Joshua Tree Music Festival tops this weekend's nightlife in the greater Coachella Valley
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HOT PICK
Thursday – Sunday
Festival: In contrast to other local music festivals, The Joshua Tree Music Festival runs on a smaller scale, but it’s a community-focused and diverse event featuring yoga, health and wellness activities, visual arts and top-notch music from around the globe. Some of the spring edition’s lineup highlights are Thievery Corporation’s Rob Garza, Malian rock band Tamikrest, New Orleans singer Leyla McCalla and Austin electronic music group Golden Dawn Arkestra.
Festivalgoers will also see local bands in the lineup such as Mikey Reyes and the Feeling, Giselle Woo & The Night Owls, Nigel Roman and more.
The festival, which also has a fall edition on Oct. 5-8, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It was founded by Barnett English, the owner of JavaGogo, who visited the Joshua Tree Lake Campground in 2002 to sell beverages at the JT Didgeridoo Festival and was inspired to start his own event.
Some of the prominent acts featured at the festival in previous years are the late surf-rock guitarist Dick Dale, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, former Ozomatli and Jurassic 5 member Chali 2NA, Vintage Trouble, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and more.
If you go: Thursday through Sunday, Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2780 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree. Single day and festival passes are available. joshuatreemusicfestival.com
BEST BETS
Thursday
Country: The nu-metal band Staind rose to prominence in 2001 following the release of its third album, “Break the Cycle,” which featured the singles “Outside,” “It’s Been Awhile,” “Fade” and “For You.” Frontman Aaron Lewis has written songs about issues such as addiction, depression, fatherhood and more.
Staind has taken a few hiatuses since 2012, and Lewis took that time to begin a solo career in country music. He continued writing songs with the same themes, as well as pieces about his love for hunting and his right-wing political beliefs, as evidenced in songs such as “Northern Redneck,” “Am I The Only One,” “Let’s Go Fishing” and “I Ain’t Made In China.”
Lewis will perform Thursday at Spotlight 29 Casino.
If you go: 7 p.m. Thursday, Spotlight 29 Casino, 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella. $55 to $130. 760-775-5566.
Friday
Rap: Ice Cube is one of the biggest names in hip-hop and a former member of the group N.W.A., which featured Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella and the late Eazy-E. Following his departure from the group in 1989, Ice Cube released the albums “AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted,” “Death Certificate” and “The Predator,” which included songs such as “"Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside),” “No Vaseline,” “Check Yo Self” and “It Was A Good Day” that became staples of a newer, controversial subgenre known as “gangsta rap.”
He’s also an actor and has appeared in films such as “Boyz n the Hood,” “Higher Learning,” “Barbershop” and the “XXX” film series.
Ice Cube will perform on Friday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
If you go: 8 p.m. Thursday, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $59 to $99. 760-342-5000. fantasyspringsresort.com
Rock: You’ve seen actor Billy Bob Thornton in the movies, but have you heard his music? His band, The Boxmasters, have released several albums of rock and country music. The Boxmasters have toured with Willie Nelson, Ray Price, ZZ Top and performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Boxmasters will perform at Pappy and Harriet’s on Friday.
If you go: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Pappy and Harriet’s, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. $45. 760-228-2222. Pappyandharriets.com
Saturday
Mexican: The Sinaloan regional Mexican band La Adictiva Banda San José de Mesillas formed in 1990 with 15-plus members, and the group has risen to prominence in the past three decades. Millions have watched the video and streamed the 2017 single "Después de Ti, ¿Quién?" and La Adictiva has won many awards.
See for yourself why they've achieved such acclaim on Saturday when La Adictiva performs 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. $45 to $80. 888-999-1995. aguacalientecasinos.com
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Live music in the Palm Springs area this week: Joshua Tree Music Festival
