On April 18, the Coachella Music Festival has seen some major headliners over the years, including The Weeknd and Ellie Goulding. This year, Mavis Staples celebrated her birthday with performances from several pop stars, and there were digital Top 40 music acts supporting frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 1999, music fans have gathered at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, for Coachella. Notable performances on April 18 include The Cure’s release of their second album, Seventeen Seconds, in 1980, which reached No. 20 in the U.K. with hits like “A Night Like This.” In 1994, Pulp released His ‘n’ Hers, their first U.K. Top 40 single, peaking at No. 9 on the albums chart.
In 2014, Bruno Mars thrilled fans with a two-day concert in his hometown of Honolulu as part of his Moonshine Jungle Tour. That same year at Coachella, headliners included Outkast, Ellie Goulding, Broken Bells, and HAIM, along with performances by Neko Case, Zedd, and Girl Talk. The 2015 festival featured The Weeknd, Hozier, alt-J, and Belle and Sebastian, with other acts like Jack Black and Glass Animals.
Cultural milestones on April 18 include the birth of guitarist Tony Mottola in 1918, who worked with stars like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles. Glen Hardin, born in 1939, collaborated with Elvis Presley and others after his Navy service. In 2003, Etta James received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, celebrating her Top 40 hits. In 2018, the Jonas Brothers announced three special shows at surprise venues across the U.S., creating excitement among fans.
