2009 Stagecoach Weekend: Performance Times Released

Stagecoach, the Country Music Festival produced by Golden Voice and AEG out in the Coachella Valley, just released today the detailed 2009 performance schedule for Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26. It's been known for months the big name Country artists closing each night. This information from the Forum is not surprising. For the Mane Stage, closing Saturday night at 9:30 pm is Brad Paisley and closing Sunday night at 9:15 pm is Kenny Chesney.

The Stagecoach Country Music Festival, now in its third year, is a family friendly event with activities and music for all ages. I will again be attending and joining the temporary RV City created for the event. Tickets for the two-day event are still available in all price ranges and the long range weather forecast looks to be quite pleasant by Palm Spring standards.

Even if you are not a country music fan, and you missed last weekend's Coachella Music Festival, head out to the Coachella Valley to see what our downtown LA music producers and promoters have been doing with this event. All of the temporary performance art work should still be up, including the piece done by Downtown's Sci-Arc. Plus, if you are a foodie, this is a must attend event for the Barbeque Competition considered among the better ones in the entire USA. You will be in food heaven with what these BBQ purveyors are doing with beef, chicken, and of course, pork. Ten tastes for ten dollars and you are voting with your tastes.

I blogged about the 2 day Stagecoach Event in 2007 when we stayed in one of the local Coachella Valley hotels for 2 nights. Headliners returning in 2009 from 2007 include Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert. Since I had to eat dinner back in 2007, I missed Miranda Lambert's performance. This time I will be there, and have my dinner with me, for her Sunday, 6 pm performance.

Stagecoach for 2008 was a 3 day event, in which I blogged about staying in the RV campground and about the Eagles on opening night. Returning from 2008 is John Doe (from X) playing with the Knitters. The opening picture above was Riders of the Sage, a classic cowboy band, who were great. As always, Stagecoach will have the full range of country and western acts, but this year, no former American Idol stars. The cowboy bands can always be found on the Palomino Stage, while the Bluegrass bands can show up on the Mustang and Palomino Stages.

These festival promoters have introduced me to many new Country music bands over the last 2 years, and that's what's great about the two smaller stages under the tents. Plus, this year, I get the chance to see the Dukh's on the Palomino Stage on Sunday at 1:30 pm, a band that blends many different genres of Country and Celtic music. The gates open at noon with the first sets in the early afternoon at the covered stages, while the Mane Stage does not getting going until 2:30 pm on Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday. Thus, park your portable chair at the Mane Stage upon arrival, and explore the roots of Country Music at the other stages upon arrival. Or check out many of the vendors selling Western wear and other items of interest.

This is a great event to take pictures with your point and shoot digital camera on the smaller Palmino and Mustang Stages under the tents. You will not be allowed in the Festival with a digital SLRs, removal lenses, or video cameras. The official Stagecoach website hosts pictures uploaded from previous years, and you can find many Stagecoach pictures on Flickr. You can get great results with your point and shoot camera. Again No Digital SLRs (except for credentialed press photographers).

Here is a link to my Sony point and shoot Stagecoach picture set from 2007. These pictures provide an overall feel for all aspects of this Festival. For those with the more expensive tickets, there is a larger viewing area in front of the Mane Stage, which allows for decent camera range with a point and shoot camera. The crowds are quite large around the Mane Stage which features mammoth viewing screens on each side of the stage.

So mossey on over to the official Stagecoach website to get the lowdown on getting yourself to this great event. Watch the ExperienceLA blog for a recap on the event, especially if you passed on this year's event to find out what you missed. I am also especially looking forward to seeing Little Big Town again (whom I saw at the Nokia in Downtown LA) and Lady Antebellum for the first time.

-Curt Gibbs