By Joe Enos
The River in Rancho Mirage has announced the bands playing in its 2017 Music Showcase on six Saturdays beginning this weekend and continuing through April. These evenings of live entertainment feature top local talent from the Coachella Valley and throughout Southern California. Each show begins at 6 PM at The River’s amphitheater and will highlight The River’s newest restaurants, Acqua California Bistro and The Fox & Fiddle, which are scheduled to open soon.
The series starts this Saturday night, January 21, with Brightener and The Flusters, two of the area’s hottest and in-demand acts. Led by Palm Desert’s Will Sturgeon, Brightener is the indie rock pop quartet that is a favorite of critics and loyal fans. Winner of the 2016 Tachevah music contest, Brightener has also played the Coachella Music and Arts Festival along with many of the clubs and music halls throughout the valley while The Flusters are making a name for themselves locally as the area’s young, hot pop rock band.
Acqua California Bistro and The Fox & Fiddle will be offering samples of the local beers to be served from their menus at each of the concerts and beer, wine and cocktails will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to dine at any one of The River’s fine restaurants following the shows and the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert will be offering the first of its uniquely-programmed 2017 Drop Off and Dine Programs for kids. This week the Drop Off and Dine program is offering a pizza party and a musical instrument-making activity to celebrate these pop rock and roll bands. Registration and information including a list of all the Drop Off and Dine dates can be found here: theriveratranchomirage.com/event/childrens-discovery-museum-desert-drop-off-dine-river-rancho-mirage-jan-20/
The 2017 Music Showcase continues on five additional Saturday nights with bands covering genres from current rock to country, to funk, jazz and blues. The River soon will be announcing additional bands and entertainment programming that will cover a total of 32 weekends this year, creating the most extensive arts and entertainment calendar the Rancho Mirage shopping center has ever hosted. These events follow center’s Renova Rink @ The River which had more than 10,000 skaters on the ice during its eight-week run over this past holiday season.
“The River is committed to providing the best entertainment at the center for our guests’ enjoyment,” said Ungar Kung, principal at CL Asset Management, owners’ representative of The River. “We’re excited to bring this range of music, and the quality of these bands, to Rancho Mirage. There’s much more to be announced and we’re confident that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
The River at Rancho Mirage is just minutes away from most desert communities, resorts and hotels. This premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination offers an extraordinary line-up of restaurants like Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Fleming’s Steak House, P.F. Chang’s, Starbucks, Yard House, with Acqua California Bistro and The Fox & Fiddle coming soon; Viva Cigar Lounge, and attractions like Escape Games at The River and The Century Theatres at The River which now offers luxury lounger seating at all of its screens. For a complete listing of the shops, restaurants, attractions and activities at The River please visit the website, theriveratranchomirage.com.
