Brad Fuhr Caricature

Humbled was I for you, dear readers, who chatted with me at the LGBTQ Center’s Info A Go Go this week! I’m glad that this twice-weekly blog is useful! I also heard stories of how our KGAY air staff, led by morning host John Taylor, connects with you. We love doing every minute of it!

At KGAY & Gay Desert Guide, we are all about building community, just as the Center does. And while it is going through leadership change, the organization remains the top provider of services to our LGBTQ+ communities.

I also want to give recognition to our police and fire departments. I’ve gotten to know Chief Andrew Mills, who will be leading “Operation Relentless Sun” starting next week. That effort will be key to reducing the multi-faceted issues with homeless in the Palm Springs community. At this week’s Police & Fire Appreciation Lunch, we saw many examples of how our first responders have risked their lives to save others. Even the occasional four-legged variety…

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs,

For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!


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Southwest Arts Festival

The Southwest Arts Festival® returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio from Thursday, January 26 through Sunday, January 29, open daily from 10 am– 5 pm. The acclaimed art festival features a variety of traditional, contemporary, and abstract fine works of art, jewelry and quality crafts. Live music, pottery, glass and fine art painting are scheduled to be on display. The festival’s reputation for first-class quality and professional integrity make it one of the country’s finest juried art festivals. Get tickets

Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Expo

The Palm Springs Health Run & Expo takes place Saturday, January 28 from 8 am–1 pm at Ruth Hardy Park. The FREE Expo features over 100 vendor booths and fitness demonstrations showcasing the latest in nutrition, exercise techniques, NBC Palm Springs Food Challenge, LifeStream Blood Bank Drive, Playworks Game On – Tag Zone, rock climbing wall, Walk on Water and Flowbox aerial performers. This is one of the largest events of its kind in Southern California. Added new this year, a Half Marathon along with the USA Track and Field certified 10K and 5K courses. Beneficiaries include Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, Palm Springs Unified School District and United Way of the Desert. More info

Les Michaels Memorial Benefit and Concert

Les Michaels, a cabaret producer and singer in Palm Springs and Los Angeles who presented an ongoing popular Open Mic Cabaret Series at the Arthur Newman Theatre at the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert for many years, passed away unexpectedly on November 3, 2022. This benefit concert, on Saturday, January 28 from 12:30–3 pm will take place at the same venue and funds raised will go toward the effort to consider Michaels for a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. The event will feature shared stories and remembrances by 16 performers from his Cabaret Series, including singers: Francesca Amari, Keisha D, Jaci Davis, Ruthann De La Vega, Jerome Elliott, Douglas Graham, Marcia Harp, Vicki Knight, Jeffrey Lesser, Rose Mallett, Frankie Mamone, Pat McCann, Thom McMorris, Earl Mitchell, John Spinks and Leslie Tinnaro. More info

KC and the Sunshine Band

The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Rancho Mirage presents KC and the Sunshine Band on Friday, January 27 at 8 pm. KC and the Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced into the music scene 40 years ago. Harry Wayne Casey – KC for short – developed a unique fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove, giving us an impressive string of hits like “Get Down Tonight”, “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty.” Get tickets

Dirty Blonde – Final Weekend

CVRep presents Dirty Blonde, playing through Sunday, January 29. This hit comedy garnered five Tony Award nominations and tells a story that is as unlikely, outrageous and as fascinating as Mae West herself. Come see how this icon of the past connects two lonely fans who are brave enough to see Mae West as their personal hero and ultimately lead to a fresh, budding, funny and sometimes bizarre romance. Get tickets

Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh applauds Dirty Blonde as a “truly wonderful play,” “warm and loving” with “plenty of laughs…occasionally tinged with a layer of warm and fuzzy.” Read his full review

Nunsense A-Men!

Desert Theatreworks presents Nunsense A-Men! playing through Sunday, February 5. Hallelujah! The Little Sisters of Hoboken are invading DTW this new year! The twist is, all the nuns are played by men, adding another layer of hilarity to this hit musical. When five of the surviving members of the Convent discover that 52 of their sisters have been accidentally poisoned by food prepared by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, they’re tasked with the challenge of raising enough money to pay for the burials. The Sisters decide to perform a musical-comedy variety show to raise the funds. Get tickets

Hey! KGAY 106.5 is giving away tickets to Nunsense A-Men!
Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page

Jazz on the Ocean Floor

The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents an Immersive Big Screen Experience, Jazz on the Ocean Floor on Friday, January 27 at 6 pm. Explore the wonder and the majesty of the world’s oceans as they come to life in the Historic Camelot Theatre on the largest screen in the valley. Your musical tour guide and songstress extraordinaire for the evening Leanna has invited a collective of national and local jazz legends to create a multi-media sensory experience like none other. Get tickets

