Stagecoach Festival Delivered A Sisterhood Of Talents & The Sweet Scent Of BBQ
Published
After making progress for the last three years with female headliners Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert, it was back to all male headliners at this year’s festival. Florida Georgia Line on Friday, Keith Urban on Saturday and Garth Brooks on Sunday, although his wife Trisha Yearwood, co-billed with him and all delivered stellar performances and a good time for all festival goers.
They may not have been giving headlining slots on the “Mane Stage” but the female presence at the festival was still powerful, to say the least. Tanya Tucker won over the crowd (and did shots of tequila with them) on Friday, Kacey Musgraves offered up a confident and outstanding set on Saturday evening, and festival newcomers Auburn Road, a teen trio charmed on the Hootenanny Stage with exquisite vocal delivery and youthful charisma, helping to put a spotlight on country’s up and coming new generation. Acts such as Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, Morgan Evans, Runaway June, Jade Bird, Carly Pearce, Delta Rae, Kassi Ashton, Lewis Brice and Temecula Road played 25-minute sets that allowed festivalgoers an intimate listening experience.
Stagecoach has always tried to honor artists from earlier eras rather than just those who dominate the charts today. This year, Tanya Tucker paid tribute to Tammy Wynette with "Stand by Your Man", Dwight Yoakam sang songs by Haggard and Buck Owens. The new generation artists joined in the tradition with Granger Smith soaring version of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'," and Auburn Road’s stunning take on Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”
All in all it was a weekend filled with great music as high winds blew the scent of BBQ through the air and performances by Musgraves, Clark, Ballerini, McBryde, Ell, Lillie Mae, Auburn Road and the rest of the ladies of Stagecoach further proved country music is not just a man’s world anymore.
