INDIO (CNS) - The Stagecoach Festival will go well beyond the bounds of its country origins today with R&B legends and electronic DJs set to take over the Palomino stage.
Nashville mainstay Jason Aldean might be headlining the final day of the world's largest country music festival, but Tom Jones and Diplo are unusual additions adding musical variety to the closing-night performances.
Tom Jones has been serenading world audiences for more than a half- century, with multiple gold albums, with one going quadruple platinum, in both the United States and United Kingdom. The Welsh singer has released more than three dozen albums over his career, with his most famous hit “It's Not Unusual” immortalized in the 90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” by Carlton Banks, who was played by Alfonso Ribiero.
A few hours after Jones' 7 p.m. performance on the Palomino stage, electronic DJ Diplo will perform a late-night set beginning at 10:55 p.m., according to organizers. On Wednesday, the pop DJ announced a new country music persona with accompanying single “So Long” to go along with the weekend's theme, according to Pitchfork magazine.
Playing in between the off-brand pair, Aldean will take charge of the Mane Stage at 9:15 p.m., according to organizers. This is the country star's fourth Stagecoach appearance and second headlining spot.
The weekend festival opened Friday night with performances from Luke Bryan and Bret Michaels, followed by Sam Hunt and Lynyrd Skynyrd Saturday.
For festivalgoers more interested in soaking up the ambiance of the desert festival in its final day, amenities like Honkytonk Dance Hall and Nikki Lane's Stage Stop Marketplace, which debuted at last year's festival, are back this year, along with old favorites like the Half-Pint Hootenanny, the Budweiser Clydesdales and Guy Fieri's Stagecoach Smokehouse.
General admission passes for the country festival priced at $349 are sold out, while general admission and shuttle pass combos are available for $409.
Honkytonkers camping out in Indio should be aware that despite the availability of the Any Line Shuttle, which can carry festivalgoers between the grounds and area hotels, major congestion is still anticipated on multiple routes.
Travelers motoring through the desert should expect traffic delays on the following stretches:
-- southbound Jefferson, Washington and Monroe streets from the 10 Freeway to Avenue 52;
-- Avenue 48 between Jefferson and Jackson streets;
-- Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe streets; and
-- eastbound 10 Freeway exits at Jefferson, Monroe and Washington streets.
Several significant road closures are also planned through Monday:
-- Avenue 49 between Hjorth and Monroe streets;
-- Avenue 50 between Madison and Jackson streets;
-- Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50; and
-- Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
For motorists traveling north- and south-bound, city officials suggest taking Washington, Jackson and Calhoun streets as well as Golf Center Parkway; while east-west travelers should use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54.
Around 40,000 festival attendees will spill out of the desert fairgrounds Monday, prompting authorities to warn of significant traffic on the 10 Freeway. The 10 and the 60 freeways are also expected to experience serious congestion over the weekend.
“Motorists who plan to use Interstate 10 between Beaumont and Indio or state Route 60 from Moreno Valley to Beaumont during these events will experience traffic delays during peak travel times,” Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said.
Traffic will be heaviest for westbound travelers Sunday for motorists.
A special traffic warning also was issued for those coming from Temecula via the 15 Freeway because state routes 74 and 243 are closed for repairs, Kasinga said. Rather than enduring delays on the closed and partially closed freeways, travelers should exit the 15 Freeway at Interstate 215 northbound and then travel east on either the 10 or 60 freeways.
Indio officials encouraged Stagecoach attendees to take advantage of the Any Line Shuttle, which costs $80 for the weekend and services hotels in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and other local resorts.
Information on the Any Line Shuttle is available here.
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