Daijiworld Media Network - Indio

Indio, Apr 20: Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic delivered a genre-defying performance during their second Coachella 2025 weekend, living up to their promise of surprise collaborations with some of music’s biggest names.

The Foo Fighters’ iconic frontman Dave Grohl electrified the crowd by joining the symphony for two tracks, including a roaring rendition of ‘The World Is a Neighborhood’ and the fan-favourite ‘Everlong.’ Grohl, true to form, held nothing back despite the classical backdrop.

Following the rock-heavy segment, the mood shifted with actor-singer Cynthia Erivo delivering a soulful ballad and a stirring version of Prince’s legendary ‘Purple Rain’ that lit up the desert evening.

British pop star Natasha Bedingfield was another surprise guest, joining for a powerful performance of her 2004 anthem ‘Unwritten,’ backed by a choir and the full force of the orchestra’s strings.

“This has maybe been the best two weekends of our lives, enjoying your energy,” Dudamel told the crowd, reflecting on the orchestra’s unprecedented appearance at the iconic festival.

Several returning guests also made the second weekend special. Venezuelan duo Cat7riel and Paco added flair with their unique Latin-symphonic fusion, while jazz-pop sensation Laufey enchanted once again with her viral bossa nova hit ‘From the Start’ and her newest release, ‘Silver Lining.’

Laufey, who previously collaborated with the LA Phil for a live concert film and album, said, “I was an orchestra kid growing up, so this was my actual dream. The fact that there are so many people here for an orchestra makes me so happy for music.”

This performance marked yet another bold step in redefining classical music’s place in contemporary culture, bridging generations and genres on one of the world’s biggest music stages.