Hollywood trekked to the desert for a surreal meeting of reality and fantasy at the 2017 Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, demonstrating how the younger, twangier sibling of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival has come into its own during the last decade.
It happened a few minutes before Willie Nelson was due to take the stage for his marquee performance. Nelson agreed to delay his set for a few minutes so that director-writer-actor Bradley Cooper and his crew could film a shot intended for his forthcoming remake of “A Star Is Born” — a concert scene featuring Lukas Nelson and his band, Promise of the Real.
The surreal part was that a couple of thousand fans who’d just been singing along with Tommy James and the Shondells 1968 garage-rock classic “Mony Mony” heard nothing from the stage except the occasional crash of a cymbal or the thump of a bass drum.
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And yet a star has been born in the world of music festivals: Stagecoach has grown from a scrappy, smaller, countrified answer to Coachella when promoter Goldenvoice launched it in 2007 to what last year was the fifth-highest-grossing music festival of any kind.
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Headliner Kenny Chesney performs on the final day of the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Headliner Kenny Chesney performs on the final day of the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Headliner Kenny Chesney greets fans as guitarist Kenny Greenberg, second from left, and guitarist Jon Conley, right, perform.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenny Chesney
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Guitarist Kenny Greenberg performs with headliner Kenny Chesney.
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Two men sleep on hay bales in the empty Mustang Stage as Stagecoach draws to an end on the final day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kendra Ullman and Jordan Bohine embrace at dusk as Travis Tritt plays a love song on the Palomino Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer at dusk as Travis Tritt performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Travis Tritt performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Travis Tritt performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Fans cheer as they listen to Tyler Farr.
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Tyler Farr
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Fans cheer as Tyler Farr performs on the Mane Stage.
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Fans cheer as Tyler Farr performs at sunset on the Mane Stage.
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Tyler Farr, left, and drummer Mark Poiesz perform on the Mane Stage.
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Christopher Garmer poses with his son wearing a John Deere hat, Sean Garmer, 2, of Lakeside, on a John Deere 520 vintage tractor, which is one of 18 on display.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Los Lobos performs on the Palomino Stage on the final day of Stagecoach.
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Cowboy Junkies lead singer vocalist Margo Timmins performs on the Mustang Stage.
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A view from the La Grande XL ferris wheel of the RV resort.
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Rusty Wink of Leucadia, left, and Kyle Evans of Long Beach sport country-western outfits while riding a two-person bicycle in the RV Resort on the second day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif., on April 29, 2017.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Partiers hang out in a portable hot tub in the RV Resort on the second day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kiefer Sutherland performs on the Palomino Stage on the third day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Hillbenders present the Who’s “Tommyy: A Bluegrass Opry” on the Mustang Stage at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Luke Combs performs on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
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Dancers from the Cal Poly Country Line Dancers Club and Cal Poly Square Dancers perform at the HonkyTonk at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Wynonna & the Big Noise performs on the Palomino Stage at Stagecoach.
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Qunicy Jones and Lauren Anderson of Los Angeles dance while the Steep Canyon Rangers perform on the Mustang Stage.
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The Steep Canyon Rangers perform on the Mustang Stage.
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Jordan Horrillo and Kait Gruber of Sunnyvale dance while the Steep Canyon Rangers perform on the Mustang Stage.
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The crowd cheers as Wynonna & the Big Noise performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Fans cheer Saturday’s headlining act, Shania Twain, on the Mane Stage on the second day of the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Saturday headliner Shania Twain performs on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
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Fans cheer Shania Twain, performing on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
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Shania Twain, performs on the Mane Stage.
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Shania Twain on the Mane Stage.
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Country legend Willie Nelson tips his hat to the crowd as he takes the Palomino Stage on his 84th birthday, which he spent playing at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Willie Nelson performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Neil Young makes a surprise appearance as he plays harmonica with Mickey Raphael, second from left, during Willie Nelson’s finale. At left is Jamey Johnson, from right are Margo Price and John Doe.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Neil Young makes a surprise appearance as he plays harmonica with Mickey Raphael in an exchange, third from left, during Willie Nelson’s finale. From left are Lucas Nelson and Jamey Johnson; from right are Margo Price and John Doe.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Stagecoach performers join Willie Nelson’s finale on his 84th birthday.
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Willie Nelson performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Margo Price performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Robert Ellis performs on the Mustang Stage on the second day of the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Maren Morris performs on the Mane Stage.
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Tommy James and the Shondells perform on the Palomino Stage.
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Tommy James and the Shondells at Stagecoach.
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Fans sing along to Tommy James and the Shondells.
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Nikki Lane performs on the Mustang Stage.
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Nikki Lane performs on the Mustang Stage.
