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Chris Lake’s Coachella campground dance party boosts morale of road-weary festgoers on Day Zero

BBG News

Chris Lake isn’t one to plan.

Just moments before his scheduled performance at Coachella’s campsites, the British DJ found himself seated in the front of a Jeep Wagoneer, busy uploading his music onto multiple USB drives. Throughout the day, he pondered about the path he wanted to take for this unique Coachella set that was happening for the first time ever. Earlier on Thursday, Lake’s performance at the campground kicked off the “Day Zero” festivities, marking a new beginning for Coachella as it opened its gates for the upcoming Friday.

Should I venture forth and encounter trouble, I only have myself to blame, I chuckle. Frankly, I’m clueless about what awaits me out there. The possibilities are numerous and varied. I enjoy scanning the audience before making my move.

Earlier, “Day Zero” was typically an additional day for campers to set up camp and kick off their party preparations. However, with the announcement of Lake performing at the new Desert Sky stage, the festival’s pre-event took on a more formal tone.

Beneath a tent resembling a circus, clusters of enthusiastic fans started gathering in a circular area. Inflatable flamingos and waving flags zoomed past, while clouds of marijuana smoke grew denser. Among the crowd, some showcased their inaugural festival fashion – donning stylish crochet tops and headscarves. Others opted for a more relaxed, camping style, appearing to be wearing pajamas. At the heart of the camping zone (comprising a general store and several lounge areas), there were some attendees, their hair still damp from shared showers and toiletries in hand, who paused to listen to Lake’s mix of heavy bass and pop tunes.

Through the haze, you could feel a tangible thrill permeating the atmosphere. Not at all surprising, veteran Lake enthusiast James Guerrero, recognized the “Beggin'” disc jockey among the festival crowd.

As a devoted festival-goer, I’ve graced the grounds of the last five Coachellas, and Chris Lake always manages to make an appearance. Whether it’s the music he wants to share with me, I’m more than happy to receive. He’s truly a trailblazer in his craft, a modern-day maestro if you will. Much like LeBron James dominates the basketball court, Chris Lake commands the electronic music scene. The upcoming event is set to be an unforgettable experience.

Upon arriving at the festival grounds that morning, numerous attendees found themselves confronted with lengthy delays. As they impatiently waited for the DJ to begin playing, many campers swapped tales of having waited anywhere from six to eight hours before finally gaining entry. Unhappy with the situation, several took to social media to vent their frustrations, posting comments such as “I’ve been stuck in line for 8+ hours, this is unbelievable!” and “This is by far the worst I’ve ever seen the line – it’s dangerous to have people on the streets for hours with no access to restrooms. The conditions are extremely unsafe,” on Coachella’s Instagram.

On a late Wednesday evening, Liz Hernandez, with eight previous camping experiences under her belt, arrived with the aim of securing an ideal campsite. In past years, she managed to enter the campgrounds within three to four hours, but this time around, she ended up waiting over 12 hours before she could access the area.

In a different phrasing, Hernandez stated, “We were ready for the wait, but this time, it was overly prolonged. I even told [my partner] in the car, ‘By tomorrow, this won’t be important anymore. We’ll get inside and we’ll move past it,’ and indeed, we did.

Guerrero, hailing from Orange County, needed approximately six hours to reach the campsite. He expresses a similar feeling, “The journey doesn’t diminish this experience. It’s history. Now, we’re on the brink of witnessing greatness – the G.O.A.T., if you will. We’re focusing on the present.

With every bass drop, Lake’s music elicited a synchronized wave of hand movements from the audience. From those close at the barricade to those farther back, nearly everyone synchronously lifted and lowered their arms in rhythm with the varying beat. Lake had anticipated this high level of excitement from the crowd, who were campers only.

By the close of the day, if you’re camping at a festival, you’re completely immersing yourself in the entire festival experience. Just by driving around, I can sense the vibrant enthusiasm among the festival-goers, and it feels like they’re exactly the audience we want to entertain.

Lake created a buzzing atmosphere at the Coachella campsite before Day 1, by premiering tunes from his upcoming album “Chemistry” and blending tracks such as “Messy” by Lola Young with Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison.” This electronic setup sparked a fresh wave of excitement among the campers.

Lake expressed, “A significant aspect of me is self-centered, and I wish for it to be the highlight for everyone’s weekend. By the time the weekend ends, I aim to make them truly weary, and I’m looking forward to playing a substantial role in that.

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2025-04-11 20:32

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