This past weekend was my first Stagecoach. I approached it not knowing quite what to expect, but with an open mind. As I arrived on Friday afternoon I had some time to take in my surroundings, and really breathe in the atmosphere.
From my very first encounter with one of the parking attendants, it became clear to me that this was about to be the experience of a lifetime. The parking attendant had the most positive and encouraging attitude, which really helped set us up to have an incredible time. This was a trend that continued throughout the weekend with the rest of the support staff. There really is nothing quite like knowing you’re in good hands. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.
As we entered the Polo Field, I was immediately overwhelmed by the masses. It was alive with an ocean of people emitting the most incredible energy. Thousands upon thousands of voices all buzzing with excitement. It was enough to ramp up my own excitement. I was loving it.
The food was fantastic; everything from succulent ribs to greasy pizza was available to be enjoyed, and I emphatically rushed to take it all in. The barbeque was of course the more appropriate option, and was absolutely delicious. The pizza as well was surprisingly tasty. The food was easily one of the best parts of the experience.
Although the weather was on the hotter side during the event, it was still rather nice, and there misters to keep us cool scattered around the venue.
Of course, the highlight of the event was the live music. The line-up was incredible. There was expansive variety within the country music genre with big name acts like Carrie Underwood, and lesser known and upcoming performers like Susto. (Keep an eye on these guys). Of course they had some legends of music, fitting perfectly into the No Depression theme, with such acts as:
- Leroy Powell
- Carl Anderson
- Malpass Brothers
- Dale Watson
- Emmylou Harris
- Marty Stewart
- Jamestown Revival
- Sam Palladio
- Lee Ann Womack
- Waddie Mitchell
- Rodney Crowell
- John Fogerty (Had to mention him)
- William Elliott Whitmore
- Marshall Tucker Band
- Turnpike Trubadodours
- The Doobie Brothers
and, last but certainly not least - Susto
The wonderfully talented Emmylou Harris graced the stage and put on a wonderful performance.
My favorite performance of the weekend had to be The Doobie Brothers. It seemed as if they drew everyone in attendance to them. They commanded attention and delivered an electric performance.
I left Sunday evening exhausted, but head still spinning with all the wonderful experiences I had over the three days I was at Stagecoach. I saw colorful people from all over, ate heartily, and listened to the best live music Country has to offer. I will definitely be returning as soon as possible to experience more of what Stagecoach can deliver.
(Photos by Erik Jordan – PRImaging)
Looking forward to the next one-
Sousan E
