12-05-2025
Joshua Tree Music Festival and more: 5 shows to see in the Coachella Valley this weekend
Looking for some live entertainment this weekend? Here are my picks for the latest can't-miss live performances in the Coachella Valley and surrounding communities.
Festival: In 2024, USA TODAY ranked the Joshua Tree Music Festival as No. 1 on its 10BEST music festival list and No. 2 in 2025. According to founder Barnett English, the festival hosts 3,000 people during both annual editions and features over 55 workshops, live mural artists and activities for children with more of a community vibe than a large-scale music festival.
From Thursday to Sunday, artists including Saritah, Wajatta, Steve Poltz, Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar, Smoked Out Soul, Brittany Davis and more will perform at the festival, which is held at the Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground. Although four-day admission passes are sold out, individual day passes remain available.
If you go: Thursday through Sunday, Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree. Individual passes are $45 to $115, discounted passes are available for children. For more information, visit
Mariachi metal: For those who love mariachi and metal music, you can enjoy both at this concert. Metalachi, an East Los Angeles band that performs mariachi covers of metal songs by Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and more, is performing this week in Pioneertown. Instead of traditional charro suits, members wear leather boots, leopard-print pants, T-shirts, sombreros and luchador masks. The band's brand of fun has attracted a wide fan base to live shows, and Metalachi has performed at the Netflix Is A Joke Fest, Welcome to Rockville Festival and more.
Metalachi will perform on Thursday at Pappy and Harriet's.
If you go: 9 p.m. Thursday, Pappy and Harriet's, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. Tickets $20.
Pop: Jason Mraz continues to entertain audiences with his blend of acoustic pop, soulful vocals and uplifting spirit featured in songs such as "I'm Yours" and "Lucky." In 2023, Mraz released his eighth album "Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride," which reunited him with past collaborators, including the Los Angeles band Raining Jane and producer Martin Terefe, who worked with him on his 2008 record "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things."
Mraz will perform on Friday at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa.
If you go: 8 p.m. Friday, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. Tickets $85 to $200.
Tribute: It's hard to say if the metal band System of a Down will ever fully reunite and release another album, even though the band has teased it through the years. But in the meantime, local fans can celebrate the music with the tribute band Toxicity, a System of a Down tribute band.
Toxicity will perform on Friday in the Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
If you go: 7 p.m. Friday, Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. Admission is free.
Comedy: In 2023, comedian Alec Flynn performed at the Netflix is a Joke festival and New York Comedy Festival, where he was named as one of their 'Comics to Watch." Video footage of his "Don't Tell Comedy" appearance has amassed over 3 million views.
See what Flynn has to make you laugh about on Friday when he performs at Little Street Music Hall.
If you go: 8 p.m. Friday, Little Street Music Hall, 82-707 Miles Ave., Indio. Tickets $19.99 to $54.99.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs things to do: 5 live shows to see this weekend
