Happy July! The worst part of the summer is here—but the valley’s entertainment scene still has plenty to offer! Stay safe, hydrated and cool.
Acrisure Arena is hosting a couple of concerts during the month. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 5, Mexican norteño-music kings Los Tucanes de Tijuana bring their dance-y jams and Latin flair to town. La Adictiva, Enigma Norteño and Tapy Quintero are set to open up the night. Tickets start at $71.95. Get your yee-haw on with country rockers Dwight Yoakam and the Mavericks, as they bring the cowboy energy to Palm Desert, at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 12. Ben Haggard will open up the show. Tickets start at $88.95. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs features bands—and boxing! At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 12, experience banda badass-ery from Banda Corona Del Rey, all the way from Sinaloa. Tickets start at $82.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, July 18, modern country megastar Dustin Lynch brings his new-era outlaw attitude to Indio. Tickets start at $72.50. At 5 p.m., Thursday, July 24, support local boxing as Coachella Valley’s very own Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores goes up against Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chavez at Golden Boy Fight Night. Tickets start at $38.25. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 hosts comedy and cultural sounds! Honest Goodness comedy Fridays continue with Luz Pazos (July 11), Martin Rizo (July 18) and Justin Rivera (July 25). Tickets start at $15.18 and up, and shows take place inside the Chairman’s Lounge. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 19, Spanish titans Banda Machos will provide Coachella with big-banda energy. Tickets start at $38.80. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
A diverse series of shows is taking place at Morongo. At 8 p.m., Friday, July 11, enjoy some high-energy Spanish tunes from Banda Los Recoditos. Tickets start at $57.50. Mike and Molly and Young Sheldon star Billy Gardell is set to perform a special comedy set at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 12. Tickets start at $35. At 5 p.m., Sunday, July 13, Hong Kong artists Mimi Chu and Johnny Yip will visit the desert. Tickets start at $88.50. At 8 p.m., Thursday, July 24, country act Drew Baldridge moseys into town for one night only. Tickets are $26. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Big names are headed to Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 5, iconic gospel and country vocal group The Oak Ridge Boys make a pitstop in Rancho Mirage on their farewell tour. Tickets start at $43.10. Rock superstars Goo Goo Dolls bring decades of hits to town at 8 p.m., Friday, July 11. Tickets start at $53.42. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 19, “Wicked Game” hitmaker Chris Isaak is set to showcase his musical stylings. Tickets start at $69.37. 1980s greats The Psychedelic Furs have an evening filled with alternative post-punk gems scheduled for 8 p.m., Friday, July 25. Tickets start at $32.78. At 6:30 p.m., Saturday, July 26, experience voice of Armenian romance Hayko. Tickets start at $56.99. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
With more heat comes more air-conditioned residencies at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays showcase the groove-tastic Funk Monks (July 2), musically rich blues from Oscar Jesus Bugarin Blues Band (July 9), LBC roots and soul from The Broughams (July 16), rockabilly jams from The Centuries (July 23) and modern female rock edge from Ronda Ray (July 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85 to $21.05, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdaysoffer modern jazz elegance from Maria Schafer (July 10), a tribute to Benny Goodman by Chris Dawson Swingtet (July 17), a tribute to Sarah Vaughan and Wes Montgomery from Sherry Williams and Doug MacDonald (July 24) and a tribute to James Taylor and Carole King from CV jazz stars Kari Kirkland, Andy Fraga, Wayne Abravanel and Tod Macofsky (July 31). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $19.98, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Pappy’s has a stacked July, offering cooler temps just a short drive away in Pioneertown. Some highlights: At 9:30 p.m., Saturday, July 5, rock, punk and funk-ateers Fishbone are set to make the Pioneertown Palace sweat. Tickets are $33.94. At 9 p.m., Thursday, July 10, desert heavy-rock favs The Freeks, alongside The Jean Genies and Silver Cholla, are spearheading an all-local night of music. Tickets are $13.73. Chicago rockers Ax and the Hatchetmen join forces with local indie-poppers Brosquitos for an evening of high-energy jams at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 23. Tickets are $26.68. At 9 p.m., Thursday, July 24, don’t miss a night of punk rock mayhem from Mike V and the Rats. Tickets are $26.68. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
