Happy March! Here’s what you can expect from the valley’s vast entertainment scene this month.
Acrisure Arena is offering a fascinating variety of shows. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 2, pro wrestling returns to Palm Desert for WWE Road to Wrestlemania. Catch the high-flying action from some of the best in sports entertainment! Tickets start at $26. The legendary Madonna celebrates four decades of hits on “The Celebration Tour,” at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 13. Resale tickets started at $225 as of this writing. Enjoy the return of bona fide rodeo with the PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, spending two evenings at Acrisure, at 8 p.m., Friday, March 15;and 7 p.m., Saturday, March 16. Tickets start at $26, or $71.50 for a two-day pass. At 7 p.m., Friday, March 22, country star and longtime coach on The Voice Blake Shelton brings some twangy jams to the desert. Resale tickets started at $161 as of this writing. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 29, Puerto Rican rapper and “King of Reggaeton” Don Omar heads to the valley. Tickets start at $107. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum Theatre features a number of engaging stage shows. Historic Broadway smash Chicago will run for five performances, from Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 3. Tickets range from $65 to $145. At 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, funnyman Brad Williams brings high-energy standup to town. Tickets range from $35 to $85. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 9, musician, actor, author, playwright and sheer talent Storm Large will share an evening of songs from her solo career and work with Pink Martini, Michael Feinstein and her own band, Le Bonheur. Tickets range from $45 to $85. McCallum favorite and genre-shifters Pink Martini will give the locals the music they love during six straight shows. Performances run from Wednesday, March 13, through Sunday, March 17. Tickets range from $55 to $95. At 3 p.m., Sunday, March 24, the revue show composed of all-star magicians heads to Palm Desert as It’s Magic! celebrates its 66th edition. Tickets range from $25 to $55. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs has a busy March; here are some highlights. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 1, 1990s hitmakers Gin Blossoms head to Indio. Tickets range from $39 to $89. Comedian and podcast host Tim Dillon is set to bring the laughs at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 9. Tickets range from $39 to $99. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 16, enjoy an ’00s R&B party with your host, Diamond selling, Grammy Award-winning rap sensation Nelly. Tickets range from $59 to $139. Rock star, superstar and activist Melissa Etheridge will perform a mix of easy and blues rock gems at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 30. Tickets range from $49 to $79. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is all about tribute acts this month! At 3 p.m., Thursday, March 7, the “Ultimate Elvis,” Justin Shandor, pays respects to The King. The show is free. The Beatles never had the chance to perform their hits in a live orchestral setting, but Classical Mystery Tour pays tribute to The Fab Four with a live string section, at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 9. Tickets start at $15. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 15, experience musical-tribute royalty with Killer Queen, honoring the energy and sounds of the rock-anthem legends. Tickets start at $20. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo tickets are moving fast! Here’s what was left as of our print deadline. At 9 p.m., Friday, March 15, ’80s funkateers Cameo will bring a nonstop groove to Cabazon. Tickets start at $49. At 6 p.m., Sunday, March 24, country-pop star Russell Dickerson will perform an intimate show. Tickets start at $20. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage boasts a stacked lineup; here are some highlights. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 1, the extremely recognizable voice of legendary soul singer Smokey Robinson comes to Rancho Mirage. Tickets range from $85 to $225. Three ’80s bands are teaming up for 80’s Fest, happening at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 2, and featuring Berlin, The Hooters and The Smithereens. Tickets range from $35 to $75. America’s Got Talent’s Daniel Emmet and American Idol’s Pia Toscano are teaming up for an evening of song at 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 6—and they’ll be backed by The Desert Symphony. Tickets range from $45 to $75. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 16, Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) and AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys) will take the stage for a night of boy-band hits. Tickets range from $50 to $150. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Three events at Agua Caliente in Cathedral City are not to be missed! At 9 p.m., Friday, March 1, catch a free show by the high energy, genre-mixing Los Garza’z. Cathedral City celebrates LGBT Days with a performance from comedian River Butcher at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 9. Tickets are $30. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 16, the rockers behind hits like “Godzilla” and “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” Blue Öyster Cult, will grace the Agave Caliente Terraza stage. Tickets are $50. Agua Caliente Cathedral City, 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com/cc.
The residences at Agua Caliente Palm Springs roll on in March. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature the blues/Americana mix of Allison August (March 6); a Blues Brothers tribute led by local luminaries The Gand Band (March 13); radio host, comedian and local musician Brad Mercer and his band The Profile (March 20); and the local fiery guitar of Laurie Morvan Band (March 27). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15 to $19, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Jazzville Thursdays bring a tribute to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass from Marty Lush and His Latin Livers for Jazzville’s sixth anniversary (March 7); legendary saxman Bob Sheppard and his quintet, featuring vocalist Maria Puga Lareo (March 14); the jazzy sound combination of Austin-based vocalist Christian Wiggs, firebrand trumpeter Danny Jonokuchi and the Kevin van den Elzen Quintet (March 21), and the eight-piece time-capsule pop sound of Jerry Costanzo and His Gotham City Swingers (March 28). Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at jazzvillepalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s has the live-music goods! At 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, psychobilly surf-rock heavyweights Reverend Horton Heat will return to Pappy’s. Tickets are $35. Longtime Ty Segall collaborator Charles Moothart brings his own garage-rock gems to town at 10:30 p.m., Friday, March 15. Tickets are $18. At 6:30 p.m., Sunday, March 24,the folk sounds of Dawes meet the indie-pop jams of Lucius when the two bands perform as one band. Tickets start at $45. The neo-psychedelic project of country icon Willie Nelson’s son Micah Nelson, Particle Kid, visits the high desert at 9 p.m., Sunday, March 24. Tickets are $20. At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 30, ska sensation Save Ferris returns to the desert after a previous sold-out show. Tickets are $39.50. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs is bringing in some surprises. At 7 p.m., Saturday, March 23, experience an intimate evening with Latin hip-hop and freestyle diva Lisa Lisa. Tickets start at $29.95. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, David Marino, the multilingual jazz crooner and finalist of Canada’s The Voice, heads to town. Tickets start at $40. Tickets are moving fast to see Palm Springs favorites Branden and James with special guest Effie Passero as they perform songs from their joint album. Tickets start at $39.95. At 7 and 9:30 p.m., Friday, March 29, comedian Willie Barcena is set to bring the laughs. Tickets start at $39.95. Oscar’s shows usually include 5:30 dinner reservations and a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
Tickets are moving fast over at the Purple Room. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, Andrea McArdle, the original Annie on Broadway, brings tales and tunes from a lifetime onstage. Tickets start at $45. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 23, Chadwick Johnson performs songs from Michael Bolton, Michael McDonald and the legendary George Michael. Tickets are $40. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30, Broadway star and television performer Karen Mason pays tribute to songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb. Tickets start at $45. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.