Traditionally, the music at a large festival like Coachella tends to lean in a bit of an alternative direction. However, there are still plenty of acts for mainstream pop fans to check out. These are 10 of the best at Coachella 2011. It is a particularly good year for fans of British and Irish pop music.
Cee Lo Green
Photo by Mike Coppola / Getty Images
Friday - 4:50 p.m. Coachella stage.
Cee Lo Green burst into the pop mainstream last year with a viral YouTube hit called "F**k You!" The song was then nominated for Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. A second round of popularity took the song clear to the top of the pop radio chart. Soulful, Motown-influenced pop songs are the central element here.
Watch Cee Lo Green perform "F**k You!" live
Marina and the Diamonds
Courtesy Neon Gold
Friday - 8:15 p.m. Gobi
Marina and the Diamonds was listed as one of the Top 10 Artists to Watch in 2010. The name primarily refers to Welsh singer Marina Diamandis. Her debut album The Family Jewels hit #5 in the UK and included the #12 pop hit single "Hollywood." She will tour the US this summer as part of Katy Perry's California Dreams concert tour.
Watch Marina and the Diamonds perform "Guilty" live
Robyn
Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Friday - 10:50 p.m. Mojave
Robyn's Body Language album was one of the most critically acclaimed pop releases of 2010. She will take her brand of catchy, intelligent dance pop on the road this summer as part of Katy Perry's California Dreams concert tour.
Watch Robyn perform "Konichiwa Bitches" live
Two Door Cinema Club
Courtesy Glassnote Records
Saturday - 4:30 p.m. Mojave
Irish rock band Two Door Cinema Club won the Choice Music Prize for Irish album of the year in 2010 with their debut release Tourist History. The group are praised for their short, sharp, catchy songs. The album was a top 40 hit in the UK as well as at home in Ireland.
Watch Two Door Cinema Club perform "This Is the Life" live
Elbow
Photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Saturday - 7 p.m. Mojave
Elbow won the prestigious Mercury Prize for their 2008 album The Seldom Seen Kid. It was certified double platinum at home in the UK and went to #2 on the US Heatseekers album chart. The group also has seven top 40 pop hits in the UK.
Watch Elbow perform "One Day Like This" live
Scissor Sisters
Courtesy Universal
Saturday - 11:55 p.m. Mojave
American band Scissor Sisters have hit #1 or #2 in the UK with all three of their studio albums. The two most recent collections also reached the top 20 here at home in the US. Look for a pop dance party on stage as they perform hits like "I Don't Feel Like Dancing," "Laura," and "Fire With Fire."
Watch Scissor Sisters perform "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" live
Plan B
Photo by Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images
Sunday - 1 p.m. Gobi
British rapper Plan B released The Defamation Of Strickland Banks, one of the biggest albums of 2010 in the UK. It has been certified triple platinum and it generated four top 40 pop hit singles. The album will hit stores in the US April 19, 2011.
Watch Plan B perform "She Said" medley live
Ellie Goulding
Photo by Ian Gavan / Getty Images
Sunday - 5 p.m. Gobi
Ellie Goulding burst into the UK pop spotlight last year after winning the BBC Sound of 2010 award. Her debut album Lights hit #1 and it generated the top 5 hit "Starry Eyed." Later in the year Ellie Goulding covered Elton John's classic "Your Song" and took it all the way to #2. Lights was released in the US in March.
Watch Ellie Goulding perform "Your Song" live
Tinie Tempah
Photo by Dave Hogan / Getty Images
Sunday - 6 p.m. Gobi
Rapper Tinie Tempah was one of the biggest new artists of 2010 in the UK. His album Disc-Overy went to #1, was certified platinum, and it included four top 5 pop hit singles. One of those, "Written In the Stars," is climbing the charts in the US. Disc-Overy hits stores on this side of the Atlantic May 3, 2011.
Watch Tinie Tempah perform "Written In the Stars" live
Neon Trees
Courtesy Mercury Records
Sunday - 10 p.m. Gobi
Neon Trees were one of the Top 10 New Pop Artists of 2010 in the US. Their 80s new wave influenced single "Animal" was a multi-format smash hit on the pop, rock, alternative, dance, and adult contemporary charts.
Watch Neon Trees perform "Animal" live