Coachella Valley Symphony Presents the Best of Stage & Screen

Coachella Valley Symphony will be bringing the Best of Stage and Screen to life at their performance home, the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater at the beautiful Rancho Mirage Community Park on Sunday, January 29 at 2 pm. This extraordinary event is FREE, suitable for all ages and you may reserve two tickets per e-mail address. Tickets are limited to 1,000 guests. More info

Kill the Editor

Desert Ensemble Theatre presents Kill the Editor over two weekends, January 27–February 5 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Ben, a young editor, is hired to edit a documentary for the Cannes Film Festival. With only one week, can he cut a five-hour version down to size? The filmmaker doesn’t want to touch a frame. When the previous editor demands her position back, what will Ben do? Will he give in to the 5-hour vision, let the previous editor take over or will he edit the film into his own vision? Get tickets

Mid-Century Moderns at Oscar’s

The hit Palm Springs 1960s jukebox musical Mid-Century Moderns is at Oscar’s on Friday, January 27 at 7:30 pm. The sensational hits of ‘66 come to life in the delightful tale of a plucky Wisconsin widow who transforms from frump to fabulous when she finds herself at the center of modernity in Palm Springs. Get tickets

January at The McCallum

The McCallum Theatre presents Paul Anka on Friday and Saturday, January 27 & 28 at 8 pm. On Monday, January 30 it’s Jazz at Lincoln Center presents The Songs We Love. Get tickets

Betti & Bruce: Trapped in Palm Springs!

Musical Comedy Duo Betti and Bruce return to Palm Springs on Saturday, January 28 from 7–8:30 pm for their Toucans Tiki Lounge debut after performing for ecstatic audiences across the US, UK, Ireland and Mexico this past year. In their campy, musical comedy cabaret, Betti and Bruce: Trapped in Palm Springs!, the old school entertainers hilariously combine high-class singing and low-brow comedy to tell a risqué and wisecracking showbiz origin story. Featuring the music of David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Dean Martin, Lady Gaga and many more. Get tickets

Palm Springs Getaway – A Musical Romp Returns

Palm Canyon Theatre presents Palm Springs Getaway – A Musical Romp through Sunday, January 29. This new musical is a nostalgic romp through the popular oasis featuring glimpses of history, icons, and the celebrities who made the city famous. With a collection of well-known and original songs, the show transports audiences from the early desert landscape to the vibrant and inclusive community people know and love today – and every decade in between. Get tickets

Art Party at the Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum’s (SOLD OUT) major fundraising gala of the year, Art Party, takes place Saturday, January 28 from 6–11 pm at the museum. This year, the Gala honors Phillip K. Smith III, whose exhibit “Light + Change” art is currently on display at the museum. This spectacular evening features a cocktail reception, dinner, and after party. More info

The Gardens 25th Annual Concert Series

Agua Caliente Casinos present The Gardens 25th Annual Concert Series on Saturday, January 28 from 4:30–7:30 pm with a concert by Gypsy, benefiting the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding. For 25 years, The Gardens on El Paseo has brought together the Coachella Valley community to support local non-profits, musicians, and organizations. Reserve your tickets now and wine down on the Center Lawn, Saturday evenings to support your community. Upcoming concerts include: Pulp Vixen (2/4), Journey Captured (2/11), Lisa Lynn & The Broken Hallelujahs (2/18), Eevan Tré and The Show (2/25), Slim Man (3/4), and John Stanley King Band (3/11). Get tickets

3rd Annual Palm Springs Pinot Noir Festival

Palm Springs Passion 4 Pinot Noir Festival is Friday & Saturday, January 27 & 28, at the Westin Golf Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. The two-day event is a unique opportunity to engage with some of the top winery owners and winemakers and other leading wine personalities and enthusiasts from all over California. Discover just what it is that makes Pinot Noir so unique. Get tickets

American Framing Exhibit

The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center presents American Framing on display now through July 2. Originally presented at the U.S. pavilion of the 2021 Venice Biennale of Architecture, Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner developed the exhibition American Framing to examine wood framing—one of the country’s most overlooked yet common construction systems. Originating in the early 19th century, softwood construction was a pragmatic solution to a need for an accessible building system among settlers with limited resources of wealth, technical skills, and building traditions. It has been the dominant construction system ever since—more than 90% of new homes in the U.S. today are wood framed. This exhibition presents models, furniture, photographs, and a full-scale wood structure, which together argue that a profound and powerful future for design can be conceived out of an ordinary past. More info

KGAY Wants Your Opinion!

