Stagecoach Festival announces monumental lineup for 2025

What do Jelly Roll, Lana Del Rey, Sammy Hagar, Zach Bryan, Creed, Brothers Osborne, Goo Goo Dolls and Luke Combs have in common? All are slated to appear at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA next April. A truly diverse and wide-ranging lineup for sure...Robert Kinsler

STAGECOACH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MONUMENTAL LINEUP FOR 2025   Superstars Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs Will Headline California’s Country Music Festival   Lineup Also Includes Brothers Osborne, Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey, Goo Goo Dolls, Tucker Wetmore and DASHA and many, many more!   Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA Festival Passes On-Sale Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11 am PT

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 5, 2024 – Stagecoach is thrilled to announce their 2025 lineup. Country music’s biggest festival will be back in the saddle April 25-27, 2025. This year’s festival will feature headline performances from country music legends in the making Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs in addition to performances by Brothers Osborne, Sturgill Simpson, Midland, Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey, Goo Goo Dolls, Tucker Wetmore and DASHA and many, many more. The festival will see iconic late-night performances by Stagecoach first timers Backstreet Boys and Creed, while T-Pain returns after a guest appearance at last year’s festival for a full set of his own.   Passes go on sale starting this Friday, September 13 at 11 am PT at stagecoachfestival.com.   Returning headliner Luke Combs shared his excitement saying, “Super pumped to be coming back to headline Stagecoach. It was one of the most memorable parts of the year when we did it in 2022, so really glad they’re having us back for round 2. We’re gonna have a blast.”   First time headliner Jelly Roll also said, “Last year I got to play Stagecoach for the first time and it was incredible. And I didn’t just get to play. I got to hang out as a fan of artists I love and take my daughter to see some of the best entertainers in our format. Coming back to headline Stagecoach this year is a dream-but I’ll be attending as a fan this year as well, so get ready. See you in April.”   Fan-favorite Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse is back again for its sixth year to reveal new chefs, pit bosses and BBQ vendors. Guy and friends will be showcasing their pits and rigs and offering taste tests to fans throughout the weekend. “Every year I’m shocked that the Stagecoach lineup can get that much bigger and badder,” says Guy. “...so I gotta step it up and do the same for my Stagecoach Smokehouse! Come on down to the Smokehouse to see your favorite artists cookin’ it up with me and my crew. You’re not gonna wanna miss it!" Stay tuned for the full food line-up and to find out which artists Guy will be doing cooking demos with this year.   Returning to the festival for a fourth consecutive year are California’s homegrown, Compton Cowboys. They are a crew of ten Black horseback riders whose ranch is one of the very last in a semirural town in Compton called Richland Farms -- and they are bringing their horses to Stagecoach to tell their compelling story of community engagement and share in the experience.   Late Night at Stagecoach keeps the party going! T-Pain (Friday), Creed (Saturday), and Backstreet Boys (Sunday) will close each evening of the festival for Late Night in Palomino, and for the third year in a row, Stagecoach mainstay Diplo will be bringing some of the biggest names in dance music to Diplo’s HonkyTonk.   Pass and Merchandise Prices: 3-Day GA Tier 1 - $579 3-Day GA Tier 2 - $599 3-Day GA Tier 3 - $619 3-Day GA 6-pack Tier 1 - $569 3-Day GA 6-pack Tier 2 - $589 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 1 - $689 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 2 - $709 3-Day GA - Shuttle Combo - Tier 3 - $729 3-Day GA Rhinestone Saloon - $974 Desert Diamond VIP Package - $4023.85 Gold Rush VIP Package - $2586.35 Hi Ho Silver VIP Package - $2011.35 Corral Reserved Seating - C3 - $1199 Corral Reserved Seating - C2 - $1499 Corral Reserved Seating - C1 - $2299 3-Day Corral Standing Pit - $1999 Stagecoach Lineup Tee - $50 Team Stagecoach Jersey - $75 Stagecoach 2025 Merch Bundle - $105 Full list of add-ons and lodging available at stagecoachfestival.com   Returning for this year’s festival is the Saloon pass which offers fans access to standing room only areas on the west side of the Corral and access to the Rhinestone Saloon featuring specialty food & drink vendors, air-conditioned restrooms, shaded seating areas, and full (cashless) cash bars. Shuttle passes, tent, yurt, and BYO RV reservations on the Safari Campground as well as Travel Packages that bundle festival passes with local hotel accommodations for 2 or 4 people are available via Valley Music Travel.   Stagecoach: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram   The STAGECOACH 2025 lineup is as follows:   49 Winchester Abby Anderson Abi Carter Alana Springsteen Alexandra Kay Angel White Anne Wilson Annie Bosko Ashley McBryde Austin Snell Avery Anna Backstreet Boys Blessing Offor Brent Cobb Brothers Osborne Bryan Martin Carly Pearce Chayce Beckham Colby Acuff Conner Smith Creed Crystal Gayle Dasha Diplo's Honkytonk Drake Milligan Drew Parker Dylan Gossett Dylan Scott Flatland Cavalry George Birge Goo Goo Dolls Jelly Roll John Morgan Kashus Culpepper Koe Wetzel Lana Del Rey Lanie Gardner Louie TheSinger Luke Combs Maddox Batson Mae Estes Midland Myles Kennedy Nelly (25 Years of Country Grammar) Nikki Lane Niko Moon Noeline Hofmann Sammy Hagar Scotty McCreery Shaboozey Sierra Ferrell Sturgill Simpson Tanner Usrey The Bacon Brothers The Castellows The Wilder Blue Tiera Kennedy Tigerlily Gold Tommy James & The Shondells T-Pain Tracy Lawrence Treaty Oak Revival Tucker Wetmore Vincent Mason Waylon Wyatt Whiskey Myers Zach Bryan      STAGECOACH is produced by Goldenvoice.

