The Stagecoach Country Music Festival kicked off at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 27. Here’s a quick look at some of the notable sets from the first day of the three-day festival, including Jelly Roll, Elle King and special guests like Lana Del Rey and T-Pain:
Jelly Roll performs on the Mane Stage on the opening night of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Jelly Roll
“I’m here representing the underdogs, the white trash, the ones who thought they never would make it in this life, that’s who I’m here for tonight,” Jelly Roll, the two-time Grammy nominated rapper gone country shouted Friday night to the sold-out crowd at the T-Mobile Mane Stage as he wrapped up “Halfway to Hell.”
For Roll, the journey to stardom has been long, but his Stagecoach debut marks a significant milestone in his career — one he’s been eagerly anticipating. His performance was a wild blend of rap, country, and covers, amplified by the presence of special guests like Ernest, Maddie & Tae, and T-Pain. In a touching moment, he also paid tribute to the late Toby Keith, an Oklahoma-based country legend who passed away in February from stomach cancer.
He made sure to bring his wife, Bunnie XO, and daughter, Bailee Ann, to the stage to express his heartfelt gratitude for his family. Addressing the crowd, he emphasized the pivotal role of fan support in his journey, noting that without it, generational curses would never have been broken.
“Without you, I wouldn’t be able to live out a dream that so many people once told me would never come true. Now, my eyes are set on coming back and headlining Stagecoach.”
— Holly Alvarado
Elle King performs on the Mane Stage during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)
Elle King
Country rocker Elle King brought her signature sass and grooves to her sunset set, treating the audience to a mix of new music and covers.
While many attendees in the crowd were only familiar with a song or two, they quickly found themselves enjoying the entirety of her performance, particularly after hearing hits like “Ain’t Country By Choice” and “Tulsa.”
King also pleased fans by releasing a new single that dropped the same day titled “Baby Daddy’s Weekend,” which she proudly mentioned might be on an upcoming record.
— Holly Alvarado
Country music fans watch Shane Smith and the Saints perform on the Palomino stage on the opening day of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Vincent Neil Emerson
One of Friday’s earlier performers, Vincent Neil Emerson, rocked the Palomino Stage with his clever lyricism and masterful guitar playing.
Playing songs like “Willie Nelson’s Wall,” which opens with the lyrics, “Well, I’m high as a fly on Willie Nelson’s wall/ And I can’t remember where I am at all/ And I don’t know where my mind has taken me/ My boots in my hand, and my hat on my feet,” the setlist was filled with songs that were rich in story and made for interesting listening even if Stagecoach was your first run-in with Emerson.
— Dorothy Elder
Paul Cauthen performs on the Palomino stage on the opening day of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Paul Cauthen and Lana Del Rey
Rounding out his set at the Palomino Stage, Paul Cauthen brought out Lana Del Rey for a duet of The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.” The “Cocaine Country Dancing” singer had hinted at the surprise earlier after posting a picture of Del Rey and his wife on Instagram, but we couldn’t be sure that it was going to happen until the performance. After all, Del Rey did just spend the last two weeks headlining at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
— Dorothy Elder
Festival goers hang out in the Spectra art installation during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)
Wyatt Flores
As Wyatt Flores took the stage, crowds of people cheered him on at the Palomino but due to some technical difficulties he was delayed 10 minutes. That didn’t keep fans from staying and cheering for the young Oklahoma-native. He kicked off his performance alongside his band featuring violins and keyboards that adds a warm tone to songs such as “Running Out Of Time,” “Milwaukee” and “Please Don’t Go.”
Before the band closed their set Flores took a moment to address his touring schedule and mental health, saying that lately he’s enjoyed being on the road more than he ever has. He added that he started writing music to cope with the dark times in his life but never expected it would resonate on the level that it has.
“It’s hard to come up onstage and swing these songs when I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on in my life,” Flores said. “But it’s the coolest thing to be part of your lives and I’m so happy to be there with you.”
— Charlie Vargas
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