It’s May in the Coachella Valley, and things are heating up! Make sure to stay safe and hydrated if you’re heading to any of these great events.
Acrisure Arena continues to deliver a wide variety of entertainment. Mexican rock legends Caifanes bring their big sound to the big arena at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 20. Tickets start at $49. Can’t get enough of the Acrisure ice? Check out Stars on Ice, featuring some of the greatest ice skaters of today, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 26. Tickets start at $36. At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 31, enjoy a chance to see one of country music’s crown jewels, Shania Twain. Tickets start at $100.95. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs has a few May offerings of note. Catch ’90s Mexican-American group Intocable at 8 p.m., Thursday, May 4. Tickets start at $49. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 12, recently rebranded Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) brings country jams to town. Tickets start at $79. Rap icon Ice Cube will perform an evening of hits at 8 p.m., Friday, May 19. Tickets start at $59. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is hosting two great May nights of music. At 8 p.m., Thursday, May 18, Aaron Lewis (formerly of the band Staind) is performing a night of solo country material. Tickets start at $55. Catch some live magic before it disappears at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 20, when the Masters of Illusion head to the city of Coachella. Tickets start at $20, and you must be 21+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo is featuring music, comedy—and a hypnotist! At 9 p.m., Friday, May 5, experience Mexican vocalist Luis Angel “El Flaco” live! Available tickets start at $130. Grammy Award-winning soul singer Peabo Bryson will perform at 9 p.m., Saturday, May 6. Tickets start at $39. At 9 p.m., Friday, May 12, enjoy an intimate performance from ’80s rockers Skid Row. Tickets start at $18. Comedian/actor Rob Schneider will help you laugh the night away at 9 p.m., Friday, May 26. Tickets start at $39. Trying to reach the other side? Spend an evening with Cindy Kaza, a medium/psychic/hypnotist, making a special trip to Morongo at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 27. Tickets start at $39. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage features a diverse variety of May shows. Described as “the best Beatles tribute ever,” The Fab Four will perform a special night of Beatles tunes at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 13. Tickets range from $25 to $60. Returning to The Show stage once again at 8 p.m., Friday, May 19, is Australia’s Thunder From Down Under, the No. 1 male revue in the world! Tickets are $15 to $55. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 20, enjoy a visit from the infectious Regional Mexican band La Adictiva. Tickets are $45 to $80. Now is your chance to see one of Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Comics of All Time, as Russell Peters heads to Agua at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 27. Tickets are $65 to $135. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.hotwatercasino.com.
Residency shows roll on into summer at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature the Independent’s Best of Coachella Valley readers’ poll champs the Gand Band (May 3), the eclectic Mystic Chiefs (May 10), the multi-instrumentalist-led Jessica Kaczmarek Band (May 17), the high energy rockin’ blues of the Laurie Morvan Band (May 24) and the country blues of Emily Rose and the Rounders (May 31). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $10, available at eventspalmsprings.com/blues. Jazzville Thursdays offer the classic jazz and Latin/bossa nova sounds of the Tony Guerrero Quintet with Lia Booth (May 4), the singing and trombone styles of the Aubrey Logan Quartet (May 11), the singer/composer/producer/actor-led Patrick Barnitt and Quartet (May 18) and the return of the Hollywood Film Noirchestra, with a tribute to Henry Mancini (May 25). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Laugh your Friday night away with Caliente Comedy acts Peter Loaiza (May 5), Jeff Leach (May 12), Ali Macofsky (May 19) and Jerry Garcia (May 26). 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 hosting two more events before closing for the summer. College of the Desert is presenting one of the world’s most popular musicals, Man of La Mancha, for four different performances. Catch talented student actors at 8 p.m., Friday, May 5; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, May 6, and 2 p.m., Sunday, May 7. Tickets start at $28. At 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 19, celebrate Mexican dance with the Pacifico Dance Company. Tickets are $10. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s offers another month of heavy hitters. Here are a few shows that aren’t sold out yet as of this writing. L.A. punk band The Bronx’s frequent mariachi side project, Mariachi El Bronx, is set to perform at 9 p.m., Sunday, May 7. Advance tickets are $25. At 10 p.m., Thursday, May 18, experience an intimate set from ’90s rockers Sponge. Tickets start at $20. Actor Billy Bob Thornton and his band The Boxmasters will bring country rock to the desert at 9:30 p.m., Friday, May 19. Tickets are $45. At 9 p.m., Sunday, May 28, Pioneertown emo fans can sing their heart out to the songs of the ’90s/’00s they know and love with the help of recent Coachella performers Emo Nite. Remaining tickets start at $31. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
The Purple Room is prominently featuring both music and drag events before its summer closure. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 5, Randy Roberts (of America’s Got Talent) brings a classic drag show with a modern twist. Tickets start at $40. Pay tribute to Tina Turner with the help of Debby Holiday at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 6. Tickets are $35. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13, John Lloyd Young is set to perform classic Broadway hits. Tickets start at $55. Enjoy a jazz-centric evening with stellar vocalist Jane Monheit at 8 p.m., Friday, May 19. Tickets start at $55. Tony Award-nominated sisters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway will entertain with “Broadway the Calla-way!”, a night of musical classics, at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, May 26 and 27; and 7 p.m., Sunday, May 28. Tickets start at $60. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs is hosting some unique shows beyond the usual residencies. At 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, hear an intimate performance by former members of the Four Seasons, The Modern Gentlemen. Tickets start at $45. Talented jazz vocalist Jack Donahue will perform a Palm Springs set at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 17. Tickets start at $35. Nine drag stars will join forces for an all-star show titled Legends of Drag, happening at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 18. Tickets start at $25. Oscar’s will host one of California’s longest-running drag shows, Dreamgirls Revue, at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 25. Tickets are $15. At 6 and 9 p.m., Friday, May 26, catch a drag-tinged musical version of ’80s TV show with Who’s Da Boss? Live! Tickets start at $34.95. Most Oscar’s shows include a dinner reservation with a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
