The minds behind the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. are planning on going country. Coachella promoters Goldenvoice have announced that they will launch a country music festival the weekend after Coachella that will feature the likes of George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, and Willie Nelson.

The country festival, which has yet to be named, will run from May 5-6 at the Empire Polo Field, where the Coachella fest will be hosted from April 27-29. The popular fest with an eight-year history has been extended to three days for the first time.

Performances at the new country music event will take place on four stages: a main stage, an “outlaw” stage, a bluegrass stage, and a “storytelling” area.

“This is the first year, and I think this is soemthing that’s going to be around for a long time and grow into something really special,” booker Louis Messina of TMG/AEG Live told Billboard.com.

The lineup for 2007’s Coachella music festival is expected to be announced in late January or early February.






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