It’s April—and the valley has a lot of entertainment to offer beyond Coachella and Stagecoach!
Acrisure Arena features two music experiences. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6, Freestyle Explosion: Throwback Jam celebrates some of the best spontaneous rappers in the game. The event will feature performances by Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Lisette Melendez, Noel, Connie, Pretty Poison and Nocera. Tickets start at $39.50. At 8 p.m., Thursday, April 25, Mexican singer and “El Sol de México” Luis Miguel returns to Acrisure. Tickets start at $116. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum Theatre’s lineup is as diverse as ever. Enjoy an engaging conversation about the beauty of travel with Andrew Evans and his presentation Travel: A Bridge to Enlightenment, at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 7. Tickets start at $20. At 7 p.m., Sunday, April 14, the eccentric, eclectic and entertaining Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will perform an unforgettable show—with many ukuleles! Tickets start at $25. The McCallum’s annual talent competition, Open Call, is back for its 26th year. The competition shows will take place at 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, April 20; and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 21. Tickets start at $20. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs is hosting boxing, music and comedy! At 5 p.m., Thursday, April 4, enjoy a night of Golden Boy Boxing. WBC Super Bantamweight Continental Latino Titleholder Tito Sanchez of Cathedral City will fight Erik Ruiz in front of a hometown crowd. Tickets start at $35. You’ve seen him onstage, in movies and on your television late at night—it’s George Lopez, and he’s heading to Indio for nonstop laughs at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Tickets start at $69. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 12, the hard-hitting rock of Godsmack will fill the Special Events Center. Tickets start at $59. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 13, Asian entertainment act Happy Family will perform. Tickets start at $68. Lea Salonga—actress, singer and the voice behind various Disney recordings—will enchant the desert 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27. Tickets start at $48. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 Casino has two shows on the docket this month. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 6, catch singer/songwriter and member of New Edition Johnny Gill. Tickets start at $40. Experience nearly six decades of Mexican music when legacy act La Original Banda El Limón performs at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 27. Tickets start at $25. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo Casino has a busy April. At 8 p.m., Thursday, April 4, comedians Teo Gonzalez and Don Cheto team up for Latinx hilarity. Tickets start at $59.99. Enjoy more Mexican acts at 9 p.m., Friday, April 12, with performances by Hijos De Barron and Alegres de la Sierra. Tickets start at $70. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 19, enjoy a double dose of R&B with songs from Dru Hill and Montell Jordan. Tickets start at $59. Comedian, actor and all-around entertainer Craig Robinson will head to Cabazon at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 20. Tickets start at $49. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage has a packed April; here are some noteworthy events. At 8 p.m., Thursday, April 4, Grammy Award-winning country artist Clay Walker will perform a show to raise funds for student-enrichment programs and services at College of the Desert. Tickets start at $50. Whether you know her from TV shows or her Netflix specials, you know that Fortune Feimster is hilarious, and she’s bringing her standup show to town at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Tickets start at $35. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 20, dance the evening away with Spanish music legends Los Ángeles Azules. Tickets start at $65. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Another month means more residency events at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature Los Angeles Blues rocker Jamey Arent (April 3), Coachella Valley favorite The Gand Band (April 10) and a double performance of Brasilanova, the sultry-smooth sounds of bossa nova from acclaimed singing group A Cabbello (April 17 and April 24). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets range from $15 to $35, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Jazzville Thursdays are being rebranded for a bit as Carousel, “where the nostalgic melodies of yesteryear come alive in a rotating collection of captivating jazz shows.” This month’s offerings include the vintage sound of The Groove Empire Orchestra (April 4), 1960s cinema jazz from The Secret Agents (April 11), swingin’ songs by Sherry Williams with the Doug MacDonald Trio (April 18) and clarinetist and saxophonist Chloe Feoranzo. Shows take place at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $15, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s features nonstop music. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, blues rocker Andy Frasco will perform, with the opener being the Kyle Gass Band, led by Kyle Gass of Tenacious D. Tickets are $27. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 6, alt-pop icon Gary Numan returns to the high desert for another intimate show. Tickets start at $40. Experience intense rock energy from The Schizophonics at the indoor stage at 9:30 p.m., Friday, April 12. Tickets start at $15. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, April 19, prepare for a one-two punk punch from Supersuckers and Guana Batz. Tickets start at $22.50. Hopeful themes packed into folk rock will be featured for two nights, as Gone Gone Beyond is set to perform at 9:30 p.m., Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27. Tickets start at $25. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs is featuring some engaging tribute-themed entertainment. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 13, Sheri Winkelmann will tackle the songs of Connie Francis, from ballads to Broadway. Tickets start at $39.95. Mia Karter, backed by a nine-piece ensemble, will pay homage to the great Amy Winehouse at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 17. Tickets start at $59.95. Some shows include a dinner reservation and a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room features four diverse weekends of shows! At 8 p.m., Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, Ken Page celebrates five decades as a performer with his show “Right Here, Right Now.” Tickets start at $45. Tickets are moving fast to see the “towering inferno of talent” Meghan Murphy perform everything from pop parodies to jazz at 8 p.m., Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13. Tickets start at $40. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, spend an evening with Lilias White, who melds blues with Broadway in a beautiful way. Tickets start at $55. Palm Springs faves Black Market Trust return yet again to showcase their Rat Pack energy at 8 p.m., Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27. Tickets start at $45. Tickets include dinner reservations two hours before showtime. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
