Stagecoach Festival Resumes After Wind-Induced Evacuation The Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, California, faced a sudden halt on Saturday night due to extreme wind conditions, prompting an emergency evacuation. Organizers Goldenvoice announced the event would resume at approximately 9 p.m. after the wind advisory was lifted, following a period of high winds that forced the cancellation of headliner Lainey Wilson’s performance. The evacuation, which began around 7:45 p.m., was triggered by warnings from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) about windblown dust and hazardous air quality in the region. The AQMD issued an alert warning of “unhealthy” air conditions in northern parts of the valley, with dust levels posing risks to sensitive groups in areas like Indio. Wind speeds reached 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, creating challenges for both performers and attendees. Artists such as Teddy Swims and Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters described the conditions as difficult, with Swims joking, “This wind is kicking our (butt) up here guys.” The festival’s organizers emphasized safety, lowering suspended speakers at the Mustang Stage and urging attendees to protect their faces with bandanas and goggles against blowing sand and grass particles. Despite the disruption, the festival’s resumption was confirmed through updates from the official app, which stated, “the show will resume momentarily.” Attendees who had evacuated the Empire Polo Grounds began returning to the venue as the wind subsided, though logistical challenges remained, including the status of shuttles transporting festivalgoers to other areas of the valley.#goldenvoice #stagecoach_festival #south_coast_air_quality_management_district #empire_polo_grounds #billy_bob_thornton_and_the_boxmasters
