Coachella 2023: First-time festivalgoers share impressions, thoughts on Frank Ocean absence

Coming to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the first time is always a bit overwhelming, but festival rookies had even more to take in during Weekend 2 this year.

From Frank Ocean dropping out of his headlining spot after Weekend 1 to brand-new art installations to take photos in front of, the Empire Polo Club grounds were buzzing with plenty to talk about as a new slate of music fans trickled in Friday. Here's what first-timers had to say about their experience at the festival so far.

More: Coachella 2023: Frank Ocean forced to cut long-awaited set short due to curfew rules

Takumi Tsuchiya and Natsumi Iwata

Where they came from: Michigan, but moved from Japan earlier this year

Initial impressions:

• Tsuchiya: "It's so clean and so wide. It's so spacey. I really like it."

• Iwata: "I feel comfortable. In Japan, it's too hot and humid."

Thoughts on Ocean:

• Tsuchiya: "I wanted to see Frank Ocean. That's the reason why I bought a ticket, so it's not good."

Artists they're excited to see: Wet Leg and BENEE

More: New Zealand's BENEE continuing her breakthrough at Coachella

Perla and Erik Rodriguez

Where they came from: Guadalajara, Mexico

Initial impressions:

• Erik Rodriguez: "It's incredible!"

Thoughts on Ocean:

• Erik Rodriguez: "I don't know him. I actually had to look him up last week and I heard some of his songs, but then I found out he's not going to be here."

Artists they're excited to see: Bad Bunny and Becky G

More: Coachella 2023: Bad Bunny makes history as first Latino solo artist to headline

MJ Timilty and Sindhuja Moorthi

Where they came from: Boston, Massachusetts

Initial impressions:

• Timilty: "I knew it was going to be hot, but I think especially because it's noon, it's more intense. When it's hot in Boston it totally different. It's more humid and it's more dry here. ... I never realized the rainbow building ("Spectra") was something you could go in either."

• Moorthi: "Everything is super cool. We were just walking around all the art installations, taking a ton of pictures. It's super fun."

Thoughts on Ocean:

• Timilty: "The person we were most excited to see was Frank Ocean. ... We had a feeling something was happening, especially with last weekend. He's very iffy on performing. We were trying not to have too much hope just in case this happens. .. I found out as I was on the train to the airport to fly here, so I was trying to calm myself down a little, convincing myself everything happens for a reason. We were both upset for like an hour and then we were like, 'We're not letting this ruin our weekend.'"

• Moorthi: "After last week's set, we were like, 'OK,' so we had really low expectations. ... But I was super disappointed."

Artists they're excited to see: Metro Boomin', TV Girl, Yung Lean, Ethel Cain, 070 Shake, Calvin Harris, Dominic Fike

More: Calvin Harris disappoints in 2023 Coachella return, even with Ellie Goulding as guest

Yesenia Portillo

Where they came from: Orange County

Initial impressions: "It's always been a dream of mine (to attend) since high school. When I saw Bad Bunny on the lineup, I've seen him a few times, I was excited. Frank Ocean was one of two (I wanted to see), but it's OK what happened, I just really wanted to experience Coachella. It's nice to see it put together. ... It's spontaneous, there's a lot of fashion, diversity, the art, I love it."

Thoughts on Ocean: "It's happened to me before, I've had shows canceled on me before, so I understand that rejection feeling. I was prepared, these are events that aren't guaranteed. Even when you purchase your ticket it tells you. So I wasn't upset, but I hope Frank Ocean gets better."

Artists they're excited to see: Bad Bunny

Eleazar Molina

Where they came from: San Jose

Initial impressions: "I'm so excited to be here. It's like something different. I am from Mexico, so it makes you go, 'You will never see something like this.' I love the outfits, I've seen a lot of shoes and I'm a fan of shoes."

Thoughts on Ocean: "I don't really care."

Artists they're excited to see: Becky G ("she's my queen") and Bad Bunny

More: Becky G powers through mic problems, wows crowd with special guests

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella 2023: First-timers share thoughts on Frank Ocean absence