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2024 VenuesNow All-Star Festival
Stagecoach Festival | Indio, California
No longer merely Coachella’s little country cousin, Stagecoach continues to blossom into its own massive success.
The Goldenvoice-produced festival, which launched in 2007, is now a staple of the season at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, and stands as the largest country music festival in the world. The festival’s success reflects overall excitement in the genre, as a slew of major headliners have cropped up seemingly out of nowhere. The stadium-headlining Morgan Wallens and Zach Bryans of the world are joined by a diverse crop of country-leaning headlines that includes Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey while pop stars like Beyonce, Post Malone and Yung Gravy have “gone country” with country-specific album releases or even concert tours.
Stagecoach is not only riding the wave but may be in some way steering the ship. The booking team, led by Stacy Vee, regularly pushes the envelope. Though the headliners each night are decidedly country, on the fringes, they take chances. Festival favorites like Post Malone (who played Stagecoach well before his critically acclaimed and commercially successful turn to country) play alongside classic rockers like ZZ Top.
Ever wanted to see bubblegum psychedelic favorites Tommy James & The Shondells in the desert after checking out T-Pain? Stagecoach has you covered at the 2025 edition. They’ll be done in time for you to slip over and see the Backstreet Boys.
Outside of the performances, Stagecoach maintains its rooted-in-country-but-reaching-for-more ethos. Celebrity chef Guy Fieri runs the Stagecoach Smokehouse, showcasing up-and-coming chefs and barbecue masters (and does a little bit of cooking with artists on the bill). Outlaw throwback songstress Nikki Lane, who runs a vintage shop in Nashville, has been known to set up a fashion outpost and curated market during the weekend. The Compton Cowboys are now festival favorites with their horsemanship demonstrations.
It’s tough to both take chances and stay true to your foundation, but when it works, it pays off. In 2024, Stagecoach sold 89,003 tickets, according to figures from the City of Indio, which collects a $2.658 per ticket fee for the festival. That same report showed Stagecoach out-drew each weekend of Coachella, with the multigenre mainstay drawing 81,690 its first weekend and 80,148 its second. — J.R. Lind
Little country cousin? Nah. Not any more.
