The headliners named for the 2009 Stagecoach festival will give plenty of draw for the SoCal country audience, with genre heartthrobs Brad Paisley making his festival debut and Kenny Chesney returning after topping the bill in 2007. Reba McEntire should delight that same audience with her throwback country style but updated media personality. Kid Rock could add appeal for a crossover audience with his rap rock style.
Miranda Lambert provides some balance to the hunks in the country chick department, where the initial lineup looks to be otherwise somewhat light. This is an initial lineup only, however.
I'll let the country music bloggers and media analyze the bookings from the Nashville perspective. Festival Preview has followed Stagecoach since its 2007 debut more for its side stages, where an impressive array of alt-county, Americana, bluegrass and western artists have been featured.
The 2009 lineup offers some interesting names in these related categories, which combine to give Stagecoach a well rounded character that differentiates it from other pure Big Country blowouts. A few names that jump out at me are:
• Poco. Stagecoach has shown a big interest in reviving the country rock scene that was Southern California's contribution to 1960s and '70s pop music culture. Last year, The Eagles headlined the festival and in 2007 members of the seminal Buffalo Springfield reunited here. This time, another of those classic bands, Poco, reformed with most of the original members, gets the Stagecoach spotlight.
• Darius Rucker is best known as the vocalist in the 1990s rock band Hootie and The Blowfish, but he has long shown an interest in acoustic styles and this year has begun a conscious crossover campaign for the country audience. He may be the first African-American to make a big mark on the country charts since Charlie Pride.
• Trad bluegrass is always blue-chip at Stagecoach, and it is no different this year with appearances by genre greats Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley and Ricky Skaggs. Toss in Doyle Lawson on the gospel end and Peter Rowan on the longhair end, and you have an impressive roster for any bluegrass-only festival.
• Texas Country has also been a Stagecoach strength. I'm pleased to see Jerry Jeff Walker out on the circuit after a few years of relative absense. He should be a great fit for the Stagecoach Palomino stage. It's also a pleasure to note the return of Hot Town of Cowtown, the western swing ensemble that looks to be back in swing after several years of hiatus while members pursued other projects.
• Stagecoach has also dabbled in the progressive stringband end of the country spectrum, as particular interest of this blog. Thus I'm happy to see The Duhks made the Stagecoach cut.
Overall, kudus to Stagecoach for sticking to its country-eclectic vision, even though the big attendance drivers will continue to be the mainstream country acts.
