Think Stagecoach 2024 Lineup Is Wild? Here Are 25 of the Most Unexpected Acts From Past Fests

When Stagecoach announced its 2024 lineup on Thursday, some fans expressed surprise at Canadian rockers Nickelback and rapper Wiz Khalifa’s inclusion on the bill. But the Indio, California, festival — which takes place April 26-28 next year — has a long history of inviting non-country acts to share the stage.

In years past, acts including ZZ Top, Cyndi Lauper and Smokey Robinson have appeared at the Palomino tent, along with other artists who might be country-adjacent but aren’t considered core country. In addition to 2024 Mane Stage headliners Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Morgan Wallen, next year’s performers include Willie Nelson, Jelly Roll and Bailey Zimmerman, who happens to share management with Nickelback at The Core Entertainment.

The Core Entertainment’s Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman tell Billboard that Nickelback’s Stagecoach booking “was very organic and Nickelback is currently on their biggest tour since 2010. These country rock fans are eating them up. This new generation is discovering Nickelback for the first time and they can see and hear the influence and impact they have on all these young artists.

Country rocker Brantley Gilbert and new country artist Josh Ross have been opening for Nickelback as well. Zimmerman, who has been touring with Wallen, often sports a Nickelback T-shirt onstage, and at last year’s Stagecoach, when Zimmerman hung out with chef Guy Fieri at his cookout, he requested Fieri play Nickelback “and he sang it with the whole crowd,” Zaruk and Tikhman recall.

While Nickelback and Wiz Khalifa’s bookings may seem out of left field, Stagecoach isn’t exclusively for core country acts. Below, find 25 other unexpected performers at past Stagecoach festivals.