Happy April! Although it’s festival season here in the Coachella Valley, there’s also a lot of music to be found in places that aren’t polo grounds.
Acrisure Arena is bringing in the rock stars. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 8, guitar hero John Mayer brings his solo tour to town. Enjoy a two-hour intimate performance by Mayer and his guitar! Available tickets start at $106. A double dose of classic rock will fill the desert air when Journey, with special guests Toto, head to the new arena at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 25. Tickets available as of this writing start at $156. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs is offering music and comedy from all around the world. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 8, comedian and former MADtv star Anjelah Johnson-Reyes will perform a set of standup. Tickets start at $39. Bringing the sounds of Hong Kong to the east valley is cantopop singer Vivian Chow, at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 15. Tickets start at $68. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, enjoy two great sets from Filipino artists Bamboo and KZ Tandingan. Tickets start at $68. Get your dance on with Latin sensation Grupo Laberinto, performing at 8 p.m., Friday, April 28. Tickets start at $39. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 29, enjoy an evening of trot music, a predecessor to Korean pop, with Park Hyun Bin. Tickets start at $39. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 kicks off April with a fun event. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 1, spend an evening with ’70s funk stars the O’Jays on their “Last Stop on the Love Train” tour! Tickets start at $55, for the love of money. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino is hosting some music legends. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 7, get up close and personal with actor, singer and Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton. Tickets start at $49. 1990s R&B stars Boyz II Men may lure you up the hill at 9 p.m., Saturday, April 8, but get ready to open your wallets: Resale tickets start at $256. At 9 p.m., Friday, April 21, experience the king of norteño music Ramón Ayala live and in person! Resale tickets start at $118. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is featuring comedy, conversation and magic amidst some sold-out shows. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 1, King of Queens and Paul Blart star Kevin James is set to perform a hilarious standup routine. Tickets start at $65. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 7, the star of the comedy/magic TV show The Carbonaro Effect, Michael Carbonaro, returns to Agua Caliente. Tickets start at $30. Interested in hearing a true story of success? Check out a conversation with Sandy Yawn, professional yacht captain and star of Below Deck Mediterranean; it will take place in the Cahuilla Ballroom. Tickets start at $35. 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 free event. Local favorites The Dreamboats return for another rock ’n’ roll soiree, this time doing a tribute set to The Beatles at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 1. The show is free, but head to the website to reserve tickets. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc.
Another month means more residency shows at Agua Caliente Palm Springs! Get your blues on every Desert Blues Revival Wednesday with the help of local rockers the Gand Band (April 5), the roots-influenced Nathan James Band (April 12), bluesy soul band The Broughams (April 19) and Americana rockers Darnell Cole and the Vibe (April 26). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at eventspalmsprings.com/blues. Jazz it up with Jazzville Thursdays featuring the 1940s swing of the Maria Schafer Quintet (April 6), a Broadway jazz tribute from Lizzy and her Contraband (April 13), the sultry sounds of eight-piece Jerry Costanzo and His Gotham City Swingers (April 20) and the bass-fronted Sean Hicke Quartet (April 27). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Laugh the week away on Caliente Comedy Fridays with Jon Huck (April 7), Jimmy Della Valle (April 14) and Steve Furey (April 28). 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 is wrapping up the ’22-’23 season this month. Broadway musical Come From Away—based on the real story of when 38 planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly in Newfoundland on Sept. 11, 2001—comes to Palm Desert for eight performances, from Tuesday, April 4, through Sunday, April 9.Tickets start at $65. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, enjoy a tribute to ’70s rockers the Eagles with Eaglemania, performing both Eagles hits and solo works. Tickets start at $95. For the 25th anniversary of Riverdance, you can witness a unique and new stage show. Watch it at 8 p.m., Friday, April 14; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, April 15; and 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 16. Tickets start at $55. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s continues to celebrate the beauty and diversity of music. At 10 p.m., Saturday, April 1, proto-punk rockers Death Valley Girls bring hot riffs that burn just as hot as the real Death Valley. Tickets are $17. Enjoy the desert night alongside the chill indie vibes of King Tuff at 9:30 p.m., Friday, April 7. Tickets are $25. At 10:30 p.m., Saturday, April 15, experience an intimate performance from Grammy Award-winning, culture- and music-blending artist Ozomatli. Tickets start at $45. If reggae and Pioneertown sounds like a perfect combination, then head to Pappy’s at 9 p.m., Sunday, April 16 to catch Long Beach Dub All-Stars. Tickets are $25. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 29, jam to some synthwave sounds courtesy of George Clanton. Tickets start at $31.50. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
The Purple Room intends to entertain! On Friday, April 7, enjoy an evening of live jazz with Rose Mallett that is free with a dinner reservation. In the mood for a raucous drag quartet? Check out Drag Queen Story Time Gone Wild! starring Kinsey Sicks, at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15. Tickets start at $45. 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 and Saturday, April 21 and 22. Tickets are $40. Legendary Broadway actor Tommy Tune is spending three evenings in Palm Springs to share stories from his illustrious career—interviewed by Lucie Arnaz!—at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29;and 7 p.m., Sunday, April 30. Remaining tickets are $79. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