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“Cowboy” Eddie Long plays the steel guitar during Jamey Johnson’s performance on the Palomino Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jamey Johnson performs on the Palomino Stage.
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A fan watches Jamey Johnson’s performance from another’s shoulders at the Palomino Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer as Willie Nelson and Family perform during the second day of the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer as Randy Houser takes the Mane Stage on the first day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer as Randy Houser performs on the Mane Stage on the first day of Stagecoach.
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The bassist of the Randy Houser band, Tripper Ryder, greets fans at dusk on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer as Randy Houser performs at dusk on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
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Fans cheer as Randy Houser performs at dusk on the first day at Stagecoach.
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Drummer Kevin Murphy performs with Randy Houser at Stagecoach.
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38 Special vocalist and guitarist Don Barnes, left, and guitarist Danny Chauncey perform on the Palomino Stage at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans cheer as 38 Special performs on the Palomino Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Randy Houser performs on the Mane Stage.
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Fans sing along as Dierks Bentley performs on the Mane Stage.
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Friday’s headlining performer, Dierks Bentley, performs “Different for Girls” featuring Elle King on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dierks Bentley sings “Different for Girls” with Elle King on the Mane Stage.
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Dierks Bentley encourages the crowd to sing along during his performance at Stagecoach.
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Dierks Bentley, center, performs on the first day of Stagecoach.
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Dierks Bentley lets the audience in on his Stagecoach performance.
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Dierks Bentley performs on the Mane Stage.
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Cole Swindell encouarges the crowd during his performance on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach 2017.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Cole Swindell performs on the Mane Stage.
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The Blasters guitarist Keith Wyatt, left, and vocalist and guitarist Phil Alvin perform on the Palomino Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Blasters vocalist and guitarist Phil Alvin performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Fans cheer in the front row as Dylan Scott performs during Day One at Stagecoach.
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Dierks Bentley flips a bottle at his bar while hanging out in his trailer before headlining Friday night at Stagecoach.
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The Zombies perform on the Palomino Stage.
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Maddie Marlow of Maddie & Tae performs on the Mane Stage.
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Fans cheer as the Zombies perform on the Palomino Stage.
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Son Volt members, from left, Jay Farrar (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Chris Frame (guitar), Mark Spencer (keyboard, steel guitar) and Andrew Duplantis (bass, backing vocal) perform on the Mustang Stage.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Bob and Bernadette Kennedy, of Valley Center, dance as Son Volt performs on the Mustang Stage.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, 81, performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, 81, performs on the Palomino Stage.
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Rhiannon Giddens performs on the Mustang Stage.
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Jeff Riback of San Diego listens to the music while kicking back in a lawn chair near the Mane Stage.
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Elle King performs on the Palomino Stage on Friday.
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Dylan Scott performs on the Mane Stage on Friday.
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The three-day Stagecoach country music festival begins at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, on April 28, 2017, as fans run to stake out spots on the lawn.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A woman falls as crowds rush past the gates to secure the best seats as the first day of the three-day Stagecoach country music festival begins. She recovered quickly and headed to find a good seat.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Crowds rush past the gates to secure the best seats as the first of the three-day Stagecoach country music festival begins at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio on April 28, 2017.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers crowd the Go Country 105 stage at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Allison Batteate, left, and Sharon Castello, both of Livermore, crochet as they camp lakeside in a 1960 Corvette trailer at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The sun sets behind the mountains as a group of friends play a drinking game outside their trailer in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The sun sets behind the mountains as a camper climbs onto his RV roof for a better view in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
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Caitlyn Kelley, left, and Ashlee Herr, both of Huntington Beach, pose with a cowboy silhouette in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Ian Ray of Anaheim Hills and Allison Kingsley of Newport Beach dance on a makeshift dance floor made of plywood in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
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A couple parade around the RV Resort at sunset at the Stagecoach country music festival.
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Trevor Johnson of San Diego throws a lasso around beer boxes made into the shape of a bull atop a pickup in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
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Travis Miller of Pedicab people movers of Orlando, Fla., gives Donelle Nubia of Long Beach a ride to her RV with her belongings.
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Line dancers crowd the Go Country 105 stage at the Stagecoach country music festival.
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A swarm of bees focus on a lemonade stand on the first day of the three-day Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
What also was evident this year was a maturation of Stagecoach’s identity and drawing power, which manifested in more guest appearances during performances by the scheduled artists.
Pop-R&B singer Elle King joined Friday’s headliner Dierks Bentley for a live rendition of their hit country duet “Different for Girls” before rising California singer-songwriter Jon Pardi also turned up on stage with Bentley for a Twitter-ready musical meeting.
Willie Nelson welcomed several of his musical admirers, first singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson, who co-wrote the title track with swamp rock king Tony Joe White for Nelson’s just released album, “God’s Problem Child.”
