By Crystal Harrell
Thirteen years strong and still evolving, Coachella Valley Weekly is marking a major milestone in style. On Thursday, June 19, CV Weekly will host a 13-Year Anniversary Party and Podcast Launch Celebration at Big Rock Pub in Indio—bringing together music lovers and longtime CV Weekly supporters for a night of live entertainment, food, and fun.
The free event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to the public. Guests can expect live performances by desert favorites Michael Keeth, Rick Shelley, Yovés, Jetta King, and eMMELLE Duo, all of whom have long-standing ties to the Coachella Valley music scene, and to CV Weekly itself.
“CV Weekly is an invaluable asset to our community of local businesses and artists. I’m honored to play for their 13th Anniversary party. I’m excited to perform, see the other artists, and hang out with the amazing CV Weekly team,” said Michael Keeth.
The party also marks the official launch of the CV Weekly Podcast, a new digital venture hosted by publishers and co-founders Tracy Dietlin and Phil Lacombe. Modeled after the “Tonight Show” format, the weekly show features a rotation of three guests and a musical performance in each episode. New episodes drop every Thursday on CV Weekly’s YouTube channel, with plans to launch on Spotify soon.
“The podcast allows us to keep telling community stories in a new way. We’ve already filmed more than two dozen interviews. From musicians to filmmakers, the lineup is incredible,” stated Dietlin.
Behind the scenes, the move to podcasting meant learning an entirely new set of skills. “Wireless mics, video, audio—there was a steep learning curve. Luckily, I had an amazing tech guru, Kurt Schawacker, who helped me set everything up, then taught me how to use it. We’re loving it. It’s a new way to connect with people on a deeper level,” shared Lacombe.
That connection will be made both on-screen and in person at the June 19 party, which will also be filmed as a special standalone episode of the podcast. Fans and friends are encouraged to come out and celebrate with the team, enjoy food and drinks from Big Rock Pub.
“I’m always happy to be part of a CV Weekly event,” said Rick Shelley. “It’s no small feat to reach the milestones they’ve reached. A decade plus of cranking it out! It’s really cool to see them stretch their reach through this podcast launch. They’re invested in the community and always supportive of local music.”
Singer-songwriter Emmelle is also excited to take the stage at Big Rock Pub for the first time. “This is exciting for me and helps me expand in the desert with more venues. I’m so happy for the team at CV Weekly—this is a huge milestone and I’m just so grateful to be a part of it! Razor J is playing with me, and I’m hoping this duo opens the door to bring in my full band soon,” she shared.
Artist and longtime CV Weekly collaborator Bobby Taffolla of Yovés also shares his support for the collective spirit behind the night.
“Yovés has a longstanding relationship with CV Weekly and an even longer friendship with Phil and Tracy. We are very excited to share the stage with amazing artists and friends to celebrate CV Weekly’s Anniversary and the launch of the CV Weekly Podcast. We will be performing a special acoustic set featuring the talents of Joshua Fimbres on percussion and Armando Flores on bass,” said Taffolla.
Desert songstress Jetta King will be playing an acoustic set with her band along with special guest vocalist Stevie Jane Lee.
“We are so excited to be playing this show. We love Tracy and Phil and they have been a huge part of the music scene and the reason why I even have a band right now. The CV Music Awards was my introduction into the music scene and Phil introduced me to my first drummer. I believe that was 7 or 8 years ago! Time flies! Tracy and Phil are like the Mama and Papa of the music scene and I just love them so much,” shared King.
To watch the latest CV Weekly podcast episode, visit https://www.youtube.com/@CVWeekly.
