Featured image credit: Stagecoach
It’s almost that time again, partner. Grab your ten-gallon hat, your tightest pair of Wranglers, and dust off those kitshickers… errr, you know what we mean. On April 26, the 2024 Stagecoach Festival descends on Indio for a weekend of the best in country music and beyond. The hootenanny happens at the Empire Polo Club, still coasting on the fumes of the previous weekend’s Coachella Festival. Unfortunately, Stagecoach is long sold out, but you can try your luck by signing up for the waiting list. If the prospects seem too bleak, there’s also a way you can enjoy the 2024 Stagecoach Festival from the comfort of your home. We’ll get to that in a bit. First, let’s take a look at this year’s stacked and packed lineup.
Meet the Headliners
Arguably the most hotly anticipated of the three headliners this year, Morgan Wallen takes a break from trying to torpedo his career to return to Stagecoach. The 2024 Stagecoach Festival marks his first time as a headliner, though it’s his third time performing at the festival.
He’s in good company with Eric Church and Miranda Lambert, both of whom have headlined Stagecoach in previous years. Church was meant to headline 2020’s festival, but a pesky global pandemic got in the way. This will be his first time playing Stagecoach since he headlined way back in 2016. For Lambert, it’s been an even longer time. The last time she performed at Stagecoach was also as a headliner, back in 2015.
More Than a Country Music Festival
The 2024 Stagecoach Festival also gives Country music fans a chance to see one of the hottest new acts transcending the genre, Jelly Roll. Celebrated for artfully blending country with rap and hip hop, Jelly Roll is still coasting off his Grammy nominations from earlier in the year. Though he didn’t take home the awards, he’s still creating plenty of buzz leading up to his appearance at Stagecoach.
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But Jelly Roll isn’t the only artist on this year’s roster testing the boundaries of the country music genre. The Stagecoach Country Music Festival is noted for challenging the confines of country by booking country-adjacent acts… even some artists that seem steps removed from any hints of a twang. For example, this year will see performances from Wiz Khalifa, Leon Bridges, and… well, Nickelback. But the Beach Boys will also return to Stagecoach after popping up briefly in an unannounced 2021 spot.
Probably the oddest of the not-exactly-country acts is Post Malone. His affection for the genre is no secret, but the 2024 Stagecoach Festival sees the hip-hop artist taking things a step further with an all-country-covers set. If you’re looking for more of this cross-genre vibe, make sure to line up early for Diplo’s Honky Tonk tent which has quickly become a Stagecoach tradition.
Veteran Country Luminaries
But easily one of the coolest aspects of Stagecoach is the opportunity to see veteran country stars in a festival environment. At 90 years young, Willie Nelson will be returning for the 2024 Stagecoach Festival, performing some of his most enduring hits. Other country luminaries joining him include Dwight Yoakam, Pam Tillis, Clint Black, and Asleep at the Wheel (who recorded “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” before Brooks & Dunn).
How to Enjoy the 2024 Stagecoach Festival from Home
But what if you snoozed on tickets and don’t like your waitlist chances? Amazon Music has an exclusive agreement to stream the 2024 Stagecoach Festival on Prime Video and their Twitch channel. That’s right, you’ll be able to enjoy the show from the comfort of your living room.
Additionally, Amazon is promising bonus content such as artist interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Amazon will go live every day of the festival starting at 4 pm. Not a bad Plan B for anyone without passes!
Planning Your Trip to Indio
For those of you lucky enough to have snagged your passes for this year’s Stagecoach, plan for a typically warm weekend. That means plenty of water and sunscreen, not to mention sunglasses, hats, and clothing that keeps you cool while offering sun protection. Three days in the Indio sunshine at the end of April is no joke. But we’re sure this isn’t your first rodeo. Whether you’re watching from the living room or the crowd, we hope you have a rootin’ tootin’ good time!
