By Crystal Harrell
The inaugural Oasis Music Festival, presented by Agua Caliente Casinos, will take place from May 11 to 15 across multiple venues, reviving the storied past of the musical playground that made Palm Springs famous. The Oasis Music Festival will re-create the celebrity, excitement, and swank of Palm Springs through this world-class music festival featuring all genres of music taking place at more than 30 venues over five days.
Music has always played an important role in the lore of Palm Springs. From the 1950s performances of the Rat Pack to today’s indie rockers, musicians of all genres, from all over the world, have found inspiration here in the desert.
“We are grateful to be able to open doors for musicians to again get in front of audiences in live performances. We are also thrilled to make available so many venues that are taking part and there is something for everyone to be happy about here!” stated Event Producer Kim Crandal.
The Oasis Music Festival makes it easy to appeal to multiple audiences with the ability to personalize their own specific music genres, artists, and even venues that they would like to experience on the festival canvas. They are able to start with a blank canvas, and with a few clicks can create their own best of the best live concert line-up.
“We are very excited to be playing this event and grateful to have been invited. I think this type of event, where multiple venues on the main strip in Palm Springs all participate in having live music for a weekend is a long time coming… I hope this is only the beginning for the Oasis. And to get to play at the Plaza Theatre, while helping to raise funds to keep it open, is special. It’s a beautiful theatre with a lot of history. It would be great for it continue to house shows and concerts in the future. It would be a great place to have touring bands come through and play shows,” said Josh Heinz of Blasting Echo, who is performing at Oasis Music Festival.
The Oasis Music Festival is bringing to life the storied Plaza Theatre that has all but been dark for seven years. The festival is also bringing an awareness to the efforts to help fund the planned complete restoration. The Plaza Theatre is a treasured venue within the Palm Springs community, and the City recently engaged the international architectural firm Gensler and historic preservation consultants Chattel to develop a comprehensive restoration and rehabilitation plan.
This plan calls for installation of new theatrical equipment, and structural restoration improvements to ensure the building meets current fire prevention and American Disabilities Act mandates. This plan is estimated to cost approximately 10 to 12 million dollars. A portion of the proceeds from the Oasis Music Festival will benefit the 12 million dollar restoration efforts of the historic 800-seat Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs.
“While all of us, on all kinds of levels, were impacted by COVID-19, no one was hit any harder than musicians. Live music was all but non-existent. Local musicians were hit the hardest. The Oasis Music Festival is opening doors for us all to enjoy live performances once again. Going deeper — we are opening doors for musicians to get back on stage in front of audiences who are specifically there to enjoy them,” said Crandal.
Other than the superb entertainment value, the greater Palm Springs community is served with enhanced overnight hotel stays and local restaurants serving more guests before and after each event.
“I feel really honored to be performing at the Oasis Music Festival as my first sit-down audience. All the history that is within the Plaza Theatre is amazing. I remember my mom telling me how the theatre used to be the popular hangout spot when she went to high school in Palm Springs. It feels good to be part of the revival of it,” said Giselle Woo of Giselle Woo & The Night Owls.
The intent of having the inaugural Oasis Music Festival is to become a perennial event. Organizers for the festival intend for it to be a premier event, attracting quality musicians wanting to perform live and to create an annual music experience that everyone in the greater community looks forward to.
“It should be noted from the get-go that the Agua Caliente Casinos made possible the wheels of planning to start turning. Once they started turning, Palm Springs Life took what was just a concept, and over almost two years of focus have successfully orchestrated a tremendous event that we now know as The Oasis Music Festival. What the community sees on the surface is the result of a behind the scenes dedicated and talented team at Palm Springs Life who care about excellence,” shared Crandal.
Everything that attendees need to fully plan their own unique live music experience is found on the website oasismusicfestival.com. The Oasis Music Festival team has developed a very user friendly website that makes it easy to dive deep into the 50-plus performing bands and solo artists to learn more about each, as well as the exact times and where they will be performing.
“In a Valley with enormous talent to choose from, I am grateful and honored to be a part of this incredible festival,” stated performing artist Courtney Chambers.
Diversified music genres such as Alternative Rock, Bluegrass, Country, Jazz/Swing, Latin Pop, R&B, Soul, and many others will be represented. For tickets and more information, visit https://oasismusicfestival.com/.
