The Stagecoach Country Music Festival continued at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Saturday, April 27. Here’s a quick look at some of the notable sets from day two of the three-day festival, including Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Leon Bridges and special shows. guests like Carin León and Jelly Roll:
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert was scheduled to continue at 9:30 p.m., but she didn’t start until about 20 minutes later. That didn’t stop the country star from going out and delivering hits such as “If I Was a Cowboy,” “Vice” and “All Kinds of Kinds.”
The final three songs of her set featured music from some of country’s hottest women, including “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” an Elle King cover and an appearance by the “bossy redhead » Reba McEntire. The two closed the performance with their collaborative track “Mama’s Broken Heart” and a cover of McEntire’s “Fancy.”
-Charlie Vargas
Willie Nelson and his family
The legendary Willie Nelson made his Stagecoach performance a family affair and a celebration of sorts, considering his 91st birthday is just a few days away.
Nelson and his family played classics like “Bloody Mary Morning,” “I Never Cared For You” and “On The Road Again.” He didn’t interact with the crowd, but it was the show that got people talking.
Nelson also brought in Ernest, Charley Crockett and Jelly Roll to join them on “I’ll Fly Away” and “It’s Hard to be Humble”, where the trio provided backing vocals for the group.
—Holly Alvarado
Bridges of Léon
Leon Bridges played in front of a packed crowd at the Palomino, so much so that there was even a large group of fans watching on the monitor to the left of the stage.
Her gentle anthems of “Coming Home,” “River” and “Beyond” were played simultaneously as the sun set during the festival while couples slow danced. Bridges also brought out the Mexican singer Carin Leon who performed last night, for their latest collaboration, “It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú).”
Over the last few songs, a mass exodus of people headed to Post Malone’s set at the Mane Stage, leaving only the most dedicated and captivated Bridges fans singing along.
-Charlie Vargas
Diploma
Diplo closed Saturday night’s Late Night in the Palomino with a high-energy set that had festival-goers dancing the rest of the night.
A large crowd danced as the Grammy-winning DJ and producer played a mix of classic electropop, rap and country music EDM remixes. (“Should’ve Been A Cowboy” by Toby Keith was mixed with “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris, for example.)
The Stagecoach regular also brought in plenty of guest artists to accompany the bops: Shaboozie, Elle King and HARDY all performed alongside Diplo. Guy Fieri also appeared on stage, accompanying Diplo behind the board.
— Dorothée Aînée
Luke Grimes
The Palomino was filled with fans excited to hear Luke Grimes, the singer of “No Horse To Ride” and actor of “Yellowstone,” who performed late Saturday afternoon.
Grimes’ unique voice delivers a blend of rasp, tinkle, and melodic satisfaction. He brought a unique vibe to the country music festival when he covered Nirvana’s “All Apologies.”
Songs like “Playin’ On The Tracks” allowed Grimes to showcase his vocal talents, while also highlighting the skills of his band, who vibrated throughout the set with extended guitar solos and rhythmic percussion.
— Dorothée Aînée
Maddie and Tae
Country music duo Maddie & Tae, who first crossed paths as teenagers and have enjoyed a strong partnership as songwriters for over a decade, are no strangers to the Mane scene . With three Stagecoach appearances under their belt and a spontaneous performance Friday night during Jelly Roll’s set, it’s safe to say the duo are seasoned Indian artists.
“Maddie and I have been friends for over fifteen years, so we’ve shared many summers together, and to celebrate that bond, we have a brand new single that we’re excited to share with you all, because there’s no room for a sad girl summer here,” Maddie shouted to the crowd as the band segued into “Sad Girl Summer.” Even though it’s only April, the desert heat already makes it feel like the “Sad Girl Summer.” strongest in summer.
The duo closed with fan favorites “Friends Don’t” and “Die From A Broken Heart,” which attendees could hear the entire crowd in the front row sing word for word.
—Holly Alvarado
Trampled by turtles
Trampled by turtles, it gave festival-goers some much-needed shade under the Palomino as the afternoon returned to the usual warm weather each year during the event.
The six-piece band fiercely played their violins, banjos, guitars and several other stringed instruments for songs such as “Annihilate” and “The Darkness and the Light,” which had the crowd jumping and cheering every time they played. They increased their tempo.
The bluegrass/folk-country group didn’t just stick to their fast-paced catalog, performing softer jams such as “Whiskey” and “Alone” showing off their succinct harmonies.
-Charlie Vargas
Post Malone
Straying from his usual pop and rap performances, Post Malone delivered a performance Saturday night on the Mane Stage consisting exclusively of country music covers.
As Post Malone opened with Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road,” it seemed like the entire festival was on stage, ready to watch.
In front of a packed crowd, the Grammy-nominated artist performed songs by Toby Keith, George Strait, Alan Jackson and more. He also brought in special guests Dwight Yoakam, Brad Paisley and Sara Evans.
— Dorothée Aînée
Tenille Townes
For 40 minutes straight, the Nashville-based country singer-songwriter was on a guitar shredding mission.
Although firmly rooted in country, she infuses a rebellious rock’n’roll vibe into her performance. Townes even treated the audience to a bluesy rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together,” showcasing her versatile soprano range.
—Holly Alvarado
California Daily Newspapers
