Boo! And happy October! There are many great events happening throughout the desert this month; here’s a preview.
Acrisure Arena has music … and basketball! At 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, and 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6, enjoy some NBA Preseason action with a double-dose of Los Angeles Lakers basketball. The team will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday and the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Tickets start at $98.20. Guitar virtuoso and blues icon Eric Clapton will bring hits from Cream and his solo career to the desert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10. Tickets started at $195.57 as of this writing. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, 1990s rockers Weezer will celebrate their landmark album Weezer (aka the Blue Album) by performing it in its entirety alongside other hits. Tickets start at $53.40. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, Mexicana singer/songwriter Ivan Cornejo is set to perform. Tickets start at $144.55. Regional Mexican act Codiciado brings viral Spanish jams to the 760 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20. Tickets start at $32.20. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum Theatre is back in action with a few shows. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, comedian Randy Rainbow combines musical theater and political spoofs for an evening of non-stop humor. Tickets start at $68.99. Enjoy some honky-tonk jams from Terri Clark at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26. Tickets start at $45. Poking fun at politics and the election is the group Capitol Fools, bringing the laughs at 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27. Tickets start at $43. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com
Fantasy Springs this month offers Spanish, country and comedy. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, Latin legends Los Tucanes De Tijuana will perform. Bring your dancing shoes! Tickets start at $62. Ahead of his performance at Stagecoach in 2025, country star Conner Smith will rock the Lit Lounge at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 14. Tickets are $27.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, Riley Green will grace the Fantasy Springs stage with some country tunes. Tickets start at $62.50. Mix country, rock and blues with Elle King at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Tickets start at $42.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, laugh the night away with funnyman Cedric the Entertainer. Tickets start at $82.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 features some sweet headlining events amidst their Fall Music Series of tribute bands. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11, R&B king Billy Ocean will help you re-live the ’80s. Tickets start at $33.65. Comedian and actress Iliza Shlesinger returns to the Coachella Valley at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12. Tickets start at $49.10. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, comedian Rene Vaca will head to Coachella. Tickets start at $26.85. You must be 21 or older to attend Spotlight 29 shows. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo has music galore—and one comedian. At 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, Mexican singer and former Grupo Límite star Alicia Villarreal will pay a visit. Tickets start at $68.25. Rapper and actor, and former child star Bow Wow will be performing at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets start at $57.25. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, indie sensations from the 2010s, Fitz and the Tantrums will perform many radio hits. Tickets are $42.50. Vibe to 2000’s hip hop with Ying Yang Twins and Yung Joc at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18. Tickets start at $57.25. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, actor, comedian and TV host Joel McHale will perform. Tickets are $68.25. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage features a stacked October; here are some highlights. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, comedian and late-night legend Jay Leno will leave you in stitches. Tickets start at $75. Singer/songwriter Jim Croce’s son A.J. Croce brings the famous Croce Plays Croce tour to the desert at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets start at $25. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, check out some badass blues rock from icons ZZ Top. Tickets start at $75. Witness guitar greatness from Joe Bonamassa at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30. Tickets start at $79. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Agua Caliente in Palm Springs features more great residency shows! Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature American rock from Rumble King (Oct. 2), electrifying blues from Julieann Bemis (Oct. 9), emotional, soulful, early blues from Abby Girl and the Real Deal (Oct. 16), blues-guitar star Laurie Morvan (Oct. 23) and funky blues from Zavala Sol (Oct. 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets for most shows start at $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays showcase dynamic jazz from NUTTY (Oct. 3), the evil swing of Marquis and the Rhythm Howlers (Oct. 10), a night of tributes titled Sweet Baby J’ai’s Master of Melody: A Tribute to Singers Who Shaped History (Oct. 17), renowned jazz vocalist Elena Gilliam (Oct. 24) and a night of vintage, sinister swing from Lizzy and the Triggerman (Oct. 31). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85 to $23.18, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.sparesortcasino.com.
Here are a few highlights from a busy October at Pappy and Harriet’s. Heavy-rock duo Death From Above 1979 will perform their debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine front-to-back on Friday, Oct. 11, when the clock strikes midnight. Tickets are $32.50. At 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, Japanese psychedelic rocker Shintaro Sakamoto will visit Pioneertown for a truly unique performance. Tickets are $48.06. Irish rockers The Young Dubliners will paint the desert green at 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24. Tickets are $35. Check out the website for a complete list of shows. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs is stepping up their entertainment game, and here are some highlights from a full calendar. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2, step into the drag court with an entertaining show called Bea Arthur Is Judging You! Tickets are $49.95. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11, enjoy Barbra & Liza, a tribute show to Streisand and Minnelli from Steven Brinberg and Rick Skye. Tickets start at $44.95. Offering hints of Fats Waller and Jerry Lee Lewis, pianist and singer Mike Maimone will perform a wildly engaging and fiery show at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29. Tickets are $10. Most Oscar’s shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
The Purple Room is back into high gear with tons of great shows! At 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, Janis Siegel and Yaron Gershovsky bring Grammy Award-winning vocal and keyboard skills to town. Remaining tickets are $50.85. Singer Chadwick Johnson honors ’70s songwriters at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5. Tickets start at $45.70. Spend a musical evening with Broadway, cartoon and TV favorite Nicolas King at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 11. Tickets start at $45.70. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, pay dues to Frank Sinatra when Richard Shelton honors the king of crooners. Remaining tickets are $45.70. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19, pianist and singer Billy Stritch will share his favorite songs and stories. Tickets start at $61.15. All ticketed shows include dinner reservations two hours before showtime. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
