The best, worst and Hootiest moments of Stagecoach Day 3

By the third day of Stagecoach, the Empire Polo Club in Indio was ready for one last exciting event before the festival ended.

Following the festival evacuation on Saturday due to high winds, the morning brought another surprise: a 3.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Cabazon at 8:44 a.m., causing a noticeable rumble even before the festival gates opened. It seems Mother Nature kept things interesting!

The final day of the festival featured some incredible musical performances. Sunday night’s highlights included headliner Post Malone, a nostalgic set from Hootie & the Blowfish with a guest appearance by Public Enemy, and a surprisingly memorable cameo: the iconic Arby’s sign from Sunset Boulevard.

Getting tipsy in Shaboozey’s pop-up saloon

Stagecoach has long featured sponsored activations – even before major brands took over Coachella – but this year, celebrity-owned bars were the main attraction.

At the festival, Sydney Sweeney set up a temporary bar to promote her Syrn lingerie brand. Guests could enjoy karaoke, magnetic darts, and drinks. The bar was located alongside booths from other companies like Arby’s and Alaska Airlines.

Finding Shaboozey’s pop-up saloon required a bit of searching. Hidden in the 12 Peaks area – open to all Stagecoach attendees but reserved for VIPs at Coachella – it’s designed to look like an old Western saloon. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot a vintage “Wanted” poster featuring the singer of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” outside. From there, you walk down a dimly lit hallway – it felt a bit like the line for Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – and through swinging doors into a comfortable, inviting space.

Shaboozey was promoting his upcoming concept album, ‘The Outlaw Cherie Lee,’ by handing out black bandannas featuring a drawing of Cherie Lee’s saloon.

Okay, so this is a quirky detail – each bandanna comes with a tag where you can leave your contact info. The idea is, if you do, you might get a sneak peek at some of the artist’s new tracks. It’s a neat way for them to connect with fans directly, and honestly, I’m a sucker for anything that gets me early access to music. It feels a bit like a modern-day fan club experience, and I dig it.

Similar to Sweeney’s temporary bar, this saloon isn’t just a set piece – they actually serve a few pre-made cocktails. When I visited, a musician dressed in vintage clothing was playing the banjo, adding to the atmosphere.

We found the iconic Arby’s sign from Sunset Boulevard

Throughout the Stagecoach festival, everyone’s been talking about a famous sign spotted near the polo fields: could it be the original neon cowboy hat from the old Arby’s restaurant on Sunset Boulevard?

The local Arby’s owner, Roger Amaya, says they’ve saved the famous sign! CEO Amir Siddiqi stepped in when they learned it was going to be taken down. Now, people are really enjoying it and taking pictures with it. Plus, the sign is still in excellent condition.

Amaya explained that they had James, their neon sign specialist, fix the entire sign. Now, after being displayed at Stagecoach, everyone’s wondering where the cowboy hat sign will go next. “We’ll have to wait and see,” Amaya said.

Third Eye Blind wins the battle of the ‘90s sunset acts

During the sunset performances on the Mustang Stage at Stagecoach 2026, Third Eye Blind attracted the largest audience on Sunday evening. They played a selection of their most popular songs from their first two albums, alongside performances by Counting Crows and Bush.

The concert’s early performances included popular songs like “Never Let You Go,” “Graduate,” and “Jumper.” The show ended with energetic performances of “Semi-Charmed Life” and “How’s It Gonna Be.”

“Thank you for loving us,” singer Stephan Jenkins said. “We didn’t know how this was gonna go.”

He need not have worried. (V.F.)

Brooks & Dunn bring a reminder of Stagecoach’s roots

Despite becoming more focused on popular trends in recent years, Stagecoach still maintains its core country identity. Brooks & Dunn’s energetic and well-executed Sunday night headlining performance proved this, featuring their classic hits like “Brand New Man,” “Red Dirt Road,” and “Neon Moon.” The show ended with a patriotic performance of “Only in America” with Brooks & Dunn performing in front of a line of police officers. (M.W.)

Hootie & the Blowfish have a political moment at Stagecoach with Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav

Hootie & the Blowfish are famous for their energetic and fun concerts. The band’s catchy pop-rock songs are instantly likeable. Lead singer Darius Rucker later became a successful country artist and has performed at the Stagecoach festival previously. During their Sunday night performance, Hootie & the Blowfish played their most popular songs like “Hold My Hand,” “Time,” and “Let Her Cry,” and also used their platform to express their political views.

The performance featured several highlights, including a lively rendition of “Wagon Wheel” that got the audience singing and dancing. The band also played covers of REM’s “Losing My Religion” and Led Zeppelin’s “Hey Hey What Can I Do,” and their own hit “Only Wanna Be With You.” During that song, they surprised everyone with a funky interlude, performing a snippet of Kool & the Gang’s “Get Down On It.”

The show really ended with a bang. The band finished their set by playing a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” then brought out hip-hop legends Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy to perform their iconic song, “Fight the Power.”

It was a meaningful moment, especially happening at Stagecoach, a country music festival that previously banned Confederate flags. Hopefully, the crowd appreciated it. Darius Rucker explained to the Los Angeles Times before his performance that he felt the song was relevant given current world events. (V.F.)

Post Malone closes Stagecoach with style if not excitement

Just under a year after headlining Coachella in 2025, Post Malone took the stage at the Empire Polo Club again, this time closing out the final night of the Stagecoach festival on Sunday.

Early in the concert, Post Malone asked the crowd, “Who wants a drink tonight?” as a playful introduction to his song “Pour Me a Drink.” He then dramatically opened a can of Bud Light by smashing it against his forehead.

Post Malone’s 90-minute performance matched the style of his recent concerts since releasing his country album, “F-1 Trillion” in 2024. The sound was polished and reminiscent of modern Nashville, delivered by a talented band that included fiddlers and backing vocalists. (M.W.)

2026-04-27 22:14