From the debut of the idobi Radio Summer School Tour, showcasing rising stars in the alternative space, to Grammy-nominated metal powerhouse Spiritbox commanding the stage at Louder Than Life with various musical guests, fans were treated to unforgettable fest sets across the board in 2024. Here are 10 festival performances highlighting the magic of live music in 2024.
No Doubt Reunites at Coachella
Marking their first performance in nearly 10 years, No Doubt’s Coachella 2024 reunion was a defining moment for the festival and the group, blending nostalgia with renewed energy. Gwen Stefani led the performance with her iconic charisma, joined by Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, and Adrian Young. During the first weekend, Olivia Rodrigo surprised fans by joining the band for a spirited rendition of “Bathwater,” cementing the performance as an unforgettable display of female empowerment within the music industry. Standout tracks on the setlist included anthems like “Just A Girl” and concluding their set with “Spiderwebs,” reigniting their ska-punk legacy. —Paige Owens
Millionaires Perform at When We Were Young Fest
Millionaires’ performance at When We Were Young 2024 was an unapologetically wild celebration of early 2000s electro-pop rebellion. With Melissa Marie Green at the helm and joined by Meredith Hurley, the pair commanded the stage with their signature attitude, delivering provocative bangers like “Alcohol” and “Party Like A Millionaire.” Backed by pulsing beats and Green’s staple hot pink bow bobbing up and down on her head, their high-energy set turned into a nostalgic dance party that had everyone shaking their asses. —Paige Owens
Tara Yummy Joins Cobra Starship at When We Were Young Fest
While Cobra Starship’s track “Good Girls Go Bad” initially rose to prominence and permanent earworm status with the help of Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester, the group made sure their reunion performance at When We Were Young was unforgettable. Tara Yummy joined the band on stage—decked out her most authentic Y2K fit—to perform their iconic hit, adding fresh energy to the nostalgic anthem. Her dynamic presence and playful chemistry with frontman Gabe Saporta electrified the crowd. Saporta can even be heard screaming into the mic, “Oh my fucking God, Tara Yummy!” If we can’t have Leighton Meester, we absolutely want it to be Tara Yummy. —Paige Owens
Stand Atlantic Calls Lynn Gunn to Perform “GIRL$” on the idobi Radio Summer School Tour
Okay, so maybe we’re biased, but Stand Atlantic calling Lynn freaking Gunn to perform their collaborative single, “GIRL$,” during the debut idobi Radio Summer School Tour was pretty badass. Though STAT frontwoman Bonnie Fraser and Gunn joked that it was an inconvenient way to perform the track live together, they made the impromptu FaceTime performance one that EVERYONE attending that tour date will remember. And, of course, Fraser showed off her bestie to the crowd, asking everyone to “Say ‘Hi Lyndsey.’” Duh, the crowd was elated! Even though the PVRIS frontwoman couldn’t jump around on the stage in person with Fraser and co., she bobbed her head along. This may be one of the best and most hectic performances EVER, but we’re so happy it happened. —Paige Owens
Daisy Grenade Performs with John O’Callaghan of The Maine at Sad Summer Fest
During 2024’s Sad Summer Fest, Daisy Grenade stunned on the lineup alongside the likes of The Wonder Years, Knuckle Puck, Mayday Parade, and more. The two artists rocked out their classic hits such as “Riot” and “Are You Scared Of Me Yet?” However, at the Pittsburgh date, John O’Callaghan came out onstage to sing “Liquor and Kerosene”—his most recent collab with Daisy Grenade.
In a music scene that is frequently criticized (rightfully so) for misogyny (among other things), it’s amazing to see a guiding light coming from established alternative acts like The Maine. What’s more magical than seeing a veteran act welcome and platform an up-and-coming duo with open arms? Overall, Sad Summer Fest in its entirety felt beautifully collaborative. Daisy Grenade also hopped onstage with The Wonder Years and The Summer Set on various dates along the road. They shined as a rising act, solidifying a bright future ahead. And hey, maybe in a year or so, we will see DG collab with Sabrina Carpenter on “Taste.” —Maria Serra
Chappell Roan Performs To Massive Crowd at Austin City Limits
Chappell Roan drew one of the biggest crowds that Austin City Limits had ever seen during a non-headlining slot in 2024. On the brink of sunset, the artist who had a meteoric rise to fame this year, to say the least, faced an overwhelming sea of girls, gays, and theys decorated in pink cowboy hats and glitter.
Surprisingly, the highlight of the performance was not when tens of thousands of people participated in the viral “HOT TO GO!” dance that could practically be seen from space—but when folks in a several-mile radius outside of the festival grounds could hear fans screaming the chorus to “Pink Pony Club” loud enough to seemingly shake the earth.
