Happy October! It’s the best month of the year, as temps start to dwindle; Halloween vibes emerge; and the desert’s entertainment scene explodes! Here’s a sampling of the month’s local fun.
In addition to the icy return of Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey, Acrisure Arena is hosting music and wrestling! At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, the high-flying action of WWE returns to town. Don’t miss energetic wrestling from the best in the entertainment business! Tickets start at $61.15. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, celebrate Halloween with weird music icons The B-52’s and Devo! The two iconic acts are teaming up for a nonstop dance party. Tickets start at $53.40. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
Fantasy Springs has three headliner concerts. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, pay tribute to a rock icon with The Phil Collins Story. It’s part documentary, part concert and part mesmerizing tribute to the unforgettable singer and drummer. Tickets start at $42.50. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, two Latin and blues icons, Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys, team up for a night of Grammy Award-winning songs. Tickets start at $62.50. At 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, romantic music force Marisela, known as the “Latin Madonna,” returns to the desert for another enchanting evening. Tickets start at $62.50. 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 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, the bluesy, jazzy, folky vocalist/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is set to perform cuts spanning a five-decade career. Tickets start at $79.05. Missing Dolly Parton? At 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, tributes to Dolly, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Cher and Whitney Houston will grace the stage during Legendary Ladies. Tickets start at $51.95. Missing Tim Curry? At 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11, the legendary Rocky Horror Picture Show (starring Curry as Dr. Frank N Furter) will be screened in 4k, alongside a live shadow cast and plenty of audience interaction. Nell Campbell, who plays Columbia, will host the event. Tickets start at $66.90. At 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, the long and winding music history of the desert will be celebrated at “Palm Springs, Tuned In: A Historic Retrospective on Music in the Coachella Valley.” Hear gems from the Rat Pack, sounds from the tribes, and tunes from acts that made Coachella fest famous. Tickets are $34.28. At 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18, alt rockers 10,000 Maniacs will share their famous jangle-pop jams. Tickets start at $76.50. Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 760-593-5818; www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com.
The McCallum Theatre is back in full swing; here are some notable events. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, Pacifico Dance Company, a Mexican folklórico dance group, will showcase the sounds and steps of a beautiful country. Tickets start at $15. At 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, the ever-popular Keyboard Conversations series with Jeffrey Siegel returns with “The Glorious Musical Jewels of Beethoven and Schubert.” Tickets start at $39. At 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, ranchera music royalty Aída Cuevas celebrates a half-century of mariachi magic. Tickets start at $33.88. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, and 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18, colorful YouTube comedian Randy Rainbow brings poignant jokes and plenty of parodies to Palm Springs. Tickets start at $60. Catch & Juliet, a Shakespeare reimagining with plenty of pop music, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Thursday, Oct. 29; 2 and 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31; and 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets start at $64. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Morongo Casino is hosting a few big names. At 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, regional Mexican act Los Huracanes Del Norte celebrate the beauty of norteño music. Tickets started at $164.57 as of this writing. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, ’90s jam-band Blues Traveler will travel all the way to Cabazon, bringing with them some magical music. Tickets start at $57.75. At 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, ’90s rockers Fountains of Wayne have got it goin’ on, just like their hit “Stacy’s Mom.” Tickets start at $57.75. At 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, the reggae vibes and “Red Red Wine” will flow at the UB40 show. Tickets start at $89.75. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Spotlight 29 has two headliner concerts. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, new jack swing legend Keith Sweat returns to Coachella for a sweaty night of sensual and sweet R&B hits. Tickets start at $59.40. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, catch cumbia in Coachella from Grupo Bryndis and Industria del Amor. Tickets start at $38.80. Honest Goodness Comedy Fridays roll on with Erik Escobar (Oct. 2), Eric Ochoa (Oct. 9), Shaena Rabbani (Oct. 16), Jeremiah Watkins (Oct. 23) and Los Digits (Oct. 30). Shows are at 8 p.m., and tickets start from $17.32 to $28.50; you must be 18+ to attend. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage is as busy as ever, so here are some events worth catching. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, New York’s finest, Jerry Seinfeld, brings his world-famous wit and humor to town. Tickets start at $138.70. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, “Wicked Game” hitmaker and rockabilly revitalist Chris Isaak is set to showcase his musical stylings. Tickets start at $71.60. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, classic rockers 38 Special bring 50 years of Southern rock to town. Tickets start at $45.40. At 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, Armenian singer Iveta Mukuchyan will share vocal prowess that transcends language barriers. Tickets start at $75. At 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, experience metal mania in Rancho Mirage with glam gladiators W.A.S.P. Tickets start at $50.23. At 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, experience the femme faces of heavy music at Ladies of Rock, an all-star show featuring sets from Lita Ford, Vixen and Orianthi. Tickets start at $51. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
The residencies are slowing down at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays conclude at the Cascade Lounge with guitar goddess Laurie Morvan Band (Oct. 7) and a tribute to music heroes with A Night of Neil Diamond and Linda Ronstadt (Oct. 14), Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $18.91 to $22.11. There were no scheduled Carousel Thursday events as of this writing. Tickets are $19.98. 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.
