StageCoach, California’s largest country music festival, just wrapped up its fourth year out in Indio. Often called the country sibling to Coachella, StageCoach was hosted on the same site as Coachella this year for ease of use for the festival crew as well as festival goers. The festival lineup seemed to have an even split between Hank Williams influenced country and Journey influenced country.

Crowds swelled the mainstage for popular acts such as Keith Urban, Toby Keith, and Sugarland. I was a little confused by the fact that each of these artists seemed to be covering non-country songs, especially when Sugarland attempted Public Enemy’s “911 is a Joke“.

Being a native Nashvillian, I seem to have a picky taste for country, seeing as I was only interested in the Palomino stage – labeled the “Bluegrass” stage. The Palomino stage featured living legends such as Merle Haggard, whose lead guitar playing at age 73 blew people away, as well as Ray Price and Bobby Bare. Fortunately, through my work in the Artist Transportation department, I was able to meet Bobby Bare who was one of the more professional and amicable stars at the show. Holding up the Hank Williams end of the country spectrum was Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens who played a crowd-pleasing set at the age of 89.

Live music aside, StageCoach featured a number of additional attractions including a “green energy” inspired DJ booth powered by a human hamster wheel. My personal favorite attraction was the BBQ contest held on the festival grounds. Of the 50+ teams entered, Gary Notley of Notley Que BBQ had the best brisket I have tasted in years.

As always, we look forward to your comments, thoughts, and ideas.

Cheers,

David Buttrey

dtbuttre@gmail.com

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