Coachella Artists of the Day: Feb. 24, 2026

&friends

Origin: New York, New York, USA 🇺🇸

Genre / Subgenres: Electronic / Afro-house, Melodic house, World electronic

It's tough to look at someone like &friends and think, "Now this is a guy that knows how to expertly navigate the inner workings of Afro-house," but surprisingly, this American man will put your money where your mouth is and make you feel like an idiot. You can immediately tell that his presence is meant to celebrate and not appropriate.

He almost exclusively collaborates cross-culturally with African vocalists, such as Phina Asa and Oluwadamvic, to showcase their talents and turn them into the focal point of his productions through polyrhythmic percussion, emotional chord progressions, and cultural depth. He's also remixed well-known songs, which have really put him on the map, like Drake's "Flight's Booked" and Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." Expect an inclusive, bright, global dance party.

Performing: Sunday

Stage Confirmation: Yuma*

For Fans of: Nitefreak, Zakes Bantwini, Moeaike

Key Tracks: Something About U / Ike Onu (ft. Ike Onu) / Love Is The Way (ft. Oluwadamvic)

Live Set: We Belong Here 2025 (Tampa Bay, Florida, USA)

Rating: ★★★½

*Yuma lineup now available via Coachella's social media accounts

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Bob Baker Marionettes

Origin: Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸

Genre / Subgenres: Puppetry / Marionette theater, Family entertainment, Visual storytelling

Bob Baker Marionettes is a special case because they have no original music that can be found on streaming platforms, and most of what you can find on YouTube is from their "Halowe'en Spooktacular", which are…spectacular. The historic Los Angeles institution was quite the headscratcher when their name was on the lineup, but regardless, festivalgoers (at least on Reddit) are pumped to see this one-of-a-kind act.

Founded in 1963 by Bob Baker and Alton Wood, the full-scale puppet theater company has become famous for putting on year-round, all-ages shows featuring 100% handcrafted puppets. Over 2,000 puppets have been created over the decades, which is an incredible feat in itself, and they have been used in other programs such as Star Trek and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The handcrafted spectacle is sure to bring a sense of old-school magic to the desert and will soon be one unforgettable performance.

Performing: Friday

Stage Prediction: Mojave

For Fans of: The Muppets, Sesame Street, Lamb Chop's Play Along

Live Set: Hallowe'en Spooktacular 2024 (Los Angeles, California, USA)

Rating: ★★★★

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Ratings are on a 5-star scale