May you enjoy yourself at one or many of the events the Coachella Valley has to offer this month.
Acrisure Arena is hosting two concerts this month. At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, singer/songwriter icon James Taylor celebrates nearly six decades of timeless music with his All-Star Band. Tiny Habits will open the show. Tickets started at $99.75 as of this writing. Re-live the 1980s at 7 p.m., Friday, May 23, when Simple Minds brings ’80s pop hits to town. Synth stars Soft Cell and retro rockers Modern English are set to open the show. Tickets start at $48.75. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The McCallum Theatre winds down the season in May with some more great shows. Check out the yearly talent competition Open Call, where excellent desert performers compete for cash prizes, at 7 p.m., Friday, May 2; and 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Tickets start at $28. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, experience The Problem With Pink, an imaginative dance-drama about the titular color. Tickets are $15. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, honoring the life, times and amazing songs of the iconic singer, will be performed at 8 p.m., Friday, May 9; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10; and 1 and 6 p.m., Sunday, May 11. Tickets start at $78. Catch College of the Desert’s production of biblical rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar at 8 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, May 17, and 2 p.m., Sunday, May 18. Tickets start at $40. At 7 p.m., Thursday, May 29, enjoy a Palm Springs version of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, a star-studded open mic featuring Debby Boone, Billy Stritch, Jack Donahue, David Marino, Gabrielle Stravelli, Angie Wells … and a few surprises! Tickets are $158. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 30, Glee and Broadway star Lea Michele is set to perform. Tickets start at $112.99. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs features music and comedy. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3, social media sensation Nurse John will share hilarious stories from working in the medical field. Tickets start at $52.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 16, regional Mexican group Los Alegres del Barranco are set to perform. Tickets start at $72.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 24, Jason Bonham, the son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, will perform a set of his father’s music, and pay tribute to Physical Graffiti on its 50th anniversary. Tickets start at $52.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
A new comedy series is taking place at Spotlight 29. Honest Goodness comedy Fridays feature J. Valentino (May 2), George Perez (May 9), Chris Estrada (May 16), Saul Trujillo (May 23) and Pablo Francisco (May 30). Tickets start at $33.85, and shows take place inside the Chairman’s Lounge. Separately, Spotlight 29 is also hosting Latin comic Alfred Robles at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Tickets start at $15. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10, Argentine vocal legend Amanda Miguel is set to perform. Tickets start at $25. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 16, TikTok star Itatí López and her mother, Doña Silvia, host a live episode of their podcast Suelta La Lengua. Tickets start at $29. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo hosts music galore! At 8 p.m., Friday, May 2, regional Mexican music performer and songwriter Pancho Barraza heads to town. Available tickets started at $189.61 as of this writing. More regional Mexican jams are to be had at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3, with the duo of Codigo FN and Maximo Grado. Tickets start at $57.50. At 8 p.m., Thursday, May 22, check out new wave rockers Missing Persons. Stacey Q will also perform. Tickets are $26. Take a “Slow Ride” up to Cabazon to see Foghat at 8 p.m., Friday, May 23. Tickets start at $46.75. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Here are some highlights from an insanely stacked calendar at Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 10, jazz star Diana Krall will bring sultry jams to The Show. Tickets start at $69.50. Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, behind the hit “I’m Yours,” celebrates his new album at 8 p.m., Friday, May 16. Tickets start at $85. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 23, iconic ’60s voice Tom Jones will perform decades of hits. Tickets start at $100. Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernandez, most notable for the viral “Domingo” sketch, will perform standup at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 24. Tickets start at $32.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 30, comedian Becky Robinson, known for her “Entitled Housewife” character online, is set to perform. Tickets start at $34.50. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
At Agua Caliente in Palm Springs, you can enjoy more residencies! Carousel Thursdays include sweet vocals from Judy Wexler (May 1), big-band fun from the Paul McDonald Sextet with Ines Belayouni (May 8), creative jazz from Max Haymer (May 15), Disney tunes from The New Jet Set (May 22) and funky sounds from The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi (May 29). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature Texas, Chicago and New Orleans blues from BoneThumpers (May 7), electrifying guitar from the Steven Taylor Blues Band (May 14), fiery vocals from Kaye Bohler (May 21) and badass blues from Shakin’ Ground (May 28). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $12.51 to $17.84, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s is hectic as always, so here are some highlights. At 10:30 p.m., Saturday, May 3, experience the intricate rock stylings of Geordie Greep, whom you may remember from Black Midi. Tickets are $25. Reverb-soaked surf rockers La Luz return to the desert at 9 p.m., Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $37.01 plus fees. At 6 p.m., Saturday, May 17, enjoy a double dose of modern soul from The Altons and Thee Sinseers. Tickets are $52.02. Hazy psych rockers DAIISTAR will shoegaze the night away at 9 p.m., Thursday, May 22. Tickets are $15 plus fees. Tickets are moving fast to spend the night singing your heart out to emo jams at Emo Nite, happening at 9 p.m., Sunday, May 25. Tickets start at $26 plus fees. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
The Purple Room in Palm Springs is wrapping up its season before the summer hiatus with a bang! At 8 p.m., Friday, May 2, enjoy Peggy’s Back!, a debaucherous tribute to Peggy Lee from entertainer Chuck Sweeney. Tickets are $45.70. At 8 p.m., Saturday, May 3, enjoy a double dose of Broadway in Palm Springs with Nic and Desi, two Broadway vets. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Thursday, May 8, Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, Purple Room favorite the Marvelous Marilyn Maye is back yet again! She just turned 97, and she’s amazing. Tickets start at $85.87. Social media star Broadway Barbara will perform an evening of song, dance and stories at 8 p.m., Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24, Tony Award-nominated performer Ann Hampton Callaway will perform hit songs from her hit shows. Tickets start at $66.30. All ticketed shows include dinner reservations two hours before show time. Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-322-4422; www.purpleroompalmsprings.com.
