THE COUNT: SUPERSTARS TO SURPRISE AT COACHELLA?

While pre-applying their 75 SPF and finalizing that perfect festival fit, insiders are buzzing about an A-list superstar or two who might just be making timely surprise appearances with billed artists at the impending Weekend 1 of Coachella. With Weekend 2 surprisingly not yet sold out, could these huge, zeitgeist-y pop-cultural moments be the perfect boost for AEG/Goldenvoice’s enduring desert behemoth?

Coachella’s quiet addition of Vampire Weekend (CAA’s Adam Voith) when set times were announced earlier this week was also a nice bonus for punters, one that continues a long tradition of Paul Tollett and company sneaking big names such as Arcade Fire and blink-182 onto the lineup at the last minute.

For Vampire Weekend (pictured), the move extended a series of stunt-y performances in support of the group’s new Columbia album, Only God Was Above Us, including a daytime show in Austin during the 4/8 solar eclipse with guest spots from Phoenix’s Thomas Mars and Chromeo’s Dave 1 and a surprise 4/10 team-up with jam band Goose at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.

Although headliners such as Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat will naturally attract a ton of eyeballs, expect additional sizzle in the Sahara Tent from fan favorites such as ATEEZ on 4/12, Dom Dolla on 4/13 and the one-two punch of DJ Snake and John Summit on 4/14. Those in the know also point to Jhene Aiko, LE SSERAFIM, Sabrina Carpenter and eclectic U.K. jazz/Afrobeat combo Kokoroko as others to look out for in and around Empire Polo Field this weekend.

Peso Pluma, Jhene Aiko, Kokoroko

Peso Pluma’s mainstage sets will have eyes on them for different reasons as insiders are hoping he’ll deliver the kind of show-stopping performances that will kick some life into his soft-selling Exodo North American arena tour, which launches 5/26 in Chicago. The 35-date jaunt, produced by Live Nation, includes stops at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and Miami’s Kaseya Center, plus festival dates in New York and Mexico.

Pluma, who does not use an agent, is expected to drop his hotly anticipated new album, Exodo, before the tour, which will surely help the breakout música Mexicana star move some tickets. Pluma’s prior LP, GÉNESIS, ended 2023 in the top 15 in YTD consumption and is the best-selling Latin album so far this year.