INDIO (CNS) - Keith Urban will headline today's slate of performances at the 2018 Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, returning to the desert after headlining the festival eight years ago.
Urban returns to the ``Mane'' stage, where he also received top billing on the festival's Saturday show in 2010. The New Zealand native leads a star-studded lineup of acts that includes Dwight Yoakan, Kacey Musgraves, Ronnie Milsap, Midland and more.
Gates open at noon at the Empire Polo Grounds, where the festival kicked off Friday.
In addition to the big name acts, the festival will feature six up-and- coming performers each day on the brand new Sirius XM Spotlight Stage.
Other additions to the festival include TV's Guy Fieri bringing his culinary expertise to the desert at the Stagecoach Smokehouse, a 40,000 square- foot barbecue area featuring pit bosses from restaurants across the country.
And, a new Bazaar will feature 35 vendors, including Nikki Lane's Stage Stop Marketplace, bringing the singer's fashion line out for festivalgoers. Lane, who will perform for shoppers at the marketplace each day, also made onstage Stagecoach appearances in 2015 and 2017.
Of course, there will be the returning favorites, such as the Budweiser Clydesdales, the Half-Pint Hootenanny for the kids, and the Honkytonk Dance Hall with dance lessons from esteemed instructors.
Those who cannot make it can catch select performances streaming live at http://yahoo.com/stagecoach .
Police say the following roads will be designated as primary access routes for the festivals and will be ``severely impacted'' this weekend:
-- Jefferson Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
-- Washington Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
-- Monroe Street, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52;
-- Highway 111 at Jefferson Street;
-- Highway 111 at Monroe Street;
-- eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Jefferson Street;
-- eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Monroe Street; and
-- eastbound Interstate 10 exit at Washington Street.
Road closures include:
-- Avenue 49, between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street;
-- Avenue 50, between Madison Street and Jackson Street;
-- Hjorth Street, between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50; and
-- Madison Street, between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
Those looking to avoid driving altogether can be dropped off by ride- sharing services and taxis at the southwest corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe Street or dropped off and picked up by friends and family at the northeast corner of Avenue 52 and Madison Street.
To help make traffic smoother within the city, a yearlong road project widening Highway 111 in Indio has been suspended until the festival season wraps up Monday.
A high of 93 degrees was forecast for today, and festival goers should be sure to bring sunglasses and bandannas with winds possibly gusting as high as 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.