Ashlee Simpson Revives Early-2000s Era at Stagecoach Festival Emo Nite Event

A wave of early-2000s nostalgia swept through the Stagecoach Festival on Friday night as Emo Nite, the traveling DJ-driven party known for celebrating pop-punk and emo classics, took over Diplo’s Honky Tonk with a lineup built around throwback performances and crowd-driven sing-alongs.

The event, held inside the large tented Honky Tonk venue, featured appearances from Ashlee Simpson and 3OH!3, both of whom leaned into the theme of early-2000s revival. The night blended festival energy with club-style DJ sets, creating a hybrid environment that encouraged audience participation rather than traditional concert structure.

The set began with Emo Nite founders Morgan Reed and T.J. Petracca, who curated a playlist anchored in defining tracks from the pop-punk and emo scenes. Songs like Sugar, We're Goin Down by Fall Out Boy helped establish the tone early, with attendees responding enthusiastically to a sequence of remixes and hits from artists including Panic! At The Disco, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, and The All-American Rejects.

Additional tracks expanded the nostalgic range beyond emo into broader early-2000s pop and alternative hits. Songs such as Mr. Brightside by The Killers and All the Small Things by Blink-182 drew strong crowd reactions, with attendees singing along throughout the set. The playlist also included unexpected additions, including Baby by Justin Bieber, reflecting the event’s broader interpretation of nostalgia.

The first live performance of the night came from 3OH!3, who appeared onstage in themed costumes, one dressed as Woody from Toy Story, reinforcing the playful tone of the event. The duo performed several of their well-known tracks, including My First Kiss, and engaged directly with the crowd, encouraging jumping and sing-alongs. Their set also featured Don't Trust Me, a song that remains one of their most recognizable releases despite past controversy over its lyrics.

The atmosphere inside the Honky Tonk tent reflected the crossover nature of Stagecoach itself, where country, pop, and dance music often intersect. Festivalgoers, many dressed in Western-inspired outfits, participated in the high-energy set while maintaining the event’s country-festival backdrop.

The evening concluded with an appearance by Ashlee Simpson, who performed selections from her debut album Autobiography, released in 2004. Wearing a fringe leather jacket, Simpson delivered songs including La La and Pieces of Me, both of which were met with strong audience recognition and engagement.

Simpson’s appearance marked a relatively rare live performance for the singer, who has maintained a lower public profile in recent years. Her most recent studio album, Bittersweet World, was released in 2008. However, she has returned to the stage in select settings, including a short Las Vegas residency at Voltaire at the Venetian Resort. She also recently re-entered mainstream television audiences as the winner of Season 14 of The Masked Singer.

In a recent interview, Simpson indicated that new music may be forthcoming, stating that she is currently inspired and looking ahead to future performances and releases.