Sponsored by
Steve Earle: 51 Years of Songs and Stories on Friday, Oct. 16
Legendary singer-songwriter Steve Earle brings his unmistakable voice, masterful storytelling and celebrated catalog to the historic Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, on Friday, Oct. 16.
A protégé of songwriting legends Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, Earle has spent more than four decades shaping Americana music with iconic songs like “Guitar Town” and “Copperhead Road.” His music has been recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris and Waylon Jennings, while his own work has earned multiple Grammy Awards, induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and membership in the Grand Ole Opry.
Known for powerful live performances that blend heartfelt storytelling with exceptional musicianship, Earle continues to inspire generations of music fans. Whether you’re a longtime listener or discovering his music for the first time, this is a rare opportunity to experience one of America’s most influential songwriters in the intimate setting of the Plaza Theatre.
Secure your seats today at PalmSpringsPlazaTheatre.com. Tickets are on sale now, and early purchase is encouraged. (Sponsored Content)
Lotsa Awesome Art!
A new art show opens this week! At 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10, A Palette of Possibilities will debut at Artists Council/Artists Center, at 72567 Highway 111, in Palm Desert. Some 127 pieces of wall art and 3D pieces will fill the space. These are works primed for admiring, gazing—and purchasing! The exhibition will last until Sunday, Oct. 4, so you have plenty of time to view all of the artworks and give them the attention they deserve! Experience a grand display of color, techniques and styles, and support the local arts scene. The event is free, for more information, visit www.artistscouncil.com. —Matt King
Moon’d Four Times
There are plenty of chances to catch one of the hardest-working local bands. Daytime Moon, the multi-genre rockers whose sounds range from pop-punk to psychedelic folk, are making their way around the desert on their Septober Fest tour. Just in this 11-day period alone, you can catch the prolific pros at Plan B in Thousand Palms (Thursday, Sept. 10), Beatnik Lounge in Joshua Tree (Friday, Sept. 18), the J-Tree Swap Meet in Yucca Valley (Saturday, Sept. 19) and the Z Club in Joshua Tree (Sunday, Sept. 20). No matter where and when you catch the band, their shifting sound is sure to impress! For more information on each show, visit www.instagram.com/daytimemoonmusic. —Matt King
The Giveaway
Win a Pair of Tickets to See Tommy Emmanuel in Palm Springs!
Prepare for a remarkable night of live music as internationally acclaimed guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, C.G.P., brings his acoustic guitar show to the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs.
With only one guitar, Emmanuel creates the sound of an entire band: lightning-fast fingerpicking, deep bass lines, driving rhythms, warm melodies and moments of pure joy. His music moves freely through blues, folk, country, jazz and rock ’n’ roll, but the real magic is watching it unfold live, one astonishing song at a time.
Known around the world for his technical brilliance and generous stage presence, Emmanuel is more than a guitarist. He is a storyteller who can make a concert hall feel as intimate as a living room and as electric as an arena show. Whether you are a lifelong guitar fan or simply love an exceptional night out, this is a concert not to miss!
To be entered into a drawing to win a pair of tickets, respond to this email, or email ads@cvindependent.com by 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10!
