Why Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo Chose to Play Anti Up Set at Coachella’s Mojave Stage Instead of Sahara

The Anti Up duo have explained the reasoning behind their conspicuous Mojave stage assignment at Coachella.

Those that make the pilgrimage to Coachella Valley every year for one of the world’s most famous music festivals are well aware that the Sahara tent is the place to be for most electronic dance music acts. The Mojave tent, meanwhile, tends to be a spot for hip hop, rap, and alternative artists. So, when the Coachella 2024 weekend one set times dropped this week, it was a surprise for many to see Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo’s Anti Up set closing out Mojave on Friday night.

One of the two Chrises – Lake, to be exact – has taken to X to share the reasoning behind Anti Up performing at Mojave. He wrote that the Anti Up project is “influenced heavily by our British dance music roots” and that they write their music “with dark spaces in mind.” He continued that the duo “never felt we could create the atmosphere we wanted” at Sahara, so they “pushed hard with Goldenvioce,” the company behind Coachella, to play at Mojave instead. Chris noted that they are both “confident that once you’ve seen the show and set you’ll understand why we chose Mojave.”

While it’s not the default choice, there is certainly some precedent for electronic dance music acts playing at the Mojave stage. Techno queen Charlotte De Witte will also grace that stage this year, while Mura Masa, Lane 8, Floating Points, and Honey Dijon have also done so in recent years. Still, high-profile EDM acts that draw Anti Up’s level of publicity are typically reserved for the Sahara tent – Steve Angello, Dom Dolla, John Summit, and DJ Snake will all play Sahara this weekend.

For all the raised eyebrows that this stage assignment has caused among their fans, Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo will surely deliver a tremendous set for them on Friday night. Their acidy tracks will be just what the doctor ordered for house heads to close out a Day 1 of Coachella.

Anti Up will take the stage at 11:15 PM PST on Friday April 12th. Fans at home can watch their set on the Coachella Live Stream. Check out their latest release below!