Koe Wetzel is about to bring the Texas heat to the California desert — and according to him, it’s going to be pure mayhem.
The genre-blurring country rocker is making his Stagecoach debut this weekend, and if you’re wondering what to expect, Wetzel has a very clear warning: “It’s gonna be an hour of chaos.”
Celeb Secrets caught up with Wetzel during a press day at the Raising Cane’s headquarters in Plano, Texas, just days ahead of his set. Still riding the high from a surprise performance with Jessie Murph at Coachella earlier this month, Wetzel told us he’s amped to return to the Golden State — this time with a full-throttle show all his own.
“We’re gonna cut out most of the slow songs and it’ll just be balls to the wall from the first song to the last,” he teased to us and other reporters at the session. “We love California. The fans are always great. So just getting out there and playing some Texas music — it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
You can catch Koe’s set on Saturday, April 26 at 6:00PM on the T-Mobile Mane Stage — and for more details, set times, and the full scoop, don’t forget to check out our official festival guide here.
View this post on Instagram
Stagecoach marks a major milestone for Wetzel, who’s been steadily building a loyal fanbase with his signature blend of rock, country, and gritty outlaw energy. His recent surprise appearance at Coachella, performing “High Road” with Jessie Murph, gave him a taste of the festival life on the West Coast — and he’s ready to go even harder this time around.
“It was my first time going to Coachella. I’d never been before,” he said. “I was out there with Jessie [Murph] — we got to play ‘High Road,’ one of both of our biggest songs to date. The vibes were great… the people, we love California.”
“You know, a kid coming from Texas — it was kind of out there for me, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a lot of fun,” he continued.
View this post on Instagram
Turns out, Koe wasn’t the only familiar face wandering around Coachella’s dusty polo fields. Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves — a longtime friend and collaborator — happened to be there too, although neither realized it at the time.
“You were at Coachella?” Koe asked in disbelief during the press conference. “Man, damn it. Why’d you have to bring that up? I didn’t know you were there — we should’ve hung out!”
Graves laughed, recalling how Wetzel had performed on the same day as Post Malone, unknowingly sharing a lineup with one of the biggest names in the world. “We were both there the same weekend and didn’t even know it!” Graves said. “It’s wild.”
“It was my first time at Coachella, and it was kind of out there for me, being a Texas kid,” he laughed. “But I enjoyed every minute of it… definitely would go back. Maybe drink a little more next time.”
The performance also caps off a huge spring for Koe, who’s hitting arenas nationwide as part of Hardy’s Quit!! Tour alongside Stephen Wilson Jr.
“It’s gonna be chaos on that tour too,” he said with a grin. “We’ve all been buddies for a while, and I don’t know if there’s gonna be much left of the arenas after we get done.”
Despite the chaos, Koe’s approach to music — and life — is rooted in authenticity, which is what drew Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves to partner with him for a new campaign. “He’s stayed true to who he is,” Graves said. “He hasn’t gone mainstream just to get more listeners… and every single one of my country music friends has a great level of respect for Koe.”
For Koe, it’s all about connection — whether through his lyrics or the loyalty of his fans. “At the end of the day, if my music can help people in some way, then I’ll be doing fine,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay true to who I am.”
From the Texas dive bars to the Mane Stage at Stagecoach, one thing’s for sure: the Koe Wetzel universe is expanding — and it’s taking no prisoners.
For more Stagecoach 2025 coverage, click here.
