It’s almost here; April 27-29 Stagecoach 2012 will take place. It is the biggest country music festival of the year with headliners: Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton. Stagecoach this year is different from last year with the festival being Friday, Saturday, and Sunday opposed to just Saturday and Sunday last year.
Stagecoach has gained popularity since 2006 when it began. The festival draws around 75,000 people and this year they sold out every ticket. The ticket price has also risen ranging from $130 to $200 depending on when the ticket was bought.
Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella, which is a festival playing a collection of mainstream music, and stagecoach, produced a solid lineup with over 35 country music artists. “I’m most excited to see Alabama and Blake shelton because they’re two of my favorite country artists” stated Junior Brendan Heffernan. “I’m most excited to see The Band Perry because i started liking them before everyone knew of them and i know all their songs so it will be fun to sing with them,” stated Senior Louisa Wendorff.
The tickets for Stagecoach were not easy to come by along with places to stay for the festival. “I’m staying with some friends and we were lucky enough to get a timeshare, but a lot of my friends are crammed in a small hotel with too many people,” exclaimed Heffernan. “Im staying at my friend’s condo,” said Senior Hannah VanAmburg. The tickets sold out within ten days of being for sale and on the opening day the website had so many people trying to buy tickets there was a waiting page before entering the ticket page. “I waited on the website the day they went for sale and got my ticket by 2 pm,” said Heffernan.
Stagecoach is not like a typical concert, in that the festival is held on a 78 acre polo field with multiple stages and bands playing at once. “I have never been to stagecoach before but i have been to a lot of other country music concerts, but stagecoach is a lot of bands in one place all playing so its going to be amazing,” said VanAmburg. The festival is held every year in Indio, California at the Empire Polo Club.
For most Seakings this will be their first time at Stagecoach. “I’m really excited for stagecoach i have never been and can’t wait to go,” says Heffernan. “I’m so excited to go!” exclaimed Wendorff. Overall Stagecoach is sure to be an event that will not disappoint.