All images by Elana Rose.
Tucked away in the southern California desert is Stagecoach, the largest country music festival in the world. Following on the heels of Coachella, this mid-April festival draws an audience from all over the United States. The festival is a bit of an anomaly–why the biggest country music festival in the world is not in the middle of country music land is anyone’s guess–and the festival encapsulates all that is country outside of the Heartland. It is a place where you’ll see twerking and two-stepping side-by-side; where pop and hip hop influences are touted not discouraged.
Case in point would be the high-energy Sam Hunt show with special guests G-Eazy featuring Bebe Rexha and the one and only, Mr. Snoop Doggy Dogg. While the audience dutifully swayed along to G-Eazy, they absolutely lost it when the father of rap appeared. Known for his fusion of rap and country, the fans were waiting for some special guests in Sam Hunt’s performance—but the artist now known as Snoop Lion was the last person on anyone’s mind. That being said, Snoop’s appearance was not completely out of the norm. In 2007, Snoop appeared on the Brad Paisley track ‘Kentucky Jelly’ and, more notably, collaborated on a track with Willie Nelson the following year. It just goes to show that genres don’t matter as much as having a little bit of rhythm and a lot of fun does.
The festival brought in a few other special guests on the first night, including Cassadee Pope with Chris Young, breaking up a series of hit country ballads with the duet ‘Think of You’. At that point Young turned things up a notch with the ZZ Top cover ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ and his own ‘Save Water Drink Beer’. The surprise guest would have been the highlight until Young’s emotional performance of ‘I’m Comin’ Over’ tore into the heart of every broken-hearted lover in the crowd—which has honestly been all of us at some point.
Unexpectedly to some, Eric Paslay was the most crowd-pleasing performance. For many, Paslay was the kick-off Mane Stage artist for the weekend and boy did he get every girl singing along, belting the choruses to his songs like a wolf to the moon. And how perfect for the artist of ‘Friday Night’ fame to help kick off Friday night of this festival. With hit after hit, he got the crowd ready to have a good time with his honest love of music and performing without any of the airs that come along with his newfound celebrityhood.
Finally, the headliner of the night, Eric Church, stormed onto the stage in his leather jacket and dark sunglasses ready to close the night out on a high note. Church has completely earned his place as top billing. In 2007, he played the 2:00 pm set as the first-ever Mane Stage artist. Back then the crowd may have been smaller and unfamiliar with his music, but tonight—all eyes were on Eric Church. One guitar note and cheers erupted like a sports fan’s wave stretching between the palm trees. His voice pierced the air, reminiscent of timeless country—with back road gravel and a little bit of twang.
Not everyone comes to Stagecoach for the music. “I hate country. I’m here for the beer and the BBQ,” declares Maddie M. from Minnesota. Some book hotel rooms and buy RV passes just to rage through the night, earning the festival the nickname of ‘Ragecoach’. Some sections of the festival grounds clear out before the headliner goes on because fans have stumbled back to the campgrounds, blacked out before the sun goes down. Music may not be the number one thing on everyone’s mind. They might be a tight-jeaned hipster or a Willie Nelson look-a-like. They might have been raised on Loretta or might have recently discovered Luke Bryan. The one thing in common? They’re ready to have a damn good time.
