This year’s Stagecoach brought out legends Roy Clark, Kenny Rogers and Alabama. I found a vendor bringing back some all-stars from the Country Western apparel past as well.
Vintage boots “from Tony Lama to Kenny Rogers” sat inside the La Bomba Vintage tent. Ostrich skin boots, leather boots, red boots, patchwork boots from the 50s, 60s and 70s made up just some of its stock, which sold for $40 to $100. To spot them you had to wander to the back of the tent, behind the front display of what sells easily here — cowboy hats.
Owner Albert Gonzales said he couldn’t estimate how many hats he sold this weekend. It’s his sixth year selling at Stagecoach and he said it’s hot, it’s Stagecoach — cowboy hats are a no-brainer.
The boots are the pride of his tent and the store of the same name in Pomona. The store also cuts and dyes old Levi 501s into trendy, colorful shorts.
Turns out jeans and boots from the past recycle just as well as honky-tonk tunes at Stagecoach.
Sheryl Crow performs on the Mane Stage during Stagecoach California's Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Fields on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Indio. (Marilyn Chung/The Desert Sun)
That’s how MyCoachella.com contributor Crystal Chatham described bluegrass music as we walked into the Mustang tent to see Greensky Bluegrass.
I think of it as music I can’t stand still to.
When the bluegrass jam band got going, their pickin’ fingers revved, we both got what we came for. The five instruments made a sound so full and varied that the movers got to moving while the music filled the tent like sparkling blue water fills a Palm Springs swimming pool.
The Michigan quintet didn’t say much, but mentioned Stagecoach ended a series of California concerts they’d had a good time playing. They look like guys who have a good time whenever they have stringed instruments in-hand.
Anders Beck, who plays the dobro, or resophonic guitar, wondered aloud about California Westerns. The bad guys always wore black hats and the good guys white. Is that how it really is? he asked. Because I’ve always wanted a black cowboy hat.
“I’m not a bad guy,” he repeated a few times, to be clear.
Their fourth studio album “Handguns” is available at the on-site record store.
We’ll be shooting fans all across the Stagecoach grounds as well as Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Chris Isaak, Dave Alvin, Old Man Markley and of course, headliners Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Check out our photos here.
Despite the sweltering heat, our photographers are swarming the grounds at the second Saturday at Coachella. Check out their work below in a gallery that will update as we add more.
Weekend 2 attendees, take note: This ain’t your predecessors’ Coldchella.
Coachella Weekend 1 was cold and slightly rainy, as seen during the Arctic Monkeys' set on Friday. (Crystal Chatham, The Desert Sun)
Sunshine and triple-digit heat is on tap for Weekend 2, much like this scene from Coachella 2008. (Chris Pizzello, The Associated Press)
The lineup may be the same, but Mother Nature will put on a very different show this weekend.
“It’s going to be the exact opposite of last weekend,” said Erik Pindrock, an AccuWeather meteorologist. “It’s going to be sunny, hot and dry.”
Temperatures are expected to reach 98 degrees Friday, 101 on Saturday and 102 on Sunday, with few or no clouds providing shade for festival-goers, he said.
“Even for you guys in April, this is above normal,” Pindrock said. The average high at this time of year is 86 degrees.
A week ago, it was a different story as stormy weather earned the first running of the festival nicknames like Coldchella and Rainchella.
A cold low-pressure system brought clouds, gusty winds and, on Friday, 0.08 inches of rain to Palm Springs, Pindrock said.
Highs in Indio only reached 72 degrees Friday, 67 on Saturday and 76 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Overnight lows dipped into the 40s.
This weekend’s forecast temperatures will be above the average high seen on the October, April and May days on which Coachella has been held over the years.
Before this year’s chilly first weekend, the average high on festival days was 94.5 degrees. Now that mark is 92.3 degrees.
The triple-digit temperatures forecast for this weekend still fall short of the 109-degree high on the hottest-ever Coachella day, April 28, 2007.
MyCoachella.com is a blog dedicated to covering the desert music scene, including the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Meet Our Team
For the second year, this year's Coachella Music Festival is two weekends: April 12-14 and 19-21. Stagecoach is one three-day fest: April 26-28.
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