Stagecoach Festival '08 unveils lineup

Coachella has a doppelganger. Names like "Arcade Fire" and "Radiohead" do not impress it. It prefers line dancing to the awkward, hands-in-pockets shuffle. And when it wears a trucker hat, the intention is most certainly not ironic.

Although it shares the same space as the Coachella Music Festival, Stagecoach couldn't be any more different from its more celebrated cousin. So while you're busy salivating over the mere fact that Coachella '08 now has a date attached to it, maybe you should scope out what this year's country music extravaganza is cooking up.

Essentially, the festival involves airlifting the entire Nashville music industry out to Indio, Calif. for two days of rompin' and stompin' in the Coachella Valley. This year's lineup includes all of the big country names that any music fan would recognize: headliners Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Dierks Bentley (pictured above) and Gretchen Wilson.

However, the big attraction for Stagecoach '08 is the return of mother-daughter team the Judds, who dominated country radio throughout the '80s. For indie fans, think of them as a twangier version of a reunited Jesus & Mary Chain. Other veterans on the bill include Country Music Hall of Famer George Jones, Dwight Yoakam and Billy Joe Shaver. And finally, a bit of insider information: the roster includes Paste "4 To Watch" stars the Carolina Chocolate Drops as an undercard. Better arrive early to check them out.

Stagecoach takes place May 3-4 at Indio's Empire Polo Field. Tickets start at $183 and are available here.

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