Girls (5:40 Friday, Outdoor Theatre): As San Francisco Girls press onward, their audience growing as their sound becomes more refined and massive, Coachella is a big look for the bleak, sun-stained opuses of Father, Son, Holy Ghost. I’m guessing the sun doesn’t set ‘till a little bit after they’ll leave the stage, but a sunset/”Vomit” breakdown could easily be pegged as a hypothetical highlight of the festival at the time of this publication.

Death Grips (5:45 Friday, Gobi): This Sacramento noise-rap crew remains pretty mysterious, despite their brand-new major-label contract, and not many of us have seen them live yet. But their squealing, scraping neo-Bomb Squad attack should absolutely bludgeon its way through the festival grounds. Despite all the great reunited hardcore bands on this year's bill, this could be the act to beat for sheer loud immediacy.

Pulp (7:50 Friday, Coachella Stage): Pulp's 1995 appearance at Glastonbury, where they served as the last-second replacements for the Stone Roses, is the stuff of legend. This probably won't prove to be that sort of watershed moment, but it's still the reunited band's first American festival appearance in more than a decade, and the Britpop greats have long proven themselves consummate festival pros, with a deep catalog of classics, a few killer singalong choruses ("Common People"!), and, in Jarvis Cocker, a frontman whose gawky showmanship is pretty much unparalleled.

Mazzy Star (8:50 Friday, Outdoor Theatre): For fans of a certain age, Mazzy Star’s return being a humongous deal is a bit of an understatement. Hope Sandoval’s dreamy, lovelorn rock style has made its way into the sound of recent standouts like Sharon Van Etten, so it won’t be too hard to turn some young folks on during their Coachella stint. Also, can you imagine what it’s going to be like when they start playing “Fade Into You”?

The Rapture (8:55 Friday, Mojave): They've been around forever now, but these dance-punk greats kinetic live attack has not abated at all. Luke Jenner's falsetto is Cuisinart-sharp, and the band's cowbell game is off the charts. And when they drop a bomb like "House of Jealous Lovers," you may forget how hot it is.

Explosions In The Sky (10:05 Friday, Outdoor Theatre): They're up against M83 and the Black Keys, which is tough. But these Austin instrumentalists have the rare ability to make their surroundings seem bigger and grander than they actually are, which means an outdoor desert stage should be the perfect challenge for them. Instrumental post-rock isn't typically the sort of thing that moves vast festival crowds, but this band makes it work, and it's a joy to see it in action.

Refused (11:20 Friday, Outdoor Theatre): The At The Drive-In reunion is an exciting thing indeed, but this one has the potential to be even more special. When these furious, adventurous Swedish punks broke up, the world at large didn't realize how great they were. But their legend has metastasized in the years they've been away, and if they can bring their sweaty small-club intensity to the big stage, look out. "New Noise" could just rearrange your entire brain.

Swedish House Mafia (11:30 Friday, Coachella Stage): The three-DJ tandem Swedish House Mafia is one of the fastest-rising groups in electronic music, a group that’s dominated European charts (as well as the US Dance chart) on the strength of bass-blasting singles like “Miami 2 Ibiza” and “Antidote.” I know what you’re saying, but if there’s one act that may justify the experience of seeing something on the “EDM” tip, it’s them.

Azealia Banks (2:50 Saturday, Gobi): Azealia Banks entered the fray on a fireball of hype, thanks in part to the outstanding, effortless-sounding swagger romp of “212.” Now signed to Universal and showcasing some new music, Coachella is, by far, her biggest show to date. Judging by Banks’ inherent charisma and impeccable technical chops, as well as a willingness to tackle big tracks that would easily swallow lesser rappers whole, she’s ready.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor (10:00 Saturday, Mojave): The legendary post-rock outfit broke a long hiatus in 2010 only to peel back from the spotlight in 2011, so playing the massive Coachella was a surprising move. Knowing this group’s penchant for space-consuming, cathartic breakdowns, however, I don’t think anybody would be stunned to see GY!BE on a final ‘best-of Coachella’ countdown.

Radiohead (11:05 Saturday, Coachella Stage) Not exactly a controversial choice here. Radiohead is possibly the finest festival band on the planet, a distinction they've held for something like 15 years now. No band marries mass-appeal anthems to adventurous sonics like these guys, and no frontman can make jumpy urgency look like a star quality the way Thom Yorke does. They are absolutely not afraid to utterly obliterate every other band on the bill, and you'd be a fool to miss them.

Santigold (3:25 Sunday, Coachella Stage): If recent festival outings are any proof, the impending release of Santigold’s Master Of My Make Believe is a big moment for her. Luckily, she’s bringing it; the stage show is tight, weird and, most importantly, deliriously fun, and she’s never sounded better and been more confident as a singer. She takes a great picture, too. The Internet awaits your dominance, Santi.

The Weeknd (6:55 Sunday, Outdoor Theatre): When the Weeknd booked a show in Williamsburg last year, people freaked out. So, when he cancelled that same show, we found ourselves in the midst of a phenomenon so thick with buzz that people were legitimately disappointed when the party announced that Rick Ross would fill in for Abel Tesfaye’s still-forming group. So, you know? People want to see this guy sweat through his dark and sex-obsessed R&B nightmares. Here’s your chance.

At The Drive-In (9:10 Sunday, Coachella Stage): Texan post-hardcore band At The Drive-In will make their much-publicized return at Coachella where they’ll play one of the festival’s final sets. And given that visible position, it would be an utter disappointment if the band didn’t rekindle some of that manic fury that defined their most famous live shows. Bonus points for getting back together just because they wanted to, not because of the money.