Desert Daze, the Southern California music festival that started out 12 years ago with 11 days in a desert roadhouse, will return to its roots at Pioneertown, CA, club/restaurant Pappy & Harriet’s, October 17-November 23. The festival will reportedly return to its site at Lake Perris, CA, for 2022.
The announcement included the hash tag, #DesertDaze2021 is a wish. It is symbolic. Most importantly, it is happening.
The lineup and all health and safety protocols are still being completed. Rooms at Pioneertown Motel will be reserved for attendees, though rooms are not yet available on the motel’s website.
The news comes after last month’s announcement that Knitting Factory Entertainment and Desert Daze founder Phil Pirrone and James Irvine will be taking over booking for the fabled venue, which memorably served as the location for Paul McCartney’s surprise show in 2016 during the Desert Trip shows at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival–dubbed Oldchella–that year with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Roger Waters and the Who.
Pappy & Harriet’s was bought in 2003 by New Yorkers Robyn Celia – who previously booked the venue – and Linda Krantz, serving visitors to nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Knitting Factory Entertainment will now take over ownership of the venue, according to President/CEO Morgan Margolis.
Desert Daze Festival was an alternative mainstay, held at first on the grounds of the Institute for Mentalphysics, featuring architecture from Frank Lloyd Wright and son Lloyd with majestic desert vistas, before moving to its Lake Perris, CA, site.
Pirrone launched the festival as a more intimate version of Coachella. The 2016 iteration would have featured a rare SoCal appearance by Suicide, except for the untimely death of Alan Vega. Other acts who performed at the festival included cult bands like Primus, Spiritualized, Hope Sandoval, the Flaming Lips, Stereolab and Television as well as local acts like La Luz, Feels and L.A. Witch.
The new Pappy & Harriet’s booker has a particular connection to the venue, having met his wife there.
“Honor of a lifetime,” said Pirrone about taking over the booking.
“I wanted someone local to the desert music scene,” added Knitting Factory Entertainment’s Margolis. “Phil is the perfect person to maintain the vision of the previous ownership and make sure we follow a holistic plan.”