Happy April! While Coachella and Stagecoach will create a lot of music buzz this month, there are plenty of great events happening beyond the confines of the Empire Polo Club.
Acrisure Arena is hosting one concert alongside plenty of hockey. At 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 24, your favorite Mexican groups from three decades ago will unite for the ’90s Banda Tour. Legendary acts in the regional-Mexican genre including Banda El Recodo, Banda Los Recoditos, Mi Banda El Mexicano and Vaqueros Musical will all play their hits. Tickets start at $104.40. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs has one headliner concert that isn’t already being covered elsewhere by the Independent. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 17, two maestros of the mariachi space team up for Mariachazo. Don’t miss the string-and-trumpet styles of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán during a night of rich heritage and emotional music. Tickets start at $72.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Here are some highlights from a busy month at the Plaza Theatre. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, the New York Philharmonic String Quartet, featuring four key members of the orchestra, will share world-class symphonic skills on strings! Tickets start at $86.20. At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, Men at Work vocalist Colin Hay and his acoustic band will perform stripped-down versions of songs from across his career. Tickets start at $49.05. At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 12, drag queen Alyssa Edwards tips a hat to RuPaul on the “Thanks for Everything” tour, celebrating the stories, songs and dance-mania of Edwards’ career. Tickets start at $52.90. At 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth joins the Palm Springs Speaks series to discuss acting, podcasting, designing and more. Tickets start at $40.90. Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-593-5818; www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com.
Here are some highlights from an equally busy month at the McCallum Theatre. Take a journey to the underworld and experience Hadestown, the critically acclaimed musical that mixes folk music with folklore, at 8 p.m., Friday, April 3; 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, and 1 and 6:30 p.m., Sunday, April 5. Tickets start at $72.99. At 7 p.m., Thursday, April 9, and 8 p.m., Friday, April 10, tremendous trumpet player Chris Botti brings his brass and beauty to town! Tickets start at $73. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, piano wizard Yuja Wang will showcase pure emotion and tremendous skill during an unforgettable recital. Tickets start at $73. At 3 p.m., Sunday, April 26, enjoy the harmonious musical intersection between cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan. Tickets start at $48. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Morongo Casino offers music and comedy. At 9 p.m., Friday, April 3, country star Jackson Dean brings his twangy tunes, which you may have heard on Yellowstone, to Cabazon. Tickets are $26. At 9 p.m., Saturday, April 4, Everclear celebrates nearly 3 1/2 decades of rock hits. Tickets start at $78.50. Comedian Eddie Griffin, known for his standup and roles in 2000s comedy films, will serve up the laughs during this trying time, at 9 p.m., Friday, April 17. Tickets start at $68.50. At 9 p.m., Saturday, April 18, Los Horóscopos de Durango will fire through their drum-driven and synth-heavy Spanish hits. Tickets start at $68.75. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is hosting one headliner concert. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, get ready to dance as cumbia sensation Grupo Cañaveral celebrate their Latin legacy and musical gems. Tickets start at $43.95. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays continue with a Los Digits Roast Battle (April 3), Tania Estrada (April 10), Kat Bird (April 17) and Carlos Santos (April 24). Tickets start at $17.85, and you must be 18+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage welcomes rock shows and hilarious comics. At 8 p.m., Thursday, April 2, Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band will rock—and roll!—through hits from the hit musical in a concert setting. Tickets start at $33.75. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, don’t miss ’80s legend Rick Springfield as he shreds through his long list of Top 40 hits. Tickets start at $49.23. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 11, comedian Ron White will send the desert into fits of laughter, thanks in part to his Southern charm. Tickets start at $85.35. Get your earplugs ready, because at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, ’90s rock and metal acts Warrant and Firehouse will bring the riffs. Tickets start at $55.39. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Another month, another list of residency shows at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature a nod to Marvin Gaye from The Gand Band (April 8), a choir performance from Coachella Acapella (April 15), R&B and jazz songs from Lynda Kay (April 22) and bona fide blue-eyed soul from Funk Monks (April 29). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets range from $17.85 to $22.11, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays showcase the vintage-yet-modern sounds of Saudia Young (April 2), swing sensations Jive Aces (April 9), a tribute to jazz legend Charles Mingus (April 16), classic-jazz connoisseur Patrick Barnitt (April 23) and a tribute to vocal icon Billie Holiday (April 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85, 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 pulling out all the stops for festival month; here are some highlights. At 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 3, it’s a punk-rock affair at the Pioneertown Palace, as Warped Tour faves Guttermouth headline an evening of raucous, riff-tastic energy. White Kaps, River Rats and Noise Agents will open the show. Tickets are $26.68. At 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, ’90s rockers Sponge head to the desert for an unforgettable evening. Tickets are $31.86. High desert creatives Q. Varo and Gene Evaro Jr. team up to share their unique sonic concoctions at 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 15. Tickets are $31.86. At 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18, ska-punk stars Less Than Jake will fill the desert air with upbeat vibes … and dust from all the dancing. Tickets start at $41.71. At 9 p.m., Sunday, April 26, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol will fire through quick and heavy riffs that are as fun as their band name. Tickets are $27.72. Local groovy tastemakers Desert Friends celebrate their album release at 9 p.m., Thursday, April 30. Tickets are $15.80. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Mojave Gold has some rock shows worth seein’! At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 4, rock ’n’ rollers Whiskerman head to the high desert to blast through a set of genre-bending bliss. Local favorite Gene Evaro will open the show. Advance tickets are $17.41. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, enjoy a one-two punk-rock blast from femme fatales Kate Clover and Jenny Don’t. Early-bird tickets are $19.52. At 8 p.m., Saturday, April 25, beam up to Yucca Valley for intergalactic sets from strange-pop sensation Jesika Von Rabbit and psychedelic, alien-centered rock band ALiEN PROBE. Space outfits are encouraged! Tickets are $17.41. At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30, ambient country act SUSS heads to the desert. If the YouTube comment “if Brian Eno and Merle Haggard had a baby …” sounds interesting to you, don’t miss this show! Tickets are $19.52 in advance. Mojave Gold, 56193 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley; 442-205-0192; mojavegolddesert.com.
Oscar’s in Palm Springs has a couple of non-residency events. At 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Broadway star, singer and actress Jennifer Holliday heads to the desert for clips, conversation, stories and songs! Tickets start at $59.95. At 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, dance the night away to groovy pop act Bright Light Bright Light. Tickets start at $19.95. Shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com.
Pop out to the Purple Room for weekends of ticketed-show fun! At 8 p.m., Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, powerhouse jazz vocalist Meghan Murphy will showcase her divine skills. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, Golden Globe-winning artist Amanda McBroom flips through the Great American Songbook. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, Broadway breakout star Julie Benko will make her Purple Room debut, bringing with her musical classics and personal favorites from the jazz world. Tickets start at $61.15. At 8 p.m., Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie shares tracks from throughout her long and illustrious career in theater arts. Tickets start at $61.15. All 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.
