Desert After 5 Newsletter Preview
September 29–October 6, 2026
Ten curated concerts from around the Coachella Valley, plus my firsthand takes on two shows I attended.
These concerts have ended, so the original event links are disabled in this preview.
Live Music
DA5 score
DeVotchKa
87/100
Tuesday, September 29 · 9:00 p.m. | Pappy & Harriet’s Indoor Stage · Pioneertown
DeVotchKa revisited its own Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack on the film’s 20th anniversary tour.
Concert Details
Daughtry
88/100
Wednesday, September 30 · 8:00 p.m. | The Show at Agua Caliente · Rancho Mirage
Daughtry brought its melodic hard rock to The Show at Agua Caliente.
Concert Details
Mirage — A Fleetwood Mac Tribute
82/100
Thursday, October 1 · 6:00 p.m. | Civic Center Park Amphitheater · Palm Desert
Mirage opened Palm Desert’s fall Concerts in the Park series with the music of Fleetwood Mac.
Dave’s firsthand take — I was there, and it was an excellent evening.
Concert Details
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers
86/100
Friday, October 2 · 7:00 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center · Palm Springs
The award-winning blues guitarist and singer brought his Closer to the Bone tour to Palm Springs.
Concert Details
Halestorm
93/100
Friday, October 2 · 7:30 p.m. | The Show at Agua Caliente · Rancho Mirage
Halestorm brought the heavier side of rock to the week’s lineup.
Concert Details
Live Music Continued
DA5 score
The Phil Collins Story
81/100
Friday, October 2 · 8:00 p.m.
Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino · Indio
Live musicians, storytelling, and visuals traced Phil Collins’ career from Genesis to his solo work.
Dave’s firsthand take — I saw this one, too. It was excellent and better than our preliminary score suggested. I’d put it in the 90s.
Concert Details
Rickie Lee Jones
90/100
Saturday, October 3 · 7:30 p.m. | Plaza Theatre · Palm Springs
The singer-songwriter brought an evening of music and storytelling to the restored downtown theater, including “Chuck E.’s in Love.”
Concert Details
The Doo Wop Project
90/100
Saturday, October 3 · 8:00 p.m. | McCallum Theatre · Palm Desert
The vocal group paired classic doo-wop with fresh arrangements of pop and rock songs.
Concert Details
Paula Cole — This Fire 30th Anniversary Tour
91/100
Sunday, October 4 · 7:00 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center · Palm Springs
Cole’s anniversary tour featured her album This Fire in full, with Rett Madison opening.
Concert Details
Toadies with Local H
85/100
Tuesday, October 6 · 8:00 p.m. | Pappy & Harriet’s · Pioneertown
The sold-out alternative-rock double bill featured “Possum Kingdom” and songs from the Toadies’ album The Charmer.
Concert Details
