It’s April, aka festival season, here in the Coachella Valley—but there are many great events being held beyond the polo fields; here is but a sampling. Enjoy—and stay safe!
Fantasy Springs brings both the laughs and the grooves this month. At 9 p.m., Friday, April 8, comedy legend Chris Rock comes to Indio. From countless specials to his series Everybody Hates Chris, this guy sure knows how to make stuff funny. Tickets are $79 to $149. Mexican brother-and-sister pop duo Jesse and Joy will light up the night at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 10. Tickets range from $29 to $59 to see the Grammy-winning pair. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
The McCallum Theatre will soon enter its summer slumber—but not before a great month of events. One of the valley’s best talent-show competitions, the Open Call Talent Project, is back for two shows, at 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, April 16. Come see a group of local performers show off their various talents and skills! Tickets are $20 to $55. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, former pro golfer-turned-sports host-turned-funnyman David Feherty comes to town for a couple of nights of comedy. Tickets are $65 to $125. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is putting an emphasis on tribute shows this April. Zeppelin USA pays homage to Led Zeppelin—right down to the hair!—at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9. Tickets are $20 to $35. Scott Keo pays tribute to Michael Buble with an evening of Buble’s hits at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 16. Tickets are $20 to $45. For something more original, the Chippendales-esque cowboys of Country Thunder From Down Under will return to the valley at 8 p.m., Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30. Tickets are $15 to $25. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.
Agua Caliente in Palm Springs continues to feature Jazzville and Caliente Comedy. On Jazzville Thursdays, you can catch the piano- and accordion-led Ben Rosenblum Trio (April 7), the Latin quartet Conganas (April 14), obscure and old-timey selections from the Holy Crow Jazz Band (April 21), and the bluesy Moontones (April 28). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. On Caliente Comedy Fridays, announced performers as of this writing include Quinn Dahle (April 1), Bobby Tessell (April 8), Jessica Michelle Singleton (April 15) and Greg Wilson (April 22). You must be 21 to attend, and tickets start at $19.99, available at www.eventspalmsprings.com/caliente-comedy. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Morongo is hosting a few featured events in April. Filipino singer-songwriter, television presenter, comedian, parodist and actor Ogie Alcasid is set to perform at 5 p.m., Sunday, April 3. Tickets, if any are left, start at $58. Sixteen-time (!) Grammy Award nominee Brian McKnight is bringing his R&B hits to Cabazon at 9 p.m., Saturday, April 23. Tickets start at $59. At 6 p.m., Sunday, April 24, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery will perform his popular brand of country music. Tickets start at $47. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s has an extensive April calendar; here are a few shows that caught my attention. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 1, garage-rock king Ty Segall and his riff-rock three-piece band Fuzz will rumble Pioneertown. Tickets are $28 in advance. Psychedelic jammers Circles Around the Sun return to the desert for a long night of tunes at 9 p.m., Sunday, April 10. Tickets are $25 in advance. At 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19,catch alternative-pop performer Still Woozy in between his two Coachella performances. Tickets are $58. Punk rockers Bikini Kill are headed for the palace at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 26. Tickets are $39.50. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s continues to offer a lot of unique shows in April. At 7 p.m., Friday, April 1,comedy and music duo Deven Green and Handsome Ned take the Oscar’s stage. Tickets are $35. Saxophonist MikeMRF, featuring Perfect Mark arrives at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 21. MikeMRF is celebrating the release of Wait Just Listen, his new live album with Lisa Bello. Tickets are $30 to $35. Sutton Lee Seymour and Cacophony Daniels are Dragamaniacs, and will be performing a night of songs and laughs, at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 28. Tickets are $35 to $45. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room is bringing the goods! At 8 p.m., Friday, April 1, cabaret star Carole J. Bufford will perform her new show Vintage Pop!, a journey of pop music throughout the decades. Tickets range from $30 to $35. Palm Springs resident and nine-time Grammy winner Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer) is gracing the Purple Room stage at 8 p.m. on both Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9. Tickets are $45 to 55. Comedy duo Lee Squared, who imagine how Liberace and Peggy Lee would navigate today’s world, are returning for a two-night stay, at 8 p.m., Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16. Tickets are $35 to $40. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, Black Market Trust will perform hits from Sinatra, the Rat Pack and beyond! Tickets are $35 to $45. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
The Alibi in Palm Springs is back! From Husker Dü, Bob Mould will bring his Solo Electric sound to The Alibi stage at 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 1. Tickets are $27. Alternative rock group Lemonheads will be playing album It’s a Shame About Ray in its entirety at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 2. Tickets are $45. At 9 p.m., Saturday, April 16, and Sunday, April 17, the queen of bounce music herself, Big Freedia, will perform her hits. Tickets are $35. At 8 p.m., Monday, April 25, the duo of Andy McKee and Yasmin Williams team up for a night of guitar excellence. Tickets are $30 to $45. All events are 21+. The Alibi Palm Springs, 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-656-1525; thealibipalmsprings.com.
The Palm Springs Cultural Center has added enough music to earn inclusion in The Venue Report! Enjoy Soulful Sundays with Keisha D, one of the valley’s best soul singers, every Sunday at 5 p.m. Monday at 5 p.m. is time for Mon Petit Salon; violin virtuoso Jeremie Levi Samson hosts an evening of eclectic jams every week. Tuesdays at 5 p.m., the Cultural Center welcomes Jazz on the Second Floor with Leanna and the Jazz Collective. These events are free all free with a two-drink minimum. At 5 p.m., Saturday, April 2, Rosemary Galore hosts Drag-O-Rama, an evening of drag and history! Tickets are $15 to $25. At 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, Martinis and Moxie present a tribute to Dino and Dinah. Tickets are $55 to celebrate the entertaining history these legends. Alohana, Palm Springs’ regular celebration of tiki culture, returns at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 17. Tickets are $5! Bring your grass skirt! Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs; 760-325-6565; psculturalcenter.org.
