A Coachella Virgin! That’s me and I’m about to experience my first Coachella Music & Arts Festival this weekend. After a decade, I was finally granted press credentials for weekend 2.
I’ve been consulting the app for guidelines on everything from my backpack size to the art installations. There is, of course, a Queer+ section to the app which points me to the HeadQ+uarters (HQ+), dedicated to the festival’s all-inclusive culture.
I’ll be visiting and “reporting” (i.e. posting) this weekend. I’m also monitoring the @GaysofCoachella IG and also as a Facebook group. But we have been using the #GaysofCoachella for years and there’s plenty of posts there too.
Of course, I’m most looking forward to seeing Blondie, whose music I played on the radio as a young DJ in the 80s. If Debbie Harry can get on stage to perform at 77, I can certainly “survive” a trip to Coachella’s expansive grounds.
This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings
April 21–23, 2023
We’re keeping you updated on the weekend’s Top Events: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Weekend 2, Desert Gold at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Experience Palm Springs Like a Local, Slay: The Art of Drag, Open Call Talent Project, Day Club Palm Springs, Manilow! with Modern Men, ‘Future Thinking,’ ‘The Play that Goes Wrong,’ ‘The Garbologists,’ Flagging in the Desert, Broadway Under the Stars…and much more!
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival presents the second weekend of the annual mega-event playing to a capacity crowd of 125,000 attendees at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. If you are going, be sure to check out these great resources: every one is a safe space community care effort to support mental health and harassment prevention at the festival, and HQ+ is a social gathering space within the festival grounds for BIPOC LGBTQ+ individuals to come and be celebrated. Both are located in the Coachella Courtyard near the 12 Peaks VIP section, across from the Coachella Main Stage. Most of the acts will repeat from last weekend’s lineup, though Blink 182 will headline Sunday in place of Frank Ocean on Sunday, April 23 More info. On social media: Gays of Coachella is the perfect place to connect with other LGBTQ Coachella Festival-goers. Find them on Facebook at GaysofCoachella and on Instagram: @GaysofCoachella
Desert Gold at The Ace Hotel & Swim Club
The Ace Hotel & Swim Club presents Desert Gold, a weekend of holy chaos, sunbathed sound and glorious poolside parties this weekend, April 20–23. This year Desert Gold invites in a days-long list of legends and surprise stars, including DFA Records, Link Up, Dublab, The Do-Over, Pitchfork Live, The Deep End, Stones Throw Records, and more. Every event is free and all are welcome, though space is limited and first come, first served. More info
Experience Palm Springs Like a Local
While Palm Springs hotels may be packed with visitors here for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, it’s a great time to go downtown and support our locally-owned businesses while those visitors clear out to attend the festival all afternoon and evening! Enjoy the even more relaxed vibes and check out this great article from Visit Palm Springs for locally-owned shopping, eats, nightlife and more things to do. Learn more
We have a featured Hot Deal for savings at V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar this week, plus we have deals at Boozehounds, Willie’s Modern Fare, Coachella Valley Coffee Co., Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Hunters Nightclub, Low Desert Modern Mexican, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s, Rick’s, Trevor Wayne Pop Art, Destination PSP, Kitchen 86, AMP Sports Lounge, Monster Shakes and more!
KGAY 106.5 wants to send YOU on a Brand g LGBT+ vacation to the Pacific Northwest sailing down the Columbia River! Listen Weekdays At 8 am, 1 pm or 5 pm for the KGAY 106.5 Song Of The Day. Then visit the KGAY Contest Page to enter the song name and you’re registered to win our Brand g Columbia River Cruise, sailing in June 2024. You’ll start your 8 day trip in historic Spokane and then enjoy breathtaking scenery from the luxury of your private veranda onboard the American Empress through Oregon and Washington…plus Brand g signature entertainment! Increase your chances to win by entering every weekday!
Friday, April 28 is the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Nicholas Snow’s historic public access television show Tinseltown’s Queer: Activism Hollywood Style at 6 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Be part of Queer media history in this celebratory evening of iconic archival television clips featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as well as champions of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement [Get tickets]. KGAY 106.5 has your chance to win tickets, and there are 8 ways to enter on the KGAY Contest Page!
Coachella Weekend 2
Desert Gold at The Ace Hotel & Swim Club
Experience Palm Springs Like a Local
