Jazz Legend at a Museum
A museum may not be the first place you think of when you’re looking for live jazz, but the La Quinta Museum, at 77885 Avenida Montezuma, in La Quinta, will be hoppin’ when its popular Music at the Museum series returns with vocalist Rose Mallett at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1. Mallett, honored as a “Living Jazz Legend” at Los Angeles City Hall in 2016, has built a career interpreting the great American jazz songbook, drawing inspiration from singers including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne, all while bringing her own voice to the music. Museum admission and the performance are free. For more information, click here. —Charles Drabkin
A Weekend of Music at the Park
Experience an epic high desert music festival! From Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 4, the Morongo Valley Music Festival returns for a fifth year to Covington Park, at 11165 Vale Drive, in Morongo Valley. Thanks to the JT City Limits event organizers, more than 30 acts are set to perform. Can’t-miss performances include a rare acoustic set from desert-rock legend John Garcia (pictured); a reverb-soaked rock affair from surf guitar icon Dick Dale’s son, via the Jimmy Dale Surf Trio; a local rock tribute to The Clash from Thee Nuns of Brixton; and some sensational ska from Spankshaft. Beyond the music, experience a trunk or treat, a zombie shootout, a beer garden and much more. The entire weekend is free to attend, but donations are suggested. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. —Matt King
Beer, Band and Boo!’s
Halloween is coming early to Indio—and it’s bringing a new beer with it! Indio Brewing Co., at 82900 Avenue 42, Unit G111, celebrates the release of It Came From the Desert! Vol. 4 with a free Beer Release Show and Album Pre-Party, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2. The annual Halloween compilation, organized by my 11 Days a Week colleague Matt King, features local bands performing original Halloween songs—and its fourth installment is being paired with a limited-edition beer. Bands representing all four volumes of the yearly compilation will take the stage, including The Sieve and the Saddle, Esther Sanchez and the Low Desert Faults, Analog Lab, St. Camino (pictured), Space in Sound, and Ju!ian + the Band. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome—although, obviously, no one under 21 can have any beer. For more information, visit instagram.com/itcamefromthedesert_ —Charles Drabkin
Party Like It’s 1926
Break out the pearls, feathers and fedoras, and celebrate at a century-old adobe house. Smiley’s Speakeasy celebrates the 100th anniversary of the historic Smiley-Tyler House, built in 1926 for Dr. Smiley, Indio’s first doctor, and his wife. The party runs from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Coachella Valley History Museum, at 82616 Miles Ave., in Indio. Guests are encouraged to dress in period attire and spend an evening stepping back into the decade when the adobe house was new. Admission includes a glass of bubbly and free parking. Tickets to the 21-and-over event are $85 for the general public, and $75 for museum members. For more information and tickets, visit cvhm.org/smileys-speakeasy. —Charles Drabkin
Minecraft Mania!
Calling all young gamers! Every first and third Monday is now Minecraft Monday at the La Quinta Public Library, at 78275 Calle Tampico. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., kids ages 8-12 are invited to join the library’s Minecraft Realm to explore, create and play together! There are three consoles available for gaming, but you can bring your own Nintendo Switch—just make sure you have Nintendo Switch Online, and a copy of Minecraft. Get your minds ready to explore a virtual world of monsters and resources! The event is free, but registration is required, as spaces and consoles are limited. For more information or to register, call 760-564-4767, or visit the Facebook event page. —Matt King
A Hostage Story
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza into southern Israel, including farming communities and the Nova music festival. About 1,200 people were murdered, most of them civilians, and more than 250 people were taken hostage. Among them was Israeli-American Liat Atzili, who was abducted from her home. The film Holding Liat follows her family as they wait, worry and work for her return. The Faith in Diversity Coalition of Palm Springs, in partnership with J Street, presents a free screening at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, at 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. The screening, which is free, comes as we continue to see a rising tide of antisemitic incidents in the United States. This film offers an opportunity to consider the consequences of violence through individual lives rather than slogans. For more information and free tickets, click here. —Charles Drabkin
EDM Everywhere
Electronic music fans from around the world will descend upon the desert next weekend! On Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, the inaugural Head Trip will take place at the Empire Polo Club, at 81800 Avenue 51, in Indio. Heavyweights from across the electronic music space will invade Indio for the latest festival produced by Goldenvoice. Don’t miss sets from Calvin Harris, FISHER + Chris Lake (pictured), Peggy Gou b2b Four Tet, and Seth Troxler b2b Ben Sterling on Saturday; and Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Dom Dolla b2b KETTAMA, The Blessed Madonna and DJ Harvey on Sunday. It’s an EDM fan’s dream, and the perfect thing to hold ravers over until Coachella season! Limited passes remain, and start at $589. For tickets and more information, visit headtripindio.com. —Matt King
Music Videos Are Still a Thing!
A local alternative pop phenomenon is adding to an already impressive art career. At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, local musician Julian Perez (of the aforementioned Ju!ian + the Band) will premiere his latest music video, “Unusual,” at Mary Pickford is D’Place, at 36850 Pickfair St., in Cathedral City. On top of crafting catchy jams and providing an eye-catching live show, Perez has used his thespian and production skills to turn music videos into artistic spectacles. Crowd favorite “Unusual” is the latest to get the cinematic treatment, and before it premieres live on the big screen, catch the spooky, found-footage video for “Ghost of You.” Tickets are $10.38. For tickets and more information, visit the Eventbrite link. —Matt King
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