Happy July! Yeah, it’s really hot, and while some venues are closed for the summer, or scaling back, there are still plenty of entertainment offerings! Here’s what the desert has to offer this month.
At Acrisure Arena, it’s time to dance! From Friday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 2, the movin’ and groovin’ Dancing With the Stars Con heads to town. Catch the TV show’s alumni as they dance, lead live panels, meet and greet attendees, and more! All tickets are three-day tickets, and start at $244.25. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
The Plaza Theatre is rather theatrical this month! At 7 p.m., Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10, youth from the Palm Springs Unified School District will take the stage for Forbidden Broadway, a musical-theater parody poking fun at the songs and styles of the beloved art form. Tickets start at $36.50. At 3 p.m., Saturday, July 11, get your pipes ready for a special sing-along screening of Grease. Tickets are $20. At 7 p.m., Thursday, July 16, and Friday, July 17, PSUSD students will take the stage again, this time for a production of Footloose. Tickets start at $36.50. At 3 p.m., Sunday, July 19, catch a screening of Titanic the Musical; it’s song-filled voyage! Tickets are $20. At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26, tip your hat to one of the greatest rock acts of all time during One Night of Queen, a tribute to Queen by Gary Mullen and the Works. Tickets start at $37.65. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 28, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Bosco presents The Marvelous Miss Gender, a drag-filled musical comedy. Tickets start at $60.80. Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-593-5818; www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com.
Morongo features three headliner concerts in July. At 9 p.m., Friday, July 10, regional Mexican and corridos stars Dareyes De La Sierra will bring the jams to Cabazon. Tickets start at $107.33. At 9 p.m., Friday, July 17, famous all-male revue Australia’s Thunder From Down Under will host a sweaty, stripping-filled show. Tickets start at $59.75. At 9 p.m., Saturday, July 18, grab your cowboy hats and go see country act Midland perform their twangy hits. Tickets start at $211.07. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Spotlight 29 is also hosting three headliner events. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18, vocal heavyweight Ezequiel Peña is showcasing sounds straight from Sinaloa. Tickets start at $43.85. At 6 p.m., Sunday, July 19, take a trip back in time with the Happy Together Tour, featuring performances from ’60s and ’70s acts The Association, The Troggs, former Chicago lead singer Jason Scheff, Gary Puckett, The Fortunes, Ron Dante (of the Archies and the Turtles), The Vogues and The Cowsills. Tickets start at $43.95. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 25, enjoy a tribute to the Latin music legacy of Juan Gabriel, from Carlos Daniels. Tickets start at $28.50. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays feature Los Digits (July 3), Carlos Escobar (July 10), Luz Pazos (July 17), Teacher’s Gone Bad (July 24) and Jessica Rosas (July 31). Tickets start at $17.32 to $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 is keeping busy in July! At 8 p.m., Friday, July 3, get your funk and Motown fix with The Commodores. Tickets start at $55.20. Comic Jo Koy hosts two entertaining evenings, at 8 p.m., Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. Tickets start at $107.75. At 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18, actor, comedian and Saturday Night Live alum David Spade brings his signature sarcasm and wit to the desert. Tickets start at $71.60. At 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, iconic rock act Goo Goo Dolls will fire through their list of hits. Tickets start at $55.70. At 8 p.m., Friday, July 24, let the hilarity ensue with comic/actor Bill Burr. Tickets start at $140.75. At 8 p.m., Friday, July 31, country artist Jake Owen will perform a set of his chart-topping, boot-scootin’ jams. Tickets start at $60.55. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Residencies keep rockin’ at Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays showcase bluesy-jazz funk from Len Rainey and the Midnight Players (July 1), fiery blues fusion from Zavala Sol (July 8), vintage sounds from Bodhi Corbett (July 15), a tribute to Van Morrison from Wild Night (July 22) and local rock jams from Desert Crows (July 29). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $17.85 to $19.98. Carousel Thursdays feature vocalist/drummer extraordinaire Dave Tull (July 2), vintage jazz from Velvet Noir (July 9), swingin’ sounds from Elijah Rock (July 16), top-notch trumpet from Brian Swartz (July 23) and romantic tunes from Chloe Perrier and the French Heart Jazz (July 30). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $19.98. For comedy on Fridays, check out Darren Carter and Jay Davis (July 3), Justin Rivera (July 17) and Jesus Sepulveda (July 24). Tickets start at $17.85 to $20.52. Tickets for all shows are available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Here are a few highlights from a busy month at Pappy and Harriet’s. At 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, cosmic country star of the Mojave Pearl Charles will share her psychedelic-folk jams. Carson McHone is set to open. Tickets are $27.72. At 9 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, experimental music act Beats Antique will combine a shifting sound with acrobatics, belly-dancing and other artistic adventures. Tickets are $36.53. At 9 p.m., Thursday, July 16, fiery riffs and psychobilly action from Reverend Horton Heat will ignite the Pioneertown Palace. Tickets are $42.74. At 9:30 p.m., Friday, July 17, modern glam-rock explosion Starcrawler brings intense, electric energy to the intimate stage. Tickets are $27.72. At 7 p.m., Friday, July 31, catch post-rock pioneers Tortoise as they showcase their hybrid sound—featuring vibraphones and marimbas! Tickets start at $38.60. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s is hosting one non-residency event. At 7 p.m., Friday, July 3, vocalist Amy Armstrong presents her latest cabaret experience, Heaven, Hell and Back Again. Remaining tickets are $44.95, and include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com.