As a KGAY 106.5 listener, you’re probably aware that we’ve been working hard to stay ahead of rapid changes in the radio and technology landscape. Our goal is to continue to provide great content the way that you want it on the platforms you use most often, so we’re inviting you to share your opinions about technology in our annual survey. Tell us how you use the radio, along with social media, smartphones, tablets, streaming and the web to stay connected to entertainment, news, and updates from KGAY and other sources. We hope you’ll find it to be an interesting way to reflect on your own changing habits as a KGAY fan and radio listener! Take the survey

Click below to sign up for our Gay Desert Guide Oasis Insiders Newsletter to get our Weekly Blog, Top 3 Events for the weekend, Hot Deals and Cool Events all delivered to your inbox every Friday!

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LOOKING AHEAD

The Dinah 2023 Festival Passes Flash Sale This Weekend

The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend, the largest girl party music festival in the world, is set to take place September 20–24, 2023 at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs. And this weekend only, an Early Bird Flash Sale is on through Sunday, January 29 at 10 pm. Use the code EARLYBIRD to take $30 off the festival pass! Get tickets

On the Air at KGAY 106.5

Win Tickets to a Popular Modernism Week Lecture!

KGAY 106.5 has your tickets to WIN tickets to a Modernism Week Lecture: “Don’t Worry Darling” – Palm Springs Retro Style on Saturday, February 25 at 2 pm at the Annenberg Theater. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page

The KGAY Sunday Tea Dance with DJ Modgirl airs every Sunday from 4–6 pm (right after the Retro Brunch). DJ Modgirl (AKA Kellee McQuinn) is not only the life of the party, she’s also a cover girl on magazines and billboards, a television entertainer, and an award winning producer, director, lyricist and performer. Her moniker is “Music! Dancing! Fashion! Fun!” and she throws down the most irresistible, uplifting beats each week on the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm. Listen online

Ross Mathews is back and gayer than ever! His popular weekly radio show on KGAY 106.5 airs on Saturdays from 11:00 am–2 pm. That’s 50% more Ross because now it’s a three-hour show! Ross is a part-time Palm Springs resident and currently working on The Drew Barrymore Show, RuPaul’s Drag Race and many other projects. He will bring celebrity gossip and news, plus a rundown of what’s happening each weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings as he plays some of his favorite dance hits each weekend on KGAY. Listen Online

The KGAY 106.5 Retro Lunch airs Monday through Friday at noon, with DJ Galaxy (Vincent Corrales) and DJ Eric Ornelas playing an hour of their high-energy throwback mixes. On Sundays, we put all five hours together for the Retro Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. Perfect party music! Listen Online

Welcome New Partner!

At Chicken Ranch, good food is simple. It starts with great ingredients sourced from local farms who apply sustainable, eco-friendly standards to their craft. Rotisserie chicken, crisp, delicious salads and savory, succulent sides are prepared carefully and artistically, with respect to seasonal ingredients, flavors and seasonings. They are committed to keeping it fresh, bringing farm-fresh produce and free-range poultry from local farms to your plate. Learn more

  1. International Bear Convergence is Giving a Big Bear Hug to Palm Springs!
  2. Seeking an Oasis in the Palm Springs Desert With $350,000 to Spend. Which Home Did He Choose?
  3. In ‘Dirty Blonde,’ Former Mae West Assistant Sees Glimpses of his Past, Actress’s Larger-than-Life Persona
  4. Restaurant News Bites: February Brings Jalisco, Greek Fests; Lots of New Mexican Food in Palm Springs; and More!
  5. Elvis’ hideaway and other tours not to be missed at Modernism Week in Palm Springs

AMP Sports Lounge has a casual, festive and funky atmosphere that suits all who choose to come and play as they effortlessly find a comfortable place to hang out, drink, enjoy a snack, and make new buddies. And if sport is not your thing, they also have everything from bingo to disco for you too. With our HOT DEAL, you get $40 to spend at AMP Sports Lounge for just $20. That’s like doubling your dollars! Get Your Deal

We also have Hot Deals at The Purple Room, Men’s Grooming Spot, Il Giardino, Grand Central, Kitchen 86, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria, Monster Shakes, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s, Rick’s, Hunters, Lulu California Bistro and more! See All Deals

Find out what’s happening on any given day by browsing our Gay Desert Guide Online Event Listing Calendar, and for the big picture, take a look at major upcoming events in our 2023 Coachella Valley Calendar of Events.

Listen to KGAY 106.5 over the air, stream it [here], or listen on TuneIn Radio with Alexa or Siri by saying “Play K-GAY 1065 from Tune In Radio.” Ross Mathews is on Saturdays from 11 am–2 pm, John Taylor is on mornings 6–10 am and program director Chris Shebel is on afternoons. Our Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas is now heard on Sundays as the Retro Lunch & Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm, followed by DJ Modgirl spinning the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm.

Don’t miss “This Way Out,” Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on KGAY 106.5. “This Way Out” is the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently airing on some 200 local community radio stations around the world. Listen to the latest episode as a podcast on our streaming page (click “Podcasts” in the upper right hand corner)