AGAVE CALIENTE TERRAZA AT AGUA CALIENTE
FRIDAY, MAY 13
9:00 PM – Oasis De Noche With Nacho Bustillos – Latin Pop
SATURDAY, MAY 14
9:00 PM – Super Sonido Saturdays with Alf Alpha – DJ, Hip Hop, Latin Pop
FRIDAY, MAY 13
6:00 PM – Geronimo – Latin Pop
SATURDAY, MAY 14
6:00 PM – Geronimo – Latin Pop
CASCADE LOUNGE AT AGUA CALIENTE CASINO
THURSDAY, MAY 12
7:00 PM – Jazzville Featuring Anibal Semenario Sextet – Jazz/Swing
FRIDAY, MAY 13
8:00 PM – Caliente Comedy Featuring ISMO – Comedy
SUNDAY, MAY 15
4:00 PM – Kash For Karaoke – Open Mic
9:00 PM – Nacho Bustillos & Quinto Menguante – Latin Pop
FRIDAY, MAY 13
9:00 PM – Lee Dagger – DJ
SATURDAY, MAY 14
9:00 PM – DJ Irene – DJ
THURSDAY, MAY 12
7:00 PM – Jim Minics – Alternative Rock
8:00 PM – Stevie from St. Lou – Blues, Folk/Indie
HOT PURPLE ENERGY STAGE – THE BLOCK
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11
1:00 PM – Alien DNA Band – Funk, Rock
THURSDAY, MAY 12
1:00 PM – Alien DNA Band – Funk, Rock
FRIDAY, MAY 13
1:00 PM – Alien DNA Band – Funk, Rock
SATURDAY, MAY 14
1:00 PM – Cakes & Snakes – Rock
MARGARITAVILLE RESORT PALM SPRINGS
THURSDAY, MAY 12
5:00 PM – Geena Fontanella – Folk/Indie, Pop, Rhythm/Blues, Rock
8:00 PM – Geena Fontanella – Folk/Indie, Pop, Rhythm/Blues, Rock
FRIDAY, MAY 13
3:00 PM – Roger & The Roadhouse Rebels – Country
5:00 PM – New Sensations – Disco, Jazz/Swing, Rock
8:00 PM – Cedrice – Rhythm/Blues, Soul
SATURDAY, MAY 14
5:00 PM – Cedrice – Rhythm/Blues, Soul
SUNDAY, MAY 15
5:00 PM – Avenida – Latin Pop, Rock
8:00 PM – Eevaan Tré – Blues, Rhythm/Blues, Soul
THURSDAY, MAY 12
2:00 PM – Roger & The Roadhouse Rebels – Country
8:00 PM – SouthBound & Company – Rock
FRIDAY, MAY 13
9:00 PM – SouthBound & Company – Rock
SATURDAY, MAY 14
2:30 PM – Roger & The Roadhouse Rebels – Country
6:00 PM – Jane Monheit – Come What May – Jazz/Swing, Pop
8:00 PM – SouthBound & Company – Country
SUNDAY, MAY 15
2:00 PM – Mikole Kaar Jazz Band – Jazz/Swing
5:00 PM – Beau MacDougall – Jazz/Swing
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11
5:30 PM – The Gand Band – Jazz/Swing, Rock, Soul
7:00 PM – Nutty – Classic Rock, Jazz/Swing
8:30 PM – The Fabulous Yachtsmen – Rock, Surf/Indie, Yacht Rock
THURSDAY, MAY 12
7:00 PM – Emily Rose & The Rounders – Country
8:15 PM – The Milk Carton Kids – Folk/Indie
FRIDAY, MAY 13
5:00 PM – The Flusters – Pop, Rock, Surf/Indie
6:15 PM – Thee Sacred Souls – Soul
7:30 PM – Y La Bamba – Latin Pop
9:00 PM – The Dip – Pop, Rhythm/Blues
10:30 PM – Lee Fields & The Expressions – Soul
SATURDAY, MAY 14
12:45 PM – The Vinny Berry Connection – Alternative Rock, Rhythm/Blues
2:00 PM – Blasting Echo – Punk, Rock
3:15 PM – Courtney Chambers – Alternative Rock, Pop
6:00 PM – Shadow Mountain Band – Bluegrass, Country, Folk/Indie
7:00 PM – Giselle Woo and the Night Owls – Latin Pop, Rock
8:15 PM – The White Buffalo – Country, Rock
SUNDAY, MAY 15
11:30 AM – Lance Conrad Quartet – Jazz/Swing
2:00 PM – Matthew Whitaker – Jazz/Swing
5:00 PM – Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap – Jazz/Swing
8:00 PM – Christian McBride & Inside Straight – Jazz/Swing
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11
6:30 PM – Daniels, Herrera & Holmes – Jazz/Swing
THURSDAY, MAY 12
6:30 PM – Sharon “VaVaVoom” Sills – Blues, Jazz/Swing
FRIDAY, MAY 13
6:00 PM – Jane Monheit: Come What May – Jazz/Swing, Pop
SATURDAY, MAY 14
11:00 AM Alf Alpha – DJ
SUNDAY, MAY 15
11:00 AM – Alf Alpha – DJ
FRIDAY, MAY 13
6:00 PM – Leanna & The Jazz Caddies – Jazz/Swing, Latin Pop
FRIDAY, MAY 13
6:30 PM – Deven Green & Handsome Ned – Comedy, Dinner Show
