Desert Daze festival tops this weekend's nightlife in the greater Palm Springs area
HOT PICK
Friday - Sunday
Festival: It's the 10-year anniversary of the music festival Desert Daze, and this year's lineup features headliners Tame Impala, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Beach House. Other notable acts include Chicano Batman, Perfume Genius, Sleaford Mods, BADBADNOTGOOD and more.
Desert Daze began in 2012 as an 11-day event at Dillon's Burgers & Beers Restaurant in Desert Hot Springs with performances by the indie bands Dengue Fever, Dead Meadow, Allah Las, local band Slipping Into Darkness and more.
The festival moved the following year to Sunset Ranch Oasis in Mecca, where it was held until 2015, then moved again in 2016 to the Institute of Mentalphysics in Joshua Tree. In 2018, Desert Daze moved 45 miles west of Palm Springs to the Lake Perris State Recreation Area.
If you go: Friday to Sunday, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 17-801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris. From $139 (single-day passes and weekend passes available). desertdaze.org
BEST BETS
Friday
Punk: Local punk band Throw Rag doesn't perform too often, but it's always a good time and an entertaining live music experience when it happens. Frontman Sean Wheeler knows how to work a room and interact with a crowd. See it for yourself on Friday when Throw Rag performs at Pappy and Harriet's.
Wheeler has led more than a dozen bands over 36 years, playing hybrid genres he’s invented, such as “political sleng teng,” “proto-emo jangle rock” and “glam-inspired punk pop.” His groups have opened for major artists as diverse as Queens of the Stone Age and Willie Nelson.
If you go: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. $15. pappyandharriets.com
Saturday
Comedy: Those who ever watched "The Steve Harvey Show" or the film "Barbershop" are likely to recognize the comedian Cedric the Entertainer. The Missouri native is one the Original Kings of Comedy, along with Harvey, D. L. Hughley and the late Bernie Mac.
Cedric the Entertainer will perform Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $59 to $89. 760-342-5000. fantasyspringsresort.com
Indie: When the Silversun Pickups formed 20 years ago, there was an indie-rock revolution happening, and it was one of many bands that would come to define rock music in the 2000s. The group continues to record new music and just released its sixth album, "Physical Thrills," in August.
Silversun Pickups will perform Saturday at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $40 to $90. 888-999-1995.
Previous reporting by Desert Sun reporter Bruce Fessier was included in this report.
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Desert Daze festival tops nightlife this week in the Palm Springs area
