Happy May, everyone! May you have an eventful and safe month. (Sorry, not sorry!)
Fantasy Springs has two shows on the calendar. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 20, recently rebranded Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) will bring their country jams to town. Tickets range from $79 to $159. A night of puro Mexican music is set for Friday, May 27, at 8 p.m., as Luis R. Conriquez and special guests La Original Banda El Limón will unite. Remaining tickets—and there weren’t many as of our deadline—are $49 to $79. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
The McCallum Theatre is concluding its 2021-2022 season with one final show in May. From Thursday, May 5, to Sunday, May 8, catch College of the Desert’s production of Cabaret. Tickets range from $23 to $38 to watch COD bring out “full Broadway staging and orchestration.” McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is jam-packed with entertainment this month, but most of the shows are sold out. At 8 p.m., Thursday, May 5, the uber-hilarious Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is coming to the Coachella Valley. Tickets range from $75 to $95, and are moving fast! At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 7, Wilson Phillips, the pop trio composed of the daughters of both Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) and John and Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and the Papas), will grace The Show stage. Tickets range from $45 to $85 to see the group perform their hits like “Hold On.” Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.
Agua Caliente in Palm Springs is adding a new regular series in May. (Read more about it on Page 26.) Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., Desert Blues Revival features great blues, rock and soul acts like the sax-driven Woody Mankowski Blues Band (May 4), Brazilian guitarist Celso Salim and Californian harmonica player Darryl Carriere (May 11), thelocal multi-genre great Hope Diamond Blues (May 18), and the surf rockin’ sounds of Spongebob himself, Tom Kenny and the Hi-Seas (May 25). Tickets start at $10, available at eventspalmsprings.com/blues. Jazzville Thursdays bring in the Latin-jazz of the Margo Rey Quintet (May 5), the Afro-Peruvian music of the Anibal Seminario Sextet (May 12),a tribute to Heart’s Nancy Wilson with the Sacha Boutros Quintet (May 19) and an evening of movie magic with the Hollywood Film Noirchestra (May 26). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Caliente Comedy Fridays bring the laughs with Ralph Porter (May 6), ISMO (May 13), Orlando Leyba (May 20) and Mike Merrill (May 27). 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.
Pappy and Harriet’s must know that summer is coming, ’cause this month’s lineup is HOT! L.A. punk band The Bronx’s mariachi side project, Mariachi El Bronx, is set to perform at 9:30 p.m., Sunday, May 8. Advance tickets are $30. At 8 p.m., Thursday, May 12, legendary Australian post-punkers The Church will perform an intimate show. Tickets are $35. The wildly experimental Son Lux is headed to Pappy’s indoor stage at 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 17. Tickets are $25. Pulling double duty in the dust bowl is the Grateful Dead cover band Grateful Shred, performing at 7 p.m., Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28. Tickets start at $30. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s has some events that are definitely worth your while. At 7 p.m., Friday, May 13, drag star Heklina is presenting her first “one-woman” cabaret show! Tickets are $30 to $40. Local jazz great, actress and songwriter Rose Mallett will perform an evening of music at 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 20. A $10 surcharge will be added to dinners. At 7 p.m., Saturday, May 21, Marieann Meringolo will bring the songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, the songwriting duo behind greats like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson, Johnny Mathis and most notably Barbra Streisand. 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 in Palm Springs is hosting all sorts of fantastic events! At 8 p.m., Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, the drag greats of Kinsey Sicks will bring the wildly entertaining Dragapella to town. Tickets are $40 to $50. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14, singer Jane Monheit is set to perform. Tickets are $55 to $65. Drag duo Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine celebrate 30 years of friendship with their “Dirty Thirty” show at 8 p.m., Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
The Alibi is continuing to bring in top-tier acts—and injecting some doses of local talent. At 7 p.m., Thursday, May 12, psychedelic indie rockers Tropa Magica team up with the valley’s own Slipping Into Darkness for a night of spacey jams. Tickets are $15 in advance. Dark pop act Wet is set to perform an intimate show in Palm Springs at 8 p.m., Friday, May 13. Tickets are $20. At 7 p.m., Friday, May 27, take a trip with the experimental guitar duo Hermanos Gutierrez. Advance tickets are $20. Catch the Penrose Records Showcase at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 with acts including Thee Sinseers, The Altons and Los Yesterdays. These events are 21+, except Tropa Magica (18+). The Alibi Palm Springs, 369 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-656-1525; thealibipalmsprings.com.
