Following Coachella’s two consecutive weekends, the grounds of the Empire Polo Club naturally looked a bit different for Stagecoach. The annual country music festival (also promoted by Goldenvoice that launched in 2007) took place April 26-28 and hosted headliners Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Morgan Wallen.
Not only had the previously green grass been matted into dust, but the entire layout had shifted – revealing indented land where stages once sat and an entirely new perspective for those more familiar with Coachella’s layout (like myself). The most notable change was the cleverly-named “Mane” stage, which spanned the entire north-side field with four jumbotrons situated throughout, ensuring a good view for all – even those seated, yes seated, towards the very back. (Another major difference: blankets and beach chairs are welcome, with the majority of attendees opting to set up shop in one spot for the day.)
And while the weekend had its fair share of hullabaloo – including Eric Church’s controversial acoustic set, the debate about whether Backwoods Barbie, the mysterious last-minute lineup addition, was Beyoncé, and the disappointment over Morgan Wallen’s festival-closing set not being livestreamed – by Sunday evening, one prevailing takeaway emerged: country music’s communal nature is unmatched.
Across the festival’s three days, guest appearances were the norm, with everyone from Lana Del Rey to Reba popping in for a surprise song. Post Malone – who centered his entire set on country covers – welcomed two legends to join him on stage, while Willie Nelson celebrated his performance with friends and family who performed alongside him. And that’s far from all.
Below are the seven biggest moments from Stagecoach.
