It’s December already! Happy holiday season! Enjoy all that the valley has to offer this month—and stay safe!
Fantasy Springs has some shows worth checking out. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, catch the all-female Irish music ensemble Celtic Woman perform a special “Christmas Symphony.” Tickets start at $49. Rescheduled from last month, classic rock outfit Cheap Trick is headed to Indio at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. Tickets start at $49. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, celebrate Christmas a little early with “A Holiday Celebration” show by the legendary Gladys Knight. Tickets start at $49. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage has a wide variety of entertainment offerings. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, catch The Price Is Right Live, a live stage show version of one of America’s most popular TV game shows. Tickets start at $35. Returning to The Show stage once again at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, is Australia’s Thunder From Down Under, the top male revue in the world! Tickets start at $15. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, the iconic and jazzy Harry Connick Jr. will perform a holiday show. Tickets start at $145. In the mood for some standup? Catch the best ventriloquist to do it when Jeff Dunham comes to town on 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16. Tickets start at $85. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.
Agua Caliente in Cathedral City is hosting a free event this month, but you have to RSVP. Catch local favorites The Dreamboats play a rockin’ set at the Agave Caliente Terraza at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc.
Agua Caliente in Palm Springs rolls on with its trio of residencies. On Wednesdays, experience Desert Blues Revival with three-time Best of Coachella Valley winners The Gand Band continuing their Chicago Blues Caravan (Dec. 7), local saxophone star Deanna Bogart and friends (Dec. 14), the bluesy rocker Lester Lands and friends (Dec. 21), and the east L.A. blues of The Disciplez (Dec. 28). Shows are every Wednesday at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at eventspalmsprings.com/blues. On Thursdays, check out Jazzville with a soul and Christmas mix from Greg Adams and East Bay Soul Holiday Show (Dec. 1), local favorite the Paul McDonald Little Big Band with guest vocalists Hope Diamond and Jay Jackson (Dec. 8), the burlesque, tap and jazz mix of Joie de Vivre Cabaret (Dec. 15), a Christmas performance by Jazzville favorite Phat Cat Swinger (Dec. 22), and the jazzy trumpet and vocal skills of the Brian Swartz Quartet (Dec. 29). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. On Fridays, enjoy Caliente Comedy with Ester Steinberg (Dec. 2), Dean Austin (Dec. 9), Matthew Maloney (Dec. 16) and James Adomian (Dec. 23). Shows are every Friday at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $7.99, available at www.eventspalmsprings.com/caliente-comedy. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
There are so many ways to celebrate Christmas at the McCallum Theatre! In 1914, Allied and German soldiers put down their arms to celebrate the holiday together by trading carols, sharing food and drink, playing soccer and burying the dead. Combining both artifacts and music, All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 is performed at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6. Tickets start at $35. At 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12, experience Alton Brown Live: Beyond the Eats—The Holiday Variant. Be prepared for comedy, music and, of course, cooking demos. Tickets start at $55. Experience a multicultural Christmas celebration at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18, with Merri-Achi Christmas, featuring a performance by Mariachi Sol de Mexico de José Hernàndez. Tickets start at $25. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
At Morongo, there are few tickets left for these three events! At 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, catch comedian Marlon Wayans for a special desert performance. Tickets are $49. Latin act Legado 7 heads to the stage at 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. Tickets start at $39. At 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11, witness Filipino singer Lani Misalucha perform her “Yesterday Once More” show. Tickets are $59. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s is bringing the heat this cold December. For their 30th anniversary tour, ’90s rock band Everclear is pulling double duty on Friday, Dec. 2, performing an early show at 8 p.m., and a late show at 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $46 for one show, or $82 for both. Indie/ alternative band Built to Spill is also two-timing the dustbowl, at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10. Tickets start at $40. At 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18, electrifying swing revivalist band Squirrel Nut Zippers will shake up the indoor stage. Tickets are $40. New alternative hard-rock group Liily is headed to the desert at 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23. Tickets are $10. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
The AWE Bar has emerged in the high desert with a full slate of entertainment! At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec, 16, Chris Shiflett (of the Foo Fighters) will perform alongside Fox Fagan. Tickets are $22.66 to see the Foo do some solo material. Psych-rock jammers Earthless will rock the AWE stage at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17. Tickets are $22.66. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in true desert fashion at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, with Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), Victims Family and the desert all-star lineup of The Rummer Snake Charmers (Dino Lalli, Brant Bjork, Sean Wheeler, Ryan Gut, Otis Link, Herb Lineau). Tickets are $28.33. You must be 21+ to attend. AWE Bar, 56193 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley. www.awe-bar.com
The Purple Room in Palm Springs has a festive December in store. Singing strippers The Skivvies are back again to perform their Christmas show at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, Purple Room favorites Branden and James return, this time with vocalist Effie Passero from Postmodern Jukebox and American Idol. Tickets start at $45. Honoring the spirit of Judy Garland, Judy’s Old-Fashioned Christmas! featuring Michael Holmes is back, with only one show not sold out as of this writing, at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $35. All ticketed shows include 6 p.m. dinner reservations. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
Your choice for Best Outdoor Venue, Oscar’s in Palm Springs offers up varied options for your December evenings. At 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, catch the Michael Orland Open Mic, an event our readers voted as Best Open Mic. This special Christmas edition will feature Mary Bridget Davies as co-host. Tickets are $25. It’s a drag-tastic Christmas celebration at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, with Jackie Beat’s “War on Christmas” show. Tickets start at $29. At 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., celebrate New Year’s Eve the Palm Springs way with Drag Me Into 2023, featuring four great drag acts! Tickets start at $59. Most Oscar’s shows include a dinner reservation with a $20 food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
Thanks for the great report. I’m wondering if you know if Pete Carlson’s will be hosting his jazz concerts this season? Any other jazz clubs of note? Thx.