April 5, 2016
Palm Springs and the area surrounding the Coachella Valley has a rich and vibrant music scene. Musical styles can run the gamut from country to rock to folk to jazz. You may have heard of the Coachella Music Festival and the Stagecoach Music festival but you may not of heard of the equally popular music festivals below. There are plenty of choices when it comes to music in the Coachella Valley and surrounding area.
1. Jazz In The Pines
Jazz in the Pines takes you out of the desert heat and into the cool mountain town of Idyllwild, California from August 19-21, 2016. Founded on the guiding principle that the arts unite and transform, the 23rd annual festival presented by the Idyllwild Arts Foundation community brings together something for lovers of every kind of jazz—all performed at the very highest level by longtime favorites as well as many new faces. Featured acts for this year include Charles McPherson and his masterful saxophone style, the Euphoria Brass Band with their unmistakable West Coast vibe, Marshall Hawkins and his upright-bass improvisations, and many others. Escape the heat, kick back and enjoy Jazz in the Pines!
2. Joshua Tree Music Festival
The Joshua Tree Music Festival provides an intimate vibe where the distinction between artist & audience is blurred. A great line-up spans both a spring and fall festival, May 12-15 and October 6-9, 2016 at the Joshua Tree Lake RV and Campground. The variety of artists include Dumpstaphunk, Little Hurricane, All Good Funk Alliance, The Rainbow Girls and 28 other established and up-coming acts this spring. You can also find yoga with over a dozen instructors leading classes all three days to get your stretch on plus other artistic endeavors. Come experience the high desert above the Coachella Valley in a whole new light!
3. Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival
The best way to describe the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival is in the words of the Artistic Director, Sweet Baby J’ai, “We have crafted a collection of extraordinary musicians merging jazz, blues and funk who will descend on Palm Springs over the Columbus Day Weekend for a compelling musical tapestry.” Although the main event is September 2-4, 2016 at the Annenberg Theater in downtown Palm Springs, there is also the Blues, Brews and BBQ event on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday May 29 complete with a Bid Whist tournament plus “A Tribute to the Blues Divas” featuring Sherry Pruitt and The Queens of the Blues Band. Both events bring world-class jazz artists featuring an all-female line up to the Coachella Valley.
4. Huck Finn Jubilee Bluegrass Music Festival
Established in 1975 (and celebrating its 40th anniversary!) at the hands of a homegrown, Southern California family, the Huck Finn Jubilee is a three-day gathering of true bluegrass music lovers at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, California from June 10-12, 2016. It is a genuine embodiment of endless pickin’ parties, instrumental roots education, and bands performing to fans that believe in the core value that bluegrass is about more than just the music. It is a community- one that delivers the nostalgia of music-driven campgrounds, bare feet, laughter, dancing, instrument exploration, and the development of new friendships. Be sure to come experience one of the best bluegrass music festivals in the west.