Chappell Roan’s crowd expanded beyond the gates of Austin City Limits into nearby parking lots, bridges, grassy fields, and even the roofs of apartment and commercial buildings. Chappell Roan is a force unlike many others right now, and it is only the beginning. We can only imagine what it will look like when she takes the main stage to close out a festival as a headliner. Despite the title of her debut album, we are only seeing the “rise” of this midwest princess. To the moon, our queer queen. —Tate Logan
Kesha is “Mother” at Lollapalooza
She said it herself, Kesha is “mother” and she took her set at Lollapalooza to feed her children. Aside from playing her dazzling new single “JOYRIDE” for only the second time on the massive stage, she played her iconic “TiK ToK” and changed around the lyrics to include the phrase, “Fuck P. Diddy.” We appreciate a solid lyric adjustment that’s fun to shout along with. And let’s be honest, every inch of her discography is sheer perfection. From the wild and nostalgic “Take It Off” to the deeply personal, empowering “Praying,” she has a catalog that authentically can appeal to all.
And let’s not forget about the fashion. Kesha rocked myriad outfits, including a “Birkin” as a skirt with fishnets and Converse paired with glitter and blood. Of course, we can’t forget the incident where Kesha’s “Backstabber” prop knife was switched out with a real knife when the fake one went missing. She handled it like a pro, obviously. Between the epic dance routines, drumline cameo, literal Champagne-poppin’, and undeniable chemistry with her audience, Kesha reigns supreme. Our hopes are high for many more Kesha performances to come in 2025. (P.S. I have my ticket money saved for a tour already!) —Maria Serra
blink-182 Performs at Lollapalooza
blink-182 is the ultimate festival headliner, no matter if they’re closing out the night at Austin City Limits or bringing down the house at When We Were Young Fest in Las Vegas. The trio is always a great time as they play their multi-decades-worth of pop-punk bangers and offer silly, unhinged banter. Though, we can definitely list blink-182’s 2024 Lollapalooza headliner as the set that tops them all. Why? Well, a review from The Daily Illini, the student-run publication of the University of Illinois, went viral for describing the set as “cringe-worthy and repulsive.” This only makes us appreciate the band more. TBH, seeing Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge talks about dicks, butts, and sleeping with moms can be jarring to a passerby, but to casual and lifelong fans alike, these immature jokes are endearing.
If you’ve grown up with blink-182, it’s quite beautiful to see these brotherly figures maintain their childlike wonder and senses of humor, sharing it with the masses. It’s totally fine that this writer didn’t enjoy their time at the blink-182 show, but it’s also genuinely wonderful how DeLonge responded to the review. “[O]h my god, I’m dying hahaha fuck, I love this band,” he said on Instagram. Aside from the review, it is exciting to witness a pop-punk band headline a pop-leaning festival with a career-spanning set. Plus, Hoppus sang a bit of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” during “Dammit” solidifying his icon status. —Maria Serra
Spiritbox Performs at Louder Than Life with Poppy, Architects, and Jinjer
Ah, I just love women. Don’t you? Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante is a fierce force to be reckoned with. However, when you add in Jinjer’s Tatiana Shmayluk on “Circle With Me” and Poppy on “Soft Spine,” you get a whirlwind of metal prowess that will almost literally knock your socks off. In a short eight-song set at Louder Than Life, Spiritbox managed to squeeze in three impressive cameos—they also had Architects’ Sam Carter on for “Yellowjacket”—and leave the crowd wanting more. Luckily, 2025 is poised to be the year of women dominating metal as Spiritbox gears up for the Tsunami Sea North American Tour with Loathe, Dying Wish, and GEL. — Maria Serra
My Chemical Romance Performs The Black Parade in Full at When We Were Young Fest
October 19 marked a simply gorgeous day for My Chemical Romance lovers near and far. At long last, the kings of the alternative/emo genre played The Black Parade from start to finish. And it didn’t hurt that Gerard Way rocked an “Olive Garden waiter” fit onstage, too.
Onlookers witnessed MCR play “Disenchanted” and “The End.” for the first time since 2007, “The Sharpest Lives” for the first time since 2008, and “Dead!” for the first time since 2011. Fans traveled from around the country to see the band headline the fest, and idobi Radio even helped bring the viral Black Parade fan from 2022 to see his favorite band in 2024. Masses turned out in historic numbers, and fans peeked around fences and over balconies to witness emo history. So, basically, if you have major FOMO, there’s still time to score Black Parade anniversary tour resale tickets ahead of 2025. —Maria Serra
