Epik High performed at Coachella in 2016, making them the first Kpop Group to perform at Coachella.I remember that day because I was watching videos on Facebook, just shocked that it was happening.
Back then, we didn’t think Korean artists would get invited to these big Western festivals. We were just happy when they got mentioned anywhere. But Epik High did it.
I’m gonna tell you the whole story, who came before, what happened after, and why some groups never went there.
The First K-pop Group At Coachella: Epik High (2016)
Three guys. Tablo, Mithra Jin, DJ Tukutz. They started making hip-hop music in 2001. That’s like over 20 years ago. These aren’t idol boys who dance and do cute stuff. They rap about real-life problems.
Depression. Society. Personal struggles. Tablo even studied at Stanford before coming back to Korea to make music. Their song “Born Hater” has every major Korean rapper in it. That’s how respected they are.
The 2016 Coachella Performance
April 2016. I couldn’t go to California, so I watched shaky phone videos online. Epik High got on that Coachella stage. The crowd wasn’t huge. Not like when Beyoncé performs or anything. But people who stayed actually listened.
Tablo rapped in Korean and English, switching back and forth easily. That show proved something. Korean artists could perform at big international festivals and do well. After that, things started changing.
Korean Acts At Coachella Before K-pop Groups
Here’s something interesting. EE performed at Coachella in 2011. That’s five years before Epik High. But EE wasn’t a K-pop group.
They made indie music by themselves. No big company behind them. No idol training. Nothing like that. So yes, they were Korean and performed first. But when we talk about K-pop groups specifically, that’s Epik High.
BLACKPINK’s Historic Coachella Milestones
April 2019. 8:30 AM, where I live. I set three alarms because I wasn’t missing this. BLACKPINK was performing at Coachella. First K-pop girl group ever. I was so excited that I woke up my roommate by accident.
They sang “DDU-DU DDU-DU” first, and I screamed. Then “KILL THIS LOVE” and “Forever Young.” Jennie did “SOLO” and the crowd loved it.
Seeing regular people at the festival, not just K-pop fans, actually enjoying BLACKPINK. Made us really happy. That’s when I knew we made it big.
First K-pop Headliners (2023)
2023 happened, and BLACKPINK even headlined Coachella. That means they were the biggest act at the festival. Both weekends, too. Their names were in huge letters on the poster.
Think about this: they went from regular performer to main event in just four years. Most artists take like 20 years to headline Coachella. BLACKPINK did it super fast. Their stage was massive. Big screens, fire effects, dancers everywhere.
They owned that stage completely!
Other K-pop Groups At Coachella
After BLACKPINK’s performances, Coachella started inviting more K-pop groups. Smart move, honestly. K-pop fans buy tickets fast, show up early, and post about it everywhere online. We’re good for their business.
Let’s take a look at K-pop Acts at Coachella (2011-2025)
After Epik High and BLACKPINK, ATEEZ were the first male K-pop idol group to perform at Coachella. They did “HALA HALA,” which has crazy hard choreography. Like, seriously, one of the hardest K-pop dances.
These kpop groups and solo performances showed everyone that they could dominate Coachella, too.
Why BTS Never Performed At Coachella?
BTS were too busy and occupied with Stadium tours everywhere. Rose Bowl, Wembley, all these huge places. Award shows, their own concerts, UN speeches, and then military service stuff started. Coachella is just one festival in April.
BTS was filling stadiums that hold 60,000 people. Multiple nights. They didn’t need Coachella, honestly. After that, the solo concerts, and now, Jin has just been nominated for VISA Artist of the Year at MAMA.
His solo song “The Astronaut” did really well. Maybe Coachella didn’t fit what they wanted to do. Festivals limit your stage production. BTS was doing their own bigger thing.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: Epik High Is The First Kpop Group To Perform At Coachella
So here’s everything. Epik High started it in 2016. Small crowd, but they did it. Opened the door for everyone else. BLACKPINK came in 2019 and did a great job. Then they came back in 2023 as headliners. ATEEZ represented boy groups in 2024.
Now, K-pop at big festivals is normal. Festival lineups look weird without K-pop acts now.
I’m excited for what’s next. Maybe Stray Kids headlines next. Maybe NewJeans gets invited. Maybe some new group we don’t know yet. But it all started with Epik High taking that first chance in 2016.
FAQs
Epik High is a hip-hop group of three guys, Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, who performed at Coachella in April 2016 before any other K-pop group.
ATEEZ wasn’t the first K-pop group overall at Coachella. But they were the first male K-pop idol group when they perform there in 2024.
BTS performed at the 2022 Grammy Awards. They sang “Butter” on that huge stage with all the famous Western artists.
BLACKPINK performed in 2019 as a regular act. Then came back in 2023 as headliners. That’s only four years. Most artists take way longer to become headliners at Coachella.
BTS never performed at Coachella. They were always super busy with stadium tours all around the world. Festival shows probably didn’t fit their schedule or their huge stage production style.
Coachella started way back in 1999. The first festival had bands like Beck, Tool, and Rage Against the Machine, and Pearl Jam was the headliner for the opening night.
