Hidden Stars You’ll Want on Your Radar

Sure, you’re gonna catch the big names — but don’t sleep on the new wave of country’s finest:

Bryan Martin (Mane Stage, Friday, 2:30 PM):
Platinum-certified and power-packed with stories of real life, Martin’s latest album Years In The Making is just that — a hard-won journey of grit and grace. His debut Stagecoach set promises to bring the house down.

Drake Milligan (Palomino Stage, Friday, 2:30 PM):
A student of country tradition with the swagger of early rock ’n’ roll, Milligan’s electric presence is why he’s shared stages with Blake Shelton and Lainey Wilson. Expect high-energy and honky-tonk soul.

 Waylon Wyatt (Palomino Stage, Sunday, 1:20 PM):
Fresh off the buzz of his debut EP Til The Sun Goes Down, Wyatt is packing outlaw grit and heartfelt storytelling into every chord. With over 55 million streams and counting, this Arkansas native is staking his claim as country’s next authentic voice.

Austin Snell (Mane Stage, Sunday, 2:30 PM):Fusing hard-rocking sonic aggression with the deep-feeling confessions of a country troubadour, Snell’s striking full-length debut comes with a wave of early excitement. Just two years after arriving in Music City, the emerging “grunge country” hitmakerboasts338+ million global career streams and a fanatical fanbase, matching digital hits with a spot on Brantley Gilbert’s 2025 The Tattoos Tour.

It’s his ability to capture flashes of emotional lightning driving the trend–and the warm metallic buzz of his forward-looking rip-saw vocal–but the songs come largely from Snell’s past. Born in Georgia and a veteran of the U.S. Airforce, hard rock and country radio formed the bedrock of Snell’s musical education, with artists like Nickelback and Alan Jackson in heavy rotation. Exploring the connective tissue between those two worlds, Snell began writing and sharing his own tunes on social media while stuck on base through COVID-19, and fans flocked to the unique combination. Seeing each song as an outlet for his most powerful emotions–ones that would eat a person alive if left bottled up–, Snell dug deep to mine everything from loneliness and regret toa sense of spiritual salvation. He did it with honesty and left nothing on the table. “It’s just how I’m wired together,” Snell says. “Writing for me personally is just feeling all those emotions super deeply.”

And… rumors are swirling about a Shaboozey + Jelly Roll surprise song together — a “Shaboozey Roll,” if you will. Ok, so maybe it’s not an actual rumor and just wishful thinking… Fingers crossed. It would be a missed opportunity if Sierra Ferrell didn’t join Shaboozey during his set as well. I say this because Shaboozey just dropped Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going: The Complete Edition with songs featuring both Jelly Roll (“Amen”) and Sierra Ferrell (“Hail Mary”)

“Putting out the completed version of ‘Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going’ meant a lot to me—it felt like finishing a conversation I wasn’t quite done having,” says Shaboozey. “These songs gave me the space to reflect, to heal, and to dream bigger than before. I poured every part of my journey into this record, and I’m really proud of how far it’s come. Now that it’s complete, I’m excited for the world to sit with it, feel it, and maybe see a little bit of themselves in it too.”

Splendid Sips & Meaningful Moments

Leading the charge as the official tequila of Stagecoach 2025 is Código 1530 Tequila, the award-winning tequila co-founded by none other than George Strait himself. While Strait won’t be in the desert this year, he’s bringing the festival to fans at home with the “Cowboys & Dreamers” Margarita Cocktail Kit — complete with Blanco tequila (plus a watermelon twist), streaming access to Stagecoach via Amazon, and even a deluxe option with a limited-edition vinyl of Strait’s latest album. Pre-order at CocktailCourier.com and toast to the King of Country wherever you are.

On the festival grounds, stop by the Código Cantina Experience for craft cocktails, cowboy hat customization, and a Texas-sized dose of honky-tonk vibes.

“While I can’t make it out to the desert this year, I’m excited for fans to experience the spirit of Stagecoach through Código’s limited offerings and the unforgettable memories they will create with friends and family,” George Strait says. “If it’s not your favorite tequila, you haven’t tried it!”

Looking Out for Each Other: End Overdose Returns

In the spirit of community and care, End Overdose is once again on-site, bringing life-saving tools and training to Stagecoach. Founded by firefighter/paramedic Theo Krzywicki, this organization has trained over 32,000 festival-goers nationwide on how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses.

Their booth offers free 5-minute training sessions and two doses of naloxone — a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. With fentanyl-related incidents touching lives across the country, this is one stop that could make all the difference.

Learn more about their mission at EndOverdose.net, and grab free resources like naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips shipped directly to your door.

The New Bar: Prefer to keep your cup alcohol-free? Stagecoach’s official non-alcoholic partner, The New Bar, is making sure fun and connection don’t have to come with a buzz. Their lineup of mindful mixers offers something for everyone who wants to drink less — without dialing down the good times.

A Note from The New Bar: We spent years drinking. Sometimes, more than we should. One day, we started asking questions. Why? Why do we drink so much? Why is alcohol so intrinsically tied to how we have fun, connect, and relax?

Why do we need alcohol to do all this stuff? What if we didn’t?

We didn’t stop drinking all at once. But we did look for ways to be more mindful about our drinking. One thing we weren’t going to do was stop having fun. And we found that non-alcoholic drinks really helped in that department.

We found that when we focused on having a good time, it was easier to let alcohol go. And we found ourselves wanting to bring that energy to others.

So we created The New Bar – a place for anyone and everyone who wants to drink less.

We’re not here to judge you. We’re here to give you products, tools, and information to be more mindful, intentional, and healthy about the way you drink – whatever that means to you.

Whether You’re Two-Stepping in the Desert or Streaming from Home…

Stagecoach 2025 is shaping up to be more than a festival — it’s a celebration of music, connection, and making choices that feel right for you. From the next big thing in country music to cocktail kits and mindful moments, this year’s event invites everyone to come as they are, boots and all.

So raise a glass (or a mocktail), and let the good times roll — safely, soulfully, and with plenty of stories to tell when the sun goes down.

Happy Stagecoach, y’all!