The party in California’s desert is far from over. Now that Coachella has concluded, music fans are flocking to Indio for Stagecoach. From Friday, April 25, to Sunday, April 27, country enthusiasts will camp out to witness some of the genre’s biggest names live. The Stagecoach 2025 headliners include Zach Bryan (April 25), Jelly Roll (April 26), and Luke Combs (April 27). But in the official poster’s fine print, there are some exciting independent acts you should check out.
Big-name independent acts set to grace the stage include Shaboozey, Sierra Ferrell, Nikki Lane, Tiera Kennedy, John Morgan, Kashus Culpepper, Alexandra Kay, and Conner Smith. Still, check out the gallery below for a list of top sets of indie acts we recommend.
*Some of the artists’ biographies were provided by PR.*
Stagecoach 2025 is completely sold out. However, this year’s event will feature a free live stream via Amazon Music and Twitch. Find more information here.
Friday, April 25, 2025
John Morgan (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville)
With a style that’s defined by melodic grit and a craftsman’s approach to songwriting, John Morgan brings a blue-collar toughness to country that’s pulled straight from the only life he knows. Hailing from a tiny town called Sylva, deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, John grew up immersed in bluegrass tradition and even toured the festival circuit each summer in a family band, before diving into songwriting, inspired by six-string legends from Tony Rice to John Mayer. Now, his party starter smash “Friends Like That” – featuring Jason Aldean – is his first No. 1 at country radio as an artist (third as a songwriter).
Nikki Lane (New West Records)
A singer and songwriter who mixes the honky-tonk atmosphere of vintage country with the clever bite of indie, rock, Nikki Lane is a barroom siren whose music is tough, witty, and bold, inhabiting Nashville archetypes while upending them at the same time. Lane’s songs walk a fine line between sincerity and irony, but the passion and effectiveness of her vocals keeps her from sounding like a put-on, and her melodies mix rootsy twang and rock & roll edge with confidence. Lane introduced her talent with the 2011 debut Walk of Shame and added a soulful edge with 2014’s All or Nothin’ and 2017’s Highway Queen. With 2022’s Denim & Diamonds, she eased back on her country accents and added harder rock energy to her mix.
Sierra Ferrell (Rounder Records)
One of the brightest young luminaries in roots music today, Sierra Ferrell brings a dose of beautifully strange magic to everything she touches. Since the release of her 2024 album Trail Of Flowers, the West Virginia-born singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist took home the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year prizes at the Americana Honors & Awards, and earned four GRAMMY nominations Best Americana Album (Trail of Flowers), Best American Roots Performance (“Lighthouse”), Best Americana Performance (“American Dreaming”), and Best American Roots Song (“American Dreaming”). Ferrell has collaborated with the likes of Margo Price, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Post Malone, and enchanted audiences all over North America and Europe with her high-spirited and dazzling live performance. On Trail Of Flowers, the Nashville-based artist expands her sound while deepening the urgency of her songs, often revealing a wealth of wisdom within her wildly imaginative storytelling.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Kashus Culpepper (Big Loud Records)
Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk, and rock – Culpepper’s husky, sandpaper growl bellows like a freight train over self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence, Culpepper sold out headline club shows throughout the South before formally releasing a single song, and opened shows nationwide for sound pioneers like Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, and NEEDTOBREATHE. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records, and has dropped a string of resonating singles: “After Me?,” “Who Hurt You,” “Out Of My Mind,” “Pour Me Out,” “Jenni” and latest “Talk With Me.” Culpepper joins Leon Bridges, Dylan Gossett and Whiskey Myers on tour this year; and will make first-ever appearances at Stagecoach, C2C in London, Tortuga Music Festival, and more. Named one of GRAMMY.com‘s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe’s 25 Artists for ’25, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch, Opry NextStage Class of 2025 and Billboard’s February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, GRAMMY.com hails Culpepper as an artist who “has revived the melodic crooning of ’80s and ’90s country, buoyed by his blues influence.”
