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A Music Fest Destination for All Seasons

2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival

By Kevin Perry

Palm Springs is just an idyllic resort town where residents and tourists relax the day away, right?

Wrong! Well, partially wrong.

Sure, our hometown offers leisure by the mile, but we also rock out, groove out and chill out with the best fests in the world. Concerts draw scores of travelers to our music scene, making it a must-visit location for the next generation of tastemakers and hip-shakers.

So, let’s flip through our calendar of cool and mark down every major festival that you simply can’t miss next year. Crank it up!

desert-air-palm-springs

Oasis Music Festival, Late January

The beauty of collaboration is how each component contributes to a product greater than itself. From the grungy grit of indie rock to the hypnotic rhythms of hip-hop, festivals provide a buffet of brilliance rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to artistry.

And no event embodies the spirit of diversity better than Oasis Music Festival. Whether you’re a punk aficionado or an understated folk enthusiast, you will find symphonic satisfaction at this wildly varied audio smorgasbord.

But Oasis doesn’t just boast a range of genres; its venues are also playfully unconventional. You can enjoy a sit-down show at the Historic Plaza Theater, rave the night away at Chill Bar, take in a rooftop performance at Kimpton Rowan, or sizzle your expectations tom perfection at Mr. Lyons Steakhouse.

Variety is served!

Oasis Music Festival

Coachella & Stagecoach, Mid-Late April

No discussion of music fests in the Coachella Valley would be complete without… well, Coachella. The iconic gathering has attracted the biggest names in pop, rap and rock for almost 30 years. Beyoncé, Madonna, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Kanye and Paul McCartney are just a few of the headliners who have graced the Coachella stage(s) over the decades.

Bands like NWA, Rage Against the Machine and The Pixies even scheduled their highly anticipated reunions to the tune of the mega-concert. The event sells out well before the lineup is announced, so plan early and book your stay in nearby Palm Springs!

If country is more your twang-thang, hitch your wagon to Stagecoach. After two weekends of Coachella rocks the Polo Fields, Stagecoach follows up with counterprogramming in the key of yee-haw!

coachella music festival

White Party, Late April/Early May

Switching gears yet again, circuit swingers flock to the LGBTQ+ excess of White Party Global Palm Springs. Splash your inhibitions away poolside by day and amp up your mojo by night. This is more than just music; it’s a lifestyle at full volume.

Back in 2009, Lady Gaga played an intimate show to a mere few thousand die-hard dancehall attendees. It cemented her place as the reigning pop-culture kween and verified what we already knew: that Palm Springs is THE place to see emerging talent flourish fabulously.

Other notable White Party performers include Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Lopez. And while we’re on the subject of female fierceness…

white party

The Dinah, Times Vary

Rock out at the largest lesbian music fest on Mother Earth! The Dinah puts ladies first and empowers fans to connect and cavort with unapologetically flirtatious vibes.

Soulful crooners set the tone, squads of DJs carry the beat, and innovative acts define the cutting edge of cool at The Dinah. Traditionally held in early May, the gurl-powered festival rescheduled to autumn last year to accommodate its devoted fans. It is now moved to late September/early October. Get ready to get psyched!

The Dinah
Credit: Lilian Joseph

Splash House, Summer

Music is synonymous with movement. The bass rattles your bones, the treble gets you in trouble and before you know it, you’re twerking and sashaying with reckless abandon.

Motion is also an essential ingredient of Splash House. This hot summer show sprawls across three resorts as well as the Palm Springs Air Museum. Simmer in a poolside paradise, sip refreshments rippling with possibilities, and bring it all to a fever pitch at the after-hours soiree supreme.

Don’t worry – free shuttles circulate steadily from venue to venue, keeping up with the pulse of your party weekend. No matter where or how you let your hair down, Splash House has got your back!

Desert Air, December

Splash House has been such a success story that it’s writing a new chapter. Your sunny disposition can now spill into the fall months at Desert Air, a next-level concert that takes flight at the Air Museum.

How loud do you wanna live? Choose between a single day pass, weekend-long general admission tickets, VIP access and/or table reservations that pair your party with gourmet realness.

Desert Air is the youngest of Palm Springs’ music festivals, but it has already burst out of its shell with panache to spare. Hip-hop heroes mingle with alternative visionaries in a Shangri-La of shared happiness.

desert air sunset

This is entertainment at its best. This is rock, this is roll, this is everything. This is Palm Springs.

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