We closed out April with a trip to California for the Coachella of country music.

 

I went to the dessert with the “Yee to my Haw” Lizzy for this year’s Stagecoach music festival in Indio, California, all thanks to our fabulous friend Daniel Diamond who invited us to join him and his team for a weekend of live music and packed parties.

When I say packed, I mean PACKED. People of all ages came together for a good time in Indio— young to old, families and college friends, country enthusiasts and festival goers. From a Stagecoach first timer, I can now say, I GET IT. I see what the hype is about.

There’s nothing like looking out at crowd of cowboy hats and boots in the dirt with a cold beer in hand while singing along to some of our favorite country songs. A newfound love of mine — who has been a Lizzy obsession for quite some time — is Zach Bryan. I mean, HELLO! I could listen to that voice all day. And when Maren Morris hit the stage, I became a part of a sea of people swaying and dancing, singing every word in unison. How could you not feel like you’re in her next music video? Cody Johnson, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Tanya Tucker, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs — the lineup was amazing and no one disappointed. 

But for me, it really was the FASHION. Boy do people show up with “this is who I am” plastered on their bodies. When it came to festival ensembles, we saw just about everything, and at times that meant almost nothing. Much of the festival attire consisted of just enough fabric to cover the important parts. That look really isn’t for me, mainly because I’m now in my 30s and am just jealous that I can’t pull it off anymore, but hey, I always say, you do you! (which also seemed to be the theme of the weekend)

Daniel and his crew pulled out all the stops. They rocked his fab stage-worthy shirts, jackets and hats, each making their looks their own, whether trendy or a little retro. Among Lizzy’s favorite pieces of the trip was a Daniel X Diamond pearl-snap with a vintage Southwestern print and black rhinestone fringe. 

As for me, aside from not wanting to sweat my ass off, I wanted to look stylish but still classy — and age-appropriate (shit gets weird in your 30s, let’s be honest). I had fun putting together my “festival attire,” although it really wasn’t much different than what I normally wear. l typically go for a clean and classic look (you can’t take the Cali out of the girl) with a few cowgirl touches. My favorite Stagecoach look was a little black dress (you can’t go wrong with a LBD) that I made a little Western with a red bandana, vintage bolo, and of course, my City Boots Canyon shorties — the perfect boots for long day of being on your feet in the heat. 

All in all, I loved every minute, from the people and fashion to the concerts and parties to the amazing Sans Hotel & Spa in Palm Springs where we stayed (and spent a lot of time resting and refueling at The Pink Cabana). I even got a kick out of the rickshaw rides — holding my drink in one hand and cowboy hat in the other while letting dust slap me in the face and hoping it would just add a little sparkle and not make my mascara run. 

Plus it was another adventure for Lizzy and I to enjoy together — gallivanting around in the dessert, laughing, taking pics in front of the Ferris wheel like the wannabe blogger girls we are, and above all, singing our hearts out with just about a million of our closest friends! Cheers to festivals and pretending to be in our 20s (even if the 20,000 steps and achy knees make you realize, in fact, you’re not.)

 

STAGECOACH DO: Hire a driver, make him your best friend and give the Uber or Lyft apps the middle finger. Getting rides takes forever, when it’s even possible, and the upcharges are insane. You’ll spend less money and waste less time with a personal driver. The Stagecoach app is the only one you need! It tells you who was performing and when, and then direct you to the right stage (because there are a million), which we found much more helpful than any of the ride sharing ones.

STAGECOACH DON’T: Do not, and I mean do not, forget to pack sunscreen, baby powder and deodorant. You will need them. That sun beats down on you with little reprieve, and the dessert is dry, so lots of water is also essential.

My ultimate takeaway: I want to be buried at The Pink Cabana. At the Sans Hotel & Spa, it’s got great food and a funky vibe (designed as a modern ode to Palm Springs’ tennis clubs of the ’50s and ’60s). The little downtime we had we spent at the Cabana, kicking up our boots  and sipping craft cocktails.