Modernism Week will offer many exciting live entertainment options during the 11-day festival that will take place in Palm Springs, California in February 2025. The 20th Anniversary of Modernism Week takes place February 13-23, 2025, and will feature more than 500 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, tours of iconic homes in more than 28 neighborhoods and communities, walking tours, and nightly parties. All events are open to the public and tickets are on sale now at modernismweek.com. Some events sell out quickly due to limited capacity and high demand. Highlighted programs and many more may be viewed here.
“We know that our guests greatly enjoy the array of live entertainment options that we offer each year during the festival. We are delighted to partner again with the Palm Springs International Jazz Festival to incorporate their legendary performers into our programming. In addition, Modernism Week guests will have the opportunity to experience incredible one-of-a-kind live entertainment options. We are very proud to offer these compelling live performances.
Mark Davis, Modernism Week Theater and Travel Producer
Live entertainment events include:
Modernism Week 20th Anniversary Opening Night Extravaganza (2/13, $350) Modernism Week celebrates its 20th anniversary with a REALLY BIG SHOW and an unforgettable night at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This iconic venue will be transformed into a playground of vintage tropical nightclub glamour, setting the stage for an opening night extravaganza that promises to be its most spectacular event in two decades. Guest will be dazzled by a show unlike any other, where the spirit of midcentury Palm Springs nightclubs meets the grandeur of a Vegas spectacle. The evening’s entertainment lineup is truly one-of-a-kind: witness the legendary Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Elvis Presley brought back to life in entertaining tribute performances by surprise entertainers. From Sinatra’s smooth crooning to The Beatles’ infectious energy and Elvis’s rock-and-roll swagger, this show will transport guests to the greatest show that could only happen at Modernism Week. Expertly crafted cocktails and gourmet cuisine stations by Lulu will be provided, As the night goes on, the dance floor will be alive with the timeless tunes of DJ Modgirl, making this a night of nostalgia, extravagance, and unforgettable fun.
Exclusive Sunset Reception at the Legendary O’Donnell Golf Club Featuring The Dreamboats (2/17, $150) This unforgettable event is more than a party—it is an evening of timeless charm that blends music, history and culinary excellence into a memorable celebration of Palm Springs’ golden age. Guests will experience the magic of Historic O’Donnell Golf Club at sunset as they rock out to The Dreamboats, whose energetic retro tunes and nostalgic rhythms from the 1950s and 60s will transport guests back to the golden era in Palm Springs. For libations, guests will enjoy a selection of exquisite hors d’oeuvres, perfectly paired wines, and a signature cocktail crafted exclusively for this event by renowned Executive Chef Gabriel Woo. The iconic golf course and its historic grounds will be available for self-guided tours. Guests will learn about O’Donnell’s fascinating life and the rich history of his estate and may meet historical author Steven Keylon to receive a personally signed copy of Tom O’Donnell: Generous Spirit of Palm Springs.
Hey, Hey…We’re the Monkees! Mod Music and Cocktail Party (2/16 and 2/17, $95) This Mod 60s cocktail party is an immersive multimedia live concert celebrating the music of the Monkees, America’s first pre-fab rock band created by TV executives for a weekly sitcom. Starting as a fictional band, the Monkees became a real force with 6 top-10 hits. Guests will sing along with classic Monkees songs played in the unique style of the Gand Band, voted Coachella Valley’s Best band four times running. The Gand Band will reinterpret favorite Monkees songs featuring some of the desert’s top vocalists. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Shelton Sings Sinatra: A Very Romantic Affair (2/16, $65 rear orchestra and $85 front orchestra) Acclaimed as the leading dramatic interpreter of Frank Sinatra, Richard Shelton honors Sinatra’s timeless legacy with an unforgettable performance, showcasing the legendary singer’s most romantic classics. Accompanied on stage with a nine-piece orchestra and grand piano, Shelton manifests not only Sinatra’s sliding rhythms and nuanced phrasing, but also the timbre of his famous voice.
Palm Springs International Jazz Festival
Reprising the successful partnership of Modernism Week and PSJazzFest last year, the two organizations have partnered again to offer several significant musical performances on the stage of the Annenberg Theater.
