Happy March! The weather is getting hotter, and so are the local entertainment options!
Two March events are taking place at Acrisure Arena on top of Firebirds hockey. From Friday, March 21, through Sunday, March 23, enjoy bona fide bull riding with Wrangler PBR (professional bull riders). Tickets start at $36.40 per show. The high-flying fun of Cirque du Soleil returns to the local arena with CRYSTAL, featuring a combination of acrobatics and ice skating, for five performances Friday, March 28, through Sunday, March 30. Tickets start at $72. Acrisure Arena, 75702 Varner Road, Palm Desert; 888-695-8778; www.acrisurearena.com.
March is stacked at the McCallum, so here are some highlights! At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 1, Michael Feinstein pays tribute to one of the greats, Mr. Tony Bennett. Tickets start at $83. Folk icons The Kingston Trio and The Limeliters bring ’50s and ’60s charm to the desert at 7 p.m., Monday, March 10. Tickets start at $48. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, celebrate the music of the queens of modern music, such as Adele, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Cher, with Material Girls, a high-energy musical production that is not to be missed! Tickets start at $38. Experience the wonder of the ocean from the comfort of a local theater at 7 p.m., Monday, March 31, thanks to a presentation by marine biologist Dr. Erika Woolsey titled Diving the Great Barrier Reef. Tickets start at $33. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert; 760-340-2787; www.mccallumtheatre.com.
Fantasy Springs is hosting a variety of events. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 1, experience Mexican music intensity from BXS (Bryndis X Siempre) and Grupo Mojado. Tickets start at $52.50. Grab your cowboy hat and boots, and square dance the night away to the critically acclaimed country stylings of Old Dominion at 8 p.m., Friday, March 21. Tickets start at $102.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 22, regional Mexican group Los Alegres del Barranco will perform. Tickets start at $72.50. Try your luck at 8 p.m., Friday, March 28, when The Price Is Right Live! takes place on the Fantasy Springs stage. Lucky audience members could leave with money and prizes! Tickets start at $52.50. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio; 760-342-5000; www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Spotlight 29 has music and more! At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 1, male strip show Chippendales will grace the Spotlight 29 stage. Tickets start at $35. Relive the ’90s at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 8, with I Love the ’90s, a musical evening featuring performances by Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Young MC and C+C Music Factory. Tickets start at $40. Latin Legends, happening at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 22, features El Chicano, Tierra, Malo, Thee Midniters and A Lighter Shade of Brown. Tickets start at $35. Spotlight 29 Casino, 46200 Harrison Place, Coachella; 760-775-5566; www.spotlight29.com.
Morongo has two events of note. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 28, Mexican norteño-sax band Conjunto Primavera is set to perform. Tickets start at $119.25. Standup comedian, television host, actor and radio personality Rickey Smiley, who you may know from Friday After Next, will bring the laughs to Cabazon at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 29. Tickets start at $46.50. Morongo Casino Resort Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon; 800-252-4499; www.morongocasinoresort.com.
Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage is hosting nonstop music. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 1, classic-rock pioneers Styx are set to perform. Tickets start at $75. At 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, Broadway singer/actress Sutton Foster joins the Desert Symphony for an evening of enchanting tunes. Tickets start at $45. Armenian singers Haykaram Gevondyan and Tatul Avoyan will visit the valley at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 15. Tickets start at $50. The unmistakable voice of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty, will bring some of his classic works to town at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 22. Tickets start at $129.50. At 8 p.m., Saturday, March 29, ride through the Coachella Valley desert on “A Horse With No Name” when America performs. Tickets start at $49.50. Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, 32250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Residencies march on at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs. Desert Blues Revival Wednesdays feature a Mardi Gras party from the Gand Band (March 5), a night filled with organ jams from, again, the Gand Band (March 12), groovin’ tunes from Funk Monks (March 19) and a night of song from men’s vocal ensemble A Cabello titled Keep Calm and Sing On 2.0 (March 26). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85 to $39.19, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Carousel Thursdays invite the soulful-jazz vibe of Tawanda (March 6), trumpet wizardry from the Aaron Janik Band (March 13), tiki and Hawaiian jazz from Hilo Hi-Flyers (March 20) and jump blues from the Moontones (March 27). Shows are at 7 p.m., and tickets start from $17.85, available at eventspalmsprings.com. Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, 401 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs; 888-999-1995; www.aguacalientecasinos.com.
Here are some highlights from a very busy month at Pappy and Harriet’s. At 9 p.m., Sunday, March 9, enjoy some cosmic country from Rose City Band. Tickets are $33.11. At 9:30 p.m., Sunday, March 16, experience Danish rock and British pop anthems from Iceage. Tickets are $28.33. Punk rock invades the Pioneertown Palace at 9 p.m., Friday, March 21, when Guttermouth heads to the high desert. Tickets are $26.68. At 7 p.m., Saturday, March 29, Kim Deal (Pixies/The Breeders; pictured below) brings her modern rock tunes to town. Tickets are $66.89. Check out the website for a complete list of shows. Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown; 760-228-2222; www.pappyandharriets.com.
Oscar’s has a few non-residency events in March. At 7 p.m., Saturday, March 8, Amber Martin pays tribute to Bette Midler and her early performances at the Continental Baths. Tickets start at $39.95. At 7 p.m., Monday, March 10, Paul Motondo honors some of the greatest crooners to ever pick up a microphone. Tickets start at $29.95. Pianist and singer Mike Maimone will offer a special evening of song in Palm Springs at 6 p.m., Friday, March 14. Tickets are $10. All shows include a food and drink minimum. Oscar’s Palm Springs, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs; 760-325-1188; oscarspalmsprings.com/events.
Purple Room has plenty of weekend offerings for you. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, singer Carole J. Bufford returns to the desert to perform an evening of songs dedicated to dames of the silver screen. Tickets start at $45.70. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15, spend an evening with Broadway star and world-class voice Lillias White. Tickets start at $61.15. At 8 p.m., Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22, dynamic duo Branden and James pay tribute to songs and themes across cinema history. Tickets start at $56. 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.
