Happy New Year! Get your 2023 started off right with some great Coachella Valley entertainment!
Let’s welcome the newest big stage in town, the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert. Sesame Street Live! is performing three family-friendly shows, at 2 and 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11, and 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 12. Tickets start at $23 to see your favorite childhood heroes (or your kids’) in person! At 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15, Latin legend Pepe Aguilar will grace the brand-new arena. Tickets start at $39.50. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs has some fun January offerings. Comedy and props combine at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13,when Carrot Top takes the stage. Tickets start at $29. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, two icons of soul combine when The Temptations and The Four Tops share the Indio stage. Tickets start at $49. Grammy Award-winning pop-rock outfit Train brings its series of hits to Fantasy Springs at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21. Tickets start at $59. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27, music icon Engelbert Humperdinck brings legacy and song to the valley. Tickets start at $49. Get ready to dance with Latin sensations Los Huracanes Del Norte when they return to Fantasy at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets start at $39. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage is starting the new year off with a diverse lineup. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, pay tribute to one of rock’s greatest with One Vision of Queen starring Marc Martel. Martel was handpicked by the surviving members of Queen to lead a tribute tour. Tickets start at $40. Groove to some ’90s rock with Collective Soul, performing at The Show at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13. Tickets start at $35. Returning yet again to Agua at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, it’s Theresa Caputo and her “Long Island Medium” experience. Tickets start at $75. For something different, Agua Caliente is hosting the Rancho Mirage Legend of Sports Speaker Series, beginning 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, with NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. Tickets start at $60. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27, disco-funk outfit KC and the Sunshine Band heads to Rancho Mirage. Tickets start at $45. 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 one ticketed event, and one free event—but you have to RSVP. The free event features local favorites The Dreamboats playing a rockin’ set at the Agave Caliente Terraza at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7. Again, the event is free, but you must RSVP. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, catch the Lucha Libre Mexicana perform a wildly entertaining series of wrestling matches! Tickets start at $15. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc.
Residencies stay rockin’ at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays bring the Mississippi-born Steven Taylor Blues Band (Jan. 4), classic blues rejuvenator Tommy Peacock (Jan. 11), Long Beach guitar-star Laurie Morvan Band (Jan. 18) and the soul charm of 18KT Blue (Jan. 25). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at eventspalmsprings.com/blues. Jazzville Thursdays offer the groovy swing of the Pino Noir Quartet (Jan. 5), the piano-heavy Irving Flores Latin Band (Jan. 12), the smoky voice of the Angie Wells Quartet (Jan. 19) and the swing and jump blues of Alpha Rhythm Kings (Jan. 26). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Have some laughs on Caliente Comedy Fridays with Sierra Katow (Jan. 6), Brooks Wheelan (Jan. 13), Jeremiah Watkins (Jan. 20), and Daniel Eachus (Jan. 27). Shows are 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.
The McCallum Theatre offers many reasons to visit Palm Desert this January—although many shows are already sold out! At 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13 and 14 the legendary Neil Sedaka will grace the McCallum stage. Tickets start at $65. For the I Love Lucy fans out there: A new play, Lucy Loves Desi, details the story of the beloved sitcom, and it’s coming to town at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tickets start at $25. At 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, the famous Monterey Jazz Festival brings its touring show to Palm Desert! Check our performances by Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian Sands and others. Tickets start at $45. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Morongo Casino is hosting a few shows worthy of hopping on the I-10. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, enjoy a “Ladies Night” with singers Sheena Easton and Taylor Dane. Tickets start at $39. In the mood for some classical music? Check out Christopher Wong at 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 22. Tickets start at $68. Country music singer Carly Pearce will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27. Tickets start at $282. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, relive the 2000s with the “Pop 2000” tour, featuring Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC with Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, O-Town, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. Tickets start at $39. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s is burning up with events on the indoor stage as the Pioneertown nights freeze over. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, celebrate the music of icons Jerry Garcia and David Grisman with Grisman’s son and the Sam Grisman Project. Tickets start at $17.50. Enjoy some soul and blues-rock with Tommy Castro and the Painkillers at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13. Tickets are $20. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, enjoy a triple-dose of rock with Gilby Clarke and the Keef Richards, Frankie and the Studs and Johnny Zapp. Tickets are $20. Of Barenaked Ladies fame, singer/songwriter Steven Page will head for Pappy’s 9:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20. Tickets are $30. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
AWE Bar has some noteworthy concerts this month. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, enjoy an evening of modern country music from Gethen Jenkins and Eric Roebuck. Tickets are $22.66. Enjoy some more country/Western music with Melissa Carper and Kassi Valazza at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19. Tickets are $15.87. At 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, enjoy two sets—one acoustic and one electric—from folk rockers Mapache. Tickets are $17. The indie/shoegaze combo of Film School and MØAA head to the desert at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26. Tickets are $13.60. You must be 21+ to attend. AWE Bar, 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley. www.awe-bar.com.
The Purple Room in Palm Springs has a packed January calendar. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13 and 14, celebrate Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim with an evening of music sung by Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie. Tickets are $50 to $55. Stunning jazz vocalist Linda Purl is set to perform a Palm Springs show at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20. Tickets are $40 to $45. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, witness two Broadway stars joining forces when Alix Korey and Teri Ralston grace the stage. Tickets are $40 to $50. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28, John Lloyd Young is set to perform both classics and originals. Tickets range from $55 to $60. 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.
Oscar’s has two stand-out tributes alongside the regular programming. At 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 16, enjoy an evening with Robin Williams starring Roger Kabler. Tickets start at $44.95. At 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, pay tribute to Judy Garland with the help of impersonator Nancy Hays. Tickets start at $30. 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.
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