Social Distance Sounds: Elton John to headline benefit concert; Michael Ubaldini responds to 'Quarantine Blues'; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame connects online

My inbox has been filled up with news related to artists helping health care officials and those impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak. Here are a few I wanted to share and I'll continue to post others in the days ahead...Robert Kinsler

Tim McGraw will perform as part of iHeart Living Room Concert.
Photo credit: Kelly A. Swift

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Elton John will headline a benefit concert on Fox this Sunday night, March 29 to assist with efforts related to the coronavirus pandemic. Other artists scheduled to perform include country music superstar Tim McGraw, hitmakers The Backstreet Boys and rising artist Billie Eilish. "Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America" will also feature Alicia Keys and several other favorites. The hour-long event will be held beginning at 9 p.m. (Eastern Time). Feeding America and First Responders Children’s Foundation are the charities to benefit from the benefit concert. For more information, see the Variety article here.

Michael Ubaldini / Photo credit: Jesse Navarro

One of my favorite artists, singer-songwriter Michael Ubaldini, is bringing a series of song-centered live-streamed concert showcases to his Facebook page. The Southern California-based artist has released a number of fantastic albums. Like Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, Ubaldini is that rare artist able to unleash forceful rockers and affecting Americana ballads with equal authority.

The online events are as follows:

'Folk Song Fridays' will be featured every Friday at 7 p.m., (Pacific Time). This showcase will have Ubaldini performing acoustic traditional folk songs (and a few originals) and talking with people online real time. He will be telling the rough history of the traditional songs - some with roots stretching back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

'Outlaws Of Folk Music Series' will be held the first Saturday of each month (Pacific Time). The first 'Outlaws' showcase will kick off on Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. and will featured 3 or 4 different performers.

'Gospel Music Sunday' will come every 2nd Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (Pacific Time)

For more information, visit Ubaldini's official website here or his Facebook page here.

If you are not a Facebook friend, you can still see the broadcasts on a public page where the aforementioned performances are reposted the same night.

CLEVELAND – While things are on pause, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame continues to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. The Rock Hall is helping fans at home stay connected to the Museum and their favorite artists with unique content on rockhall.com and across its social channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

• LEARN: For fans of all ages, Rock Hall EDU (rockhall.com/education) delivers FREE engaging lessons, activities and resources that can be incorporated into current learning plans or fun family activities.

• WATCH: The Induction Ceremony vault is now open! Enjoy 34 years of uncut Induction speech and performance footage, archival images and never-before available programs with career-spanning essays written by leading music journalists and educators. 

• LISTEN: Designed to soothe your soul and ease your mind, the Rock Hall’s Spotify channel features playlists such as a mindfulness mix, feel-good (much-needed) distraction mix, and career-defining playlists from the Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Whitney Houston, Prince, and many more.   

• EXPLORE: The Museum may be temporarily closed, but you can still take a virtual curated tour. Visit rockhall.com/your-tour to choose from “Women Who Rock,” “Play It Loud: The Instruments of Rock & Roll Highlights,” or “Staff Picks” to see artifacts and exhibits up close. 

• JAM: Music has the power to bring us together, even when we can’t play in the same space. Check out Inductee interviews from inside The Garage exhibit and share your own home jam space performances on social using #rockhallgarage. 

