae rock band Sublime, known for their hit Santeria, drew crowds of fans to the main stage.