Spirit Animal, one of Palm Springs’ newest clubs, is getting busy, so here are some highlights. At 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, catch Billy L’Amour and the Love Notes as they honor the members of the 27 club with a selection of songs. Tickets start at $49.87. At 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, Tod Macofsky’s Time Capsule show returns, this time taking audiences back to 1966! Tickets start at $23.18. At 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, catch comedic cabaret, classic jazz and classy vibes from Toots McApplesauce. Tickets are $23.18. At 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, check out Hush-Hush, a vintage Halloween-themed cabaret show with creepy tunes from Bobbi DeCarlo. Tickets start at $23.18. At 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, witness Sloshed, a series in which actors get drunk or high—and then perform in a shadowcast. This edition will see the Sloshers make their way through The Lost Boys. Tickets are $23.18. Some shows include two cocktails with admission, and some shows are 18+ or 21+. Spirit Animal, 150 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs; 951-494-0116; www.spiritanimalclub.com.
Pappy and Harriet’s continues to bring top-notch talent to the high desert! Here are some examples of their October stars! At 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, grunge guys Toadies bring their amphibious sound around town! Tickets are $47.41. At 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11, hard-rock heavyweights High on Fire showcase their Grammy Award-winning metal and sludge. Tickets start at $43.78. At 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12, internationally loved indie-folk act Y La Bamba returns to the desert—and bandleader Luz Elena Mendoza will likely invite her favorite desert songstresses Giselle Woo and Janine Rivera to perform with her! Tickets are $31.86. At 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27, powerful pop-rockers Fastball will fire through their hooky anthems. Tickets are $31.86. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s has some potentially unforgettable events on their calendar. At 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, Los Angeles rockers Sapient Scar will shake up Palm Springs with their melodic grit. Tickets are $11.95. At 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, don’t miss Wrestling Is 4 the Dogs, a high-flying charity event with professional and micro wrestling—where you could adopt a dog ringside! Tickets are $39.95. At 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, the charity vibes continue with Mx Pineapple Cabaret, a night of music, drag and fun to raise funds for Pineapple Support, a therapy service for adult industry workers. The event is free to attend, but reserved and guaranteed seats start at $20. Some Oscar’s shows include a food/drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com.
The Purple Room is back to dominating your weekends. At 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, through Saturday, Oct. 3, Purple Room favorite the Marvelous Marilyn Maye brings the best show led by a 98-year-old performer to town. Tickets start at $97.20. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10, romantic vocalist Anthony Nunziata returns, sharing a love for jazz, soul, pop and more. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, the Black Market Trust will energize hits of the past with their pop-jazz sensibilities. Tickets start at $56. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, comedy-pop duo The Skivvies, who sing and joke around in their underwear, will perform songs from Rocky Horror. Tickets start at $50.85. At 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, powerhouse jazz vocalist Meghan Murphy will showcase her divine skills and red hair! Tickets start at $50.85. 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.
