New Order will perform five special hometown concerts this summer as part of the Manchester International Festival, teaming up with visual artist Liam Gillick and composer-arranger Joe Duddell for performances that will find the group backed by a 12-member synthesizer ensemble.

Coachella’s second weekend is under way now, and The Replacements took the stage tonight for the second of the reunited band’s appearances at the two-weekend fest — and dropped a big surprise on the crowd, as Green Day’ Billie Joe Armstrong joined the ‘Mats for part of the band’s set.

The Pet Shop Boys brought their current Electric production to Coachella this past weekend for the first of two appearances at the California festival, delivering a 19-song set over the course of 80 minutes that was heavy on visuals, as is to be expected from the duo.

Having performed Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” at a pair of tour stops last week, Arcade Fire added a special treat during its Sunday night headlining set at Coachella: Debbie Harry herself, who joined the band to sing the 1978 hit. The Blondie frontwoman stuck around for “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains).”

Ten years ago, the Pixies used Coachella to formally launch their comeback, so it’s fitting the band returned to the festival this weekend as a very late addition, playing a 15-song, 50-minute set that featured old favorites and a handful of tracks that will be included on upcoming album Indie Cindy.

The Cult took to the stage at the Coachella festival late into the evening on Friday, playing an 11-song, 50-minute set that drew on classics (“Love Removal Machine,” “Rain,” “Wild Flower,” “She Sells Sanctuary”) as well as newer material recorded in the last few years.

With the reunited Afghan Whigs set to release their first new album in 16 years on Tuesday, it’s no surprise they dedicated half of their 10-song, 40-minute set at Coachella on Friday to material from Do To The Beast. Below, you can see a rip of the full webcast of the Whigs’ performance.

The schedule for the webcast of the first weekend of the Coachella festival — running this Friday through Saturday — features a number of great acts, including Bryan Ferry, Pet Shop Boys, The Afghan Whigs, The Cult, Fishbone, the just-added Pixies and more.

The Pet Shop Boys will follow up last fall’s North American tour in support of their Electric album with another short run of U.S. dates this spring, as the band today announced seven new concerts surrounding the duo’s twin appearances at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April.

It’s hardly a secret that the reunited Afghan Whigs have been recording: The band’s Facebook page has been posting photos of Greg Dulli and Co. in the studio for months now. Still, there’s been no announcement of a new album. Which is why fans are excited about a tweet yesterday from actor/comedian Bob Odenkirk.

Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry will treat fans to “an incredible set list of hits, favorites rarities and covering 40 years of career highlights” during a short run of eight dates along the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada this April that have been scheduled around his twin appearances at Coachella.

The Replacements reunion will roll on this year, with the band confirmed tonight to perform at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival this April along with Pet Shop Boys, The Afghan Whigs, Brian Ferry, The Cult, Toy Dolls, Fishbone, Bad Manners, Neutral Milk Hotel and more — plus headliners OutKast, Arcade Fire and Muse.

No official reason was given when Lou Reed canceled his performances at Coachella and three other California concerts this spring, but now we know why: Reed recently underwent a liver transplant that was necessary to save his life, his wife Laurie Anderson tells The Times of London.