• SHOP: With the Rock Hall’s collection of office décor and accessories, barware and kitchen items available on rockhallstore.com you can bring that rock star vibe into your own home or send as a gift. 

• PRESERVE: Busy cleaning? Keep an eye out for photos, recordings, and other materials to be potentially added to the Rock Hall’s NEO Sound initiative. Of interest are self-recorded films and videos of Northeast Ohio musicians, national acts featured at local venues, or major historical music events.  

• SUPPORT: Help us deliver on our mission by becoming a Member or Donor Circle supporter! Donors and Members enjoy a variety of benefits including exclusive news, pre-sales, and more.

Ways to engage with the Rock Hall can be found at rockhall.com/explore-online. Regular updates on the Rock Hall’s temporarily closure is also available at rockhall.com/coronavirus and its social media channels.

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock! 

Backstreet Boys delight fans in Irvine

My review originally appeared on The Orange County Register site on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. A special "thank you" to Kelly A. Swift for the use of her photographs.

Backstreet Boys delight fans in Irvine

Original lineup of the vocal group impresses with sharp versions of old and new hits.

As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, enduringly popular Backstreet Boys brought their In a World Like This tour to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, where Friday night (Sept. 6, 2013) the quintet performed songs from its new album of the same name as well as their biggest smashes, plus teased bits of their forthcoming documentary.

Next at Verizon: Uproar Festival featuring Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains and more, Sept. 13, $19-$109; Rascal Flatts with the Band Perry, Sept. 14, $20.50-$100.50; Funny or Die's Oddball Fest featuring Dave Chappelle, Flight of the Conchords and more, Sept. 15, $24-$89.50; Epicenter featuring the Offspring, Bad Religion, Pennywise and more, Sept. 21, $25-$99.50

Call: 800-745-3000

Online: ticketmaster.com, livenation.com

As the world's best-selling boy band, reportedly selling 130 million records since 1996, the Orlando natives proved they’re still a hit with the mostly female crowd, eliciting screams with choreographed moves alongside mostly spot-on singing that genuinely impressed.

Not only does this latest outing commemorate the harmony group’s two-decade marker, but In a World Like Thisonce again features all five original members (Kevin Richardson had left the group in 2006) and actually garnered more critical acclaim than earlier efforts. Friday night, BSB – also including A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter and Brian Littrell – delivered many of that disc's best songs while effectively combating criticism from boy-band-bashers who think they’re just fluff by occasionally accompanying themselves on acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion.

Dressed in white suits, the group opened its two-hour set with an energetic version of "The Call,” immediately showing off slick moves. The stage design, consisting of a multi-tiered platform and a giant rear-projection screen, was effectively used throughout the night as part of dance sequences, even seating a number of fans during an acoustic section late in the show.

Nick Carter

The Backstreeters’ harmonies, however, were the sonic glue that held together their mix of R&B, dance, electronica and folk ballads. While syrupy ballads like "Incomplete" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart Again" appealed mostly to the female faithful, more inspired selections – the up-tempo new cut "Permanent Skin,” early single "We've Got It Goin' On" – were more widely entertaining. And though there was an inevitable sameness to BSB’s lush pop, their vocal blend on standouts like "As Long As You Love Me" was striking.

Most impressive was the group's current material, especially the tuneful, rock-tinged "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)," the dynamic "Breathe" and acoustic piece "Madeleine,” a heartfelt plea against online bullying. During their acoustic set, BSB were not only joined by several dozen fans on stage, but local artist Robert Wyland was introduced to paint two humpback whales while the group performed.

A few minutes later, fans in the near-capacity venue couldn't stop singing along with one of the quintet’s signature singles, "I Want It That Way," which closed the regular set. A 10-minute encore included another clear audience favorite, the heavy R&B/dance tune "Everybody," as well as the more electronic-fueled "Larger Than Life."

Disappointingly opening for BSB was Jesse McCartney. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter and actor was backed by a sturdy three-man band and aided by two energetic male dancers, but their chops and crowd-pleasing moves couldn't disguise the weak material and lack of emotion in McCartney's tenor throughout a 40-minute stint. Even his final tune, the 2004 hit "Beautiful Soul," revealed his limitations. But, to be fair, plenty of screaming girls obviously thought he was fantastic.

DJ Pauly D kicked off the long night while it was still sweltering outside, yet he managed to get a few early birds on their feet with his mixed, mashed and enhanced versions of modern pop and dance hits, plus a few rock classics from Journey and Joan Jett.

Photos: Kelly A. Swift

Orange County Register subscribers can see my original post and Kelly A. Swift's complete photo slide show here.