Promoter Paul Tollett said the currently unnamed fest will take place May 5 – 6 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio. It follows the established Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which runs April 27 – 29.

Tollett said the country music event will include Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Nickel Creek, Garrison Keillor and Riders In The Sky. But that’s just a sample of what’s to come.

“This is kind of a country version of Coachella,” the promoter told the Desert Sun of Palm Springs.

The newpaper reported there will be a few changes in the configuration of the Empire Polo Club after the Coachella festival, but the fences and parking will remain the same, as will the idea of hosting different kinds of music in different parts of the huge venue.

Some of the concepts being floated by Goldenvoice reportedly include three themed stages – today’s country, alt country and bluegrass. A fourth would feature cowboy artists and storytellers like Riders In The Sky, Red Steagall, and Keillor.

The Desert Sun said Goldenvoice may put a wooden floor in the large Sahara tent-like pavilion for country dancing.

Indio officials said the company has not applied for permits and proposals have not been discussed with the appropriate authorities.

But after seven years of success with Coachella, Tollett said he plans to follow his usual procedure and submit his plans to Indio officials a month before the event.

He said he announced the event quite a bit earlier than he would have liked because a few of the booking agents involved in the negotiation have been gabbing and the news has stirred up a minor fuss in the industry.