Tommy Emmanuel performs at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. Click here for tickets! (Sponsored Content)
From Lo-Fi to Alt-Rock
Celebrate the next chapter of a lo-fi bedroom pop act that has turned to alt-rock! At 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, check out subdued-pop superstar Beabadoobee’s fifth album, Pylon, at a pre-release listening party hosted at Dale’s Records and Skate Shop, at 73754 Highway 111, Suite A, in Palm Desert. Hear the album a week before it gets released; grab a handful of free buttons and stickers (while supplies last); pre-order Pylon on your music format of choice; and stick around for a raffle with prizes including a test-pressing of the album! Meet local music fans and check out what new sounds this modern music maven is tapping into. The event is free! For more information, visit www.instagram.com/dalesrecordsandskateshop. —Matt King
Sk8r Music
Fast music and skateboarding combine in the high desert! At 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, Thrasher Magazine’s DEATH MATCH returns to Pappy and Harriet’s, at 53688 Pioneertown Road, in Pioneertown. Every year, Thrasher brings a skate ramp and some of the best punk bands to the desert for an evening-long party. Catch an invite-only skateboarding contest, along with sets from Circle Jerks, Melvins, Pain of Truth, Necrot, Upchuck (pictured), XCOMM, Purest Form and Hot Load. The Blackouts, Lee Spielman and Nuge will be DJing throughout the event. It’s set to be another high-octane affair of thrills and riffs! Tickets are $76.94. For tickets and more info, visit pappyandharriets.com. —Matt King
A Look at Cruising
Cinema Diverse, Palm Springs’ LGBTQ+ film fest, kicks off with a film that looks back at a particularly complicated piece of queer movie history. Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders (pictured above and in the email header) screens at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, at 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. Emmy Award-winning director Jeffrey Schwarz’s film revisits William Friedkin’s controversial 1980 film Cruising, the real-life murder connected to its inspiration, and the protests from LGBTQ+ activists who feared the movie would reinforce dangerous stereotypes. The 85-minute documentary will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and an opening-night reception. Individual festival tickets start at $14.50. Cinema Diverse runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20 and 24-27, bringing LGBTQ+ features, documentaries and shorts from around the world to Palm Springs. Full disclosure: I appear (unpaid!) in a short film screening at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 25. Whether that encourages or discourages attendance is up to you. For the full schedule, tickets and festival passes, visit psculturalcenter.org/filmfest. —Charles Drabkin
Walk on the Wild Side
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, at 47900 Portola Ave., in Palm Desert, is offering a desert-friendly 2.1-mile experience—for a great cause. At 7 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, the zoo is hosting the Wildlife Ranger Challenge in support of the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, a women-led ranger team created by Transfrontier Africa that works to protect wildlife in South Africa’s Olifants West Nature Reserve. The walk/run is followed at 8:30 a.m. by a presentation from Black Mambas founder Craig Spencer and a virtual Q&A with members of the unit. The event coincides with the annual Wildlife Ranger Challenge, during which rangers across Africa tackle a 21-kilometer course to raise awareness and support for their work. In-person registration is $50 for zoo members; $70 for non-members; and $40 for children. Virtual participation is $50. For more information, visit livingdesert.org/events/wildlife-ranger-challenge-2026. —Charles Drabkin
Pitch In, Pick Up
New Earth Creator, an organization dedicated to protecting our desert environment, invites the public to help with a Community Clean Up. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, volunteers are invited to help clean the Mission Creek area along North Indian Canyon Drive in Desert Hot Springs. Organizers provide gloves, tools, water, shade and snacks; you provide the muscle, although not every job requires a strong back. Volunteers are also needed at check-in and refreshment areas, and on-site activities will be available for youngsters. The goal is to protect the watershed and headwaters that help sustain our desert, while giving the community a cleaner landscape in the process. Volunteers who pre-register will receive a free T-shirt! For more information and to register, click here. —Charles Drabkin
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Blood donations are urgently needed across the region. The Rotary Clubs of the Coachella Valley and LifeStream Blood Bank are teaming up for the Coachella Valley Community Blood Drive, with mobile donation sites open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Palm Springs Police Department Training Center, at 200 S. Civic Drive, and the Palm Desert Family YMCA, at 43930 San Pablo Ave. LifeStream is the primary blood provider for Coachella Valley hospitals, where blood is needed for surgeries, trauma care and other treatments. If you haven’t checked your eligibility in a while, it may be worth another look: Federal guidelines no longer impose a blanket prohibition on men who have sex with men. Can’t donate on Sept. 19? LifeStream donor centers in Rancho Mirage and La Quinta will participate September 13-19. Appointments are encouraged. For more information or schedule a donation, visit LStream.org/rotarycv. —Charles Drabkin
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