— A favorite discovery at Coachella ’17, the British trio’s sublime turn included an opening segment with guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim sharing exquisite vocals amid the lush “Say Something Loving” and otherworldly “Angels.” The xx are currently working on a fourth studio album — the first since 2017's UK chart-topper I See You — so Coachellagoers may hear new music during their highly-anticipated sets. (RK)
Saturdays, April 11 and 18
David Byrne – As leader for NYC’s Talking Heads, David Byrne (pictured) and company crafted seminal Brian Eno-produced alt-rock albums like More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light during the late 1970s and ‘80s. They were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The singer’s solo career has been equally adventurous. Last year’s festive Who is the Sky? often recalled 1992’s Uh-Oh. It saw him collaborate with St. Vincent, Hayley Williams, and Ghost Train Orchestra with idiosyncratic results. Recent sets have included such Talking Heads classics as “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “Life During Wartime.” (GAP)
Sombr – New Yorker Shane Boose (pictured), who records under the name Sombr, put out one of the best albums of ’25 with the reverb-drenched, alternative pop and dance-leaning I Barely Know Her. Among the strongest debuts in recent memory, it spawned international hits “Undressed,” “12 to 12,” and “Back to Friends” (the latter resides in the Spotify “Billions Club”). Latest single “Homewrecker” is equally alluring. Sombr’s TV appearances have projected plenty of swagger, so it’ll be interesting to see how that translates outdoors here. (GAP)
Interpol — Back in 2015, Manhattan’s Interpol knocked me out with their nighttime appearance on the Coachella Stage. Blending indie, alternative, and post-punk into a signature dream-swept sound, singer-rhythm guitarist Paul Banks, lead guitarist Daniel Kessler, and drummer Sam Fogarino are sure to feature winning originals from across their 25-year career, including groundbreaking 2002 debut Turn on the Bright Lights and 2022 album The Other Side of Make-Believe. (RK)
Sundays, April 12 and 19
Iggy Pop – Widely considered the “Godfather of Punk, thanks to his pioneering and confrontational late 1960s-early ‘70s work with The Stooges, Pop jump-started a riveting solo career with David Bowie at his side. Their results included classics “Lust for Life” (frequently included in films, TV shows, and commercials), “China Girl,” “The Passenger,” and “Funtime.” Pop’s biggest mainstream hit, “Candy,” a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52’s, arrived in 1990. More recently, 2023’s spiky Every Loser, produced by Andrew Watt, featured a star-studded guest list of alternative rockers. (GAP)
Foster the People — Los Angeles-spawned Foster the People rose to fame in 2010 with the viral success of frontman Mark Foster's dance-minded crossover hit “Pumped Up Kicks.” The group's infectious synth rock-meets-dance pop approach has also yielded winning singles such as “Helena Beat,” “Houdini,” “Coming of Age” and “Sit Next to Me.” (RK)
George Paul