Shaboozey (American Dogwood / EMPIRE)
An artist at the crossroads of country and hip-hop, Shaboozey creates the kind of songs that feel as epic as a movie: gripping, unpredictable, immense in scope but rooted in raw emotion. On his new album, Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going, the Virginia-bred singer/songwriter charts a cinematic road trip through the wilds of the American West, bringing a powerful new depth to his storytelling while pushing further into the country/folk-inspired sound he’s explored in recent years. The latest turn in a dynamic career that began with the breakout success of his viral hit “Jeff Gordon”—and also includes such triumphs as appearing on the soundtrack to the Academy Award-winning blockbuster Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going is the most boldly realized work yet from a singular new voice on the music scene.
Tiera Kennedy (Big Machine Music Group)
Tiera Kennedy is an artist, visionary, and movement builder who aims to inspire and share her truth as liberation–and a lesson to live life fully with love and joy. Tiera is emerging as one of the most exciting voices in the format, injecting Country music with a breath of vitality. The Alabama native’s unique sound stems from equal parts nature and nurture. She credits her celestial singing voice to God, while crediting her country music songwriting artistry to what organically flows from her pen. Tiera’s talents have already garnered acclaimed recognition as a collaborator on Beyoncé’s groundbreaking Grammy-nominated album Cowboy Carter, having been featured in a music video with legend Dolly Parton, and as a mentee of pop-country star Shania Twain, who encouraged her to be herself. Tiera’s independently released debut album, ROOTED, displays her extraordinary talents, country roots, and lived experiences, and the journey to stay connected to herself, her loved ones, her story, and her ancestors. A courageous artist, Tiera’s truth shines through in a cohesive project that is brilliantly unfiltered, passionate, and intentionally outside-the-box with a barrier-breaking blend of R&B and country.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Alexandra Kay (BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville)
Starting her country music career independently at 22, Alexandra Kay began recording cover videos of many ’90s country music favorites and posting them on her Facebook fan page, going viral dozens of times. Alexandra Kay joined Tim McGraw on the McGraw Tour 2022 amphitheater tour, sharing stages with country greats Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker. In 2023, Alexandra Kay headlined her Backroad Therapy Tour 2 through Canada and the United States, which was followed by the Dive Bar Dreamer tour presented by Miller Lite and All I’ve Ever Known Tour. Alexandra Kay released her debut album, All I’ve Ever Known, in October 2023.
Conner Smith (Big Machine Label Group)
ACM-nominated country artist Conner Smith continues to establish himself as a standout voice in the genre, known for his ability to blend sharp storytelling with mass appeal. A Nashville native continuing Country’s rich singer/songwriter legacy, the gold-selling entertainer boasts strong, down-to-earth vocals. While he initially gained success by capturing youthful energy, he is now embracing a new phase of artistic growth and expression. Smith made his debut with his 2022 project Didn’t Go Too Far, featuring the Top 40 hit “Learn From It,” viral sensation “I Hate Alabama,” and the gold-certified fan favorite “Take It Slow.” His early success earned him a dedicated following and “artist to watch” recognition from Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, Opry NextStage, MusicRow, and CMT, who called him “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.” After touring with Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice, Luke Bryan, and Parker McCollum, Smith kicked off a milestone 2024 with his full-length debut SMOKY MOUNTAINS. Pairing sharp hooks and timeless Country sonics with a heartfelt nod to his Appalachian roots, the project delivered the gold-certified, multi-week international chart-topper “Creek Will Rise” and “Meanwhile In Carolina.” His success continued with his first ACM nomination for New Male Artist of the Year and his cinematic debut with “Steal My Thunder” featuring Tucker Wetmore, featured in the summer blockbuster Twisters. Smith continued his evolution with The Storyteller, a standout project marking what he considers his most natural artistic state. A five-song contemplation and reflective-roots masterpiece, filled with thoughtful passion and coming-of-age clarity, the release coincided with Smith’s 2024 headlining The Storyteller Tour. As he steps into 2025, Smith is set to co-headline the Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour with Dylan Marlowe.
