The dust just settled over Empire Polo Club in Indio after two weekends of live music at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. However, the live music action won’t stop in Indio this weekend with Stagecoach. Coined as “California’s Country Music Festival” by the event’s webpage, Stagecoach will open on Friday, April 25, and conclude on Sunday, April 27, in the same location as Coachella.
Year after year, Coachella and Stagecoach, just over 20 miles outside of Palm Springs, attract a plethora of Los Angeles residents. The two events combined sold approximately 250,000 tickets last year, according to NPR. Approximately 30% of Coachella week one, 41% of Coachella week two and 37% of Stagecoach attendees in 2023 hailed from Los Angeles, according to a study done by AirDNA.
Attending the festivals is a common spring semester activity for some Trojans.
“Because USC is so close to the location and many students here are financially privileged, it’s a big part of the culture to go,” said Chaundra Furin-Campbell, senior English major and 2024 Stagecoach attendee. “Even if you aren’t particularly interested in specific artists, it can be a bonding experience with friends, or at times something students may feel pressured to do to not be left out.”
This year’s Stagecoach festival will feature a slate of performers including Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Lana Del Rey and many others, according to the festival’s posted lineup.
Given the festival takes place in the same location as Coachella, some are wondering what the main difference is between the two.
Most notably, the musical lineups are vastly different. While both festivals tend to incorporate a variety of electronic dance music, Stagecoach brands itself as a country music festival and Coachella prides itself on an eclectic mix of performances.
“I know that they have very similar vibes, but I know that Coachella is a lot more hype, house music, pop music [and] EDM,” said Yasmeen Qubain, a sophomore psychology and neuroscience major who has tickets to attend Stagecoach this weekend. “Whereas Stagecoach is a lot more country.”
With both music festivals coveted among college-aged adults, the decision of which to attend can be daunting. The difference in music style was part of what influenced Qubain’s decision to attend Stagecoach over Coachella, but her peers’ preferences were more influential.
“I love country [music], but the deciding factor for me is that [my friends] are going,” said Qubain. “It’s going to be music that we like with our favorite people.”
For senior Furin-Campbell, the music style was the most important factor in her decision to attend last year’s Stagecoach festival.
“I am a huge fan of country music, whereas the music and artists at Coachella never really resonate with me,” said Furin-Campbell. “Stagecoach tends to have at least ten artists I regularly listen to.”
Another major difference between the two festivals is the interactive experience. The activities at Coachella tend to be more art-focused, including a pop-up tattoo studio and record store last year. Stagecoach’s activities focus on creating a Western atmosphere through flea markets and boot customization bars, according to The Press Enterprise.
“I feel like it’s just more relaxed in general compared to Coachella, it’s not as hectic and chaotic,” said Neha Sarwal, a sophomore public relations and advertising major who attended Coachella last year and plans to attend Stagecoach this weekend. “It [seems] much more laid back.”
Whether it’s the slower-paced country music of Stagecoach or the high-energy pop sets of Coachella, it’s clear the Coachella Valley music festivals provide an outlet for USC students to enjoy live music and spend time with friends.
“I’m really excited for the outfits and the pictures we’re going to take and just to be able to let loose a little bit before our finals come,” said Qubain. “Just to get away for a little while and see all the headliners live.”