Coachella 2016: Five Things That Would Make the Festival Epic

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival ushers in music festival season and brings the eyes of the world to the Empire Polo Club in Indio for two weekends each year. With the fest kicking off April 15-17 and coming back for an encore April 22-24, here’s what could happen to make this year the most talked-about yet.

1. The biggest reunion of the year

No, not that headliner. Nope, not that other headliner either. Rumors have been flying from before the lineup dropped that a reunion of N.W.A, who were just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was going to occur at Coachella. Here’s how it can happen: Ice Cube is pretty high on the lineup for Saturday. Dr. Dre has headlined Coachella in the past, and we’re pretty sure he can find his way down the 10 Freeway. If Dre and Cube are there, it’s safe to say DJ Yella and MC Ren will be, too. And although Eazy-E died in 1995, there’s been speculation that Kendrick Lamar, who owns property in Eastvale, will fill in. Since Lamar’s first tour date isn’t until July in London, he has the time. Plus, if that doesn’t work out, maybe Coachella can go the 2Pac route and bring out the Eazy-E hologram that performed with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at the final Rock the Bells.

2. Guns N’ Roses plays “Welcome to the Jungle”

Those opening notes of Guns N’ Roses’ breakthrough hit will make the fans come ruing to the main stage to do their best impression of the Axl Rose snake dance. (Rose won’t be able to since he broke his foot and is now borrowing Dave Grohl’s motorized rock throne on stage.) While it was just Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan from the original band at the warm-up gig at the Troubadour, Coachella requires something special. I’m pretty sure Steven Adler is down for whatever and that Izzy Stradlin is living somewhere in Joshua Tree — so it wouldn’t be a far drive for him. Of course, this is all predicated on Rose showing up kind of on time and not delaying the set until Stagecoach starts two weeks later.

3. T. Swift shows up

While Taylor Swift has never played Coachella, she did perform at the 2008 Stagecoach Country Music Festival — in the daytime — back before “Shake It Off” and Kanye disrespecting her were a thing. What does this have to do with Coachella? Her bae Calvin Harris will headline Sunday night.

4. LCD Soundsystem and the robots

The reunion of dance rock outfit LCD Soundsystem has the hipster set overjoyed — or possibly plaing to catch them at any one of the other 15 festivals they’re playing (FYF, Boaroo, Primavera, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Panorama). But what will make Coachella stand out? What if the band plays “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House” and the REAL Daft Punk shows up? Robots for the win.

5. Sia makes a fashion splash

The “Chandelier” singer has a striking visual look — that pageboy hairstyle in blond and black with oversized hats and bows — and that means that Sia has the biggest possibility to tu Coachella into a performance piece of high fashion and art. We predict Sia’s look will be what makes all the fashion blogs and celeb mags from Coachella, barring a Kardashian getting thrown out of the fest.

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