For the finale of a show that coincided with the Red Headed Stranger’s 84th birthday on Saturday, a wagon full of guests ambled on stage during Nelson’s performance of the Carter Family country-gospel standard “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” They included veteran punk rocker John Doe, Americana singer-songwriter Margo Price, L.A. roots-country-folk singer-songwriter Cindy Wasserman and the biggest surprise of all, Nelson’s Farm Aid co-conspirator Neil Young, who blew a mean harmonica duet with Nelson’s harp player, Mickey Raphael, to the fans’ delight.
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Shania Twain got a little help from her friends Kelsea Ballerini and Nick Jonas during her headlining performance on Stagecoach’s Mane Stage on Saturday.
Behind the scenes things were no different. Sir Tom Jones arrived quietly backstage to catch Friday’s performance by his early rock ’n’ roll hero, Jerry Lee Lewis, who turned in an impressively fiery set at age 81.
All those took place before country kingpin Kenny Chesney was to close out the weekend.
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Jenn Nguyen and Amahl Harris, both of Santa Barbara, pose in front of a giant covered wagon and La Grande XL Ferris wheel on the third day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif., on April 30, 2017.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Maureen Albrecht of Ventura sits on her 1955 International Lo-Boy tractor amid her and her husband’s collection of 18 vintage tractors on display on the third day of the Stagecoach country music festival at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, Calif.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Wesley Harris, a rider from the Rickshaw Squad of San Diego, in the RV Resort at the Stagecoach country music festival.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Danya Lynd and her daughter Lillian Lynd, 6, of Beaumont arrive at the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Andre Batistich of Dana Point shows his country spirit in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Caitlyn Kelley, left, and Ashlee Herr of Huntington Beach at the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Nick Dodd of Mission Viejo shows his country attitude in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Hopp Dodd of Mission Viejo hangs out in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Sharon Lee of Costa Mesa poses in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Lindsey Dalporto of Reno shows off her cap on her friend’s trailer-rooftop dance floor in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Travis Hearn of Long Beach is all smiles with his beers and big-wheel trike at the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Brittany Roderick of Hermosa Beach shows off her hat on a trailer-rooftop dance floor in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
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Rusty Wink of Leucadia shows off his hand-made copper and brass belt buckle.
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Lindsey Von Kaenel of Los Angeles raises a cup on her friend’s trailer-rooftop dance floor.
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Kyle Evans of Long Beach shows off his hat and American flag bow tie at Stagecoach.
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With country music blasting from speakers, Tim Dodd of Visalia does a wheelie in the RV Resort at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“That’s always been my dream,” said Stacy Vee, Goldenvoice’s director of talent, who lines up Stagecoach acts while her boss, Goldenvoice chief Paul Tollett, focuses on Coachella.
“That kind of thing makes a show special not just for the fans, but for the performers too,” she said early Sunday in her air-conditioned trailer.
“I just got the sweetest note from Jamey Johnson, thanking me and saying that getting to join Willie and sing with him on his birthday was something he will never forget.”
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Festivals are places where fans look for good times and celebration, but occasionally musicians attempt to dig a little deeper.
One of the weekend’s most moving performances came from North Carolina-reared singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens, who employed a carrot and just a little bit of the stick while introducing one song.
“We’re all beautiful people,” she said with a broad smile, introducing folk singer Richard Farina’s riveting ballad “Birmingham Sunday,” about a 1963 bombing of a Baptist church in Alabama that left four girls dead and injured 22 others.
“But sometimes we do things that aren’t beautiful,” Giddens said, “and it’s important to remember events like this so we can work together toward the things we all believe in.”
Director-writer-actor Bradley Cooper and his crew film a shot intended for his forthcoming remake of “A Star Is Born” while at Stagecoach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Little else in the way of political commentary emanated from Stagecoach’s stages during the three-day festival. The biggest issues for most fans were whether to miss Kip Moore on the Mane Stage to see Nelson across the lengthy Empire Polo Field on Saturday, or whether to make it to the festival grounds early enough each day to check out up-and-coming acts such as singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan, country-pop singer Bailey Bryan or Minnesota’s winsome male harmony-centric band the Cactus Blossoms.
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And where does Stagecoach go next?
With the sounds of Garth Brooks’ honky tonk standard “Friends in Low Places” echoing across the grounds through the festival PA system, Vee smiled at the thought of one of the few contemporary country superstars who has yet to play her festival.
“We’d take Garth in 2018,” she said. “Or 2019, 2020 or any other year he wants to play. I’m not sure he’s ever done anyone else’s festival. And I like to kind of drop hints once in a while like, ‘Dolly — have you seen what we’ve got going on here?’”