- It begins Friday, February 21 with a sold-out performance by Chucho Valdés & Irakere 50 Featuring Arturo Sandoval, one of the most important bands in Latin jazz and Cuban music history.
- On Saturday, the Jazz Festival continues with Dianne Reeves–A Night of Sophisticated Song and Musical Storytelling with an NEA Jazz Master (2/22, $195 center orchestra, $85 general admission). Reeves is one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today. Her arsenal of talents is richly on display in each song of her limitless repertoire. She effortlessly sings in many styles, but jazz always was—and continues to be—her musical foundation. She has received five GRAMMY® Awards, three of them consecutively for Best Jazz Vocal Performance–a GRAMMY® first in any vocal category.
- On Sunday afternoon singer and composer Cecile McLorin Salvant, an astonishing French/American jazz vocalist of the next generation (2/23, $195 center orchestra, $85 general admission). Spin Magazine says “With three GRAMMYs® and a MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award to her name, Salvant has already far transcended her early status as her generation’s most imaginative and thrilling jazz interpreter.” Reveling in the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque, and traditional folk music, McLorin Salvant bridges the gap between musical past and present.
- JazzFest concludes with Charles Lloyd with Bill Frisell, Gerald Clayton, and Reuben Rogers (2/23, $195 center orchestra, $85 general admission).Charles Lloyd is one of the most celebrated jazz artists in the world and was recently awarded a rare quadruple crown in DownBeat magazine’s critics’ poll–a feat only matched by John Coltrane. The 86-year-old master’s current Blue Note album, The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow stands as one of the most significant recordings of his career. With threads of gospel and blues, spiritual power, and pristine beauty, the album has received worldwide critical acclaim. This special quartet features pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Reuben Rogers, and GRAMMY® Award-winning guitar icon Bill Frisell.
4 Day VIP All Access Pass for Jazz Festival Events
New this year, a limited number of VIP All Access Passes featuring VIP seating (rows A-D) to all four Palm Springs International Jazz Festival shows and a fabulous swag bag. $1,000 (4 days–4 performances). In addition to the four Jazz Fest shows on the Annenberg Stage, the VIP All Access Pass includes the opportunity to attend a swanky kick-off bash at the incomparable Leon & Thea Koerner Residence, designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1955. The Koerner Estate has recently undergone a museum-quality restoration, making it the most spectacular home in the desert. This party is only accessible for VIP Jazz Festival patrons and will feature a performance by the Lance Conrad Quartet.
PS Underground will offer three different dining and entertainment shows during Modernism Week:
- Sunny Side of the Street (2/14 – 2/16, 2/21- 2/22, $195) This one-of-a-kind evening features live entertainment, fantastic food, and free-flowing cocktails. PS Underground will honor the legacy of two brilliant performers: Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Live performers will interpret many memorable tunes that have shaped the genre of jazz and elevated the music of a generation to new heights. Just as the entertainers put their own spin on classic tunes, Chef Dave will bring his signature style into the spotlight with a tantalizing, secret four-course menu that adds a new twist to classic dishes. Free-flowing specialty cocktails, beer, and wine are included throughout the evening.
- Ponytails, Chiffon, and Shangri-La (2/18 – 2/20, $175) Palm Springs-based cabaret singer Francesca Amari will celebrate the era of doo-wop and soulful melodies and explore the fascinating stories and hit songs from the best of the 1950s and 1960s female singers. PS Underground’s chef will carefully craft a nostalgic three-course menu complete with elegant updates on 1950s and 60s dishes. Themed signature cocktails, beer, and wine will be free flowing are included in the ticket price.
- PAJAMA GAME (2/23, $120) At this fun Sunday Brunch experience of music and ambiance, guests are invited to relax in their pajamas and revel in the musical magic of the movies. PS UNDERGROUND will go retro and take guests back in time with fantastic songs from movie musicals of the 1950s and 60s. With inspiration from films like Singing In The Rain, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, A Star Is Born, The King And I, Jailhouse Rock, and, of course, The Pajama Game, this musical brunch will be a lyrical feast for the senses. The Chef will flip the script on classic 1950s brunch dishes with a playful, contemporary twist and his secret three-course menu will honor the whimsy and energy of these classic musicals. 1950s-themed cocktails, mimosas and bubbly are all free-flowing and included in the ticket price.
