For complete festival info and line up visit www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com

The Hue Music and Arts Festival 2013

By Suzette Elizondo

The 3rd annual Hue Music and Arts Festival took place on April 6th, 2013 in Coachella, California.

The day long festival that was held at Dateland Park in Coachella, started in 2011 with only about 1000 people attending. Local residents and visitors had a chance to watch 30 artists perform various genres of music at this years Hue Festival. Many of the art installations on the park grounds, were done by local youth from throughout the Coachella Valley.

An interview was done with the “Building Healthy Communities” Youth Coordinator Esperanza Navarro. She is involved with coordinating the event and the youth who put on the Hue Music and Arts Festival.

Where did the concept of the Hue Music and Arts Festival originate?

“The Hue Music and Arts Festival started as an idea; youth wanted to create a space that was theirs. A quick survey regarding what art means and is for youth went around, and the answers that came back were as varied as the colors on a rainbow spectrum: art is food, art is dance, art is music, art is visual, art is something you can feel. It was important that youth take ownership of their community, of turning the stereotypes that surround the Eastern Coachella Valley on their head, of putting together a huge event on their own. Opening a park at 9 o’clock at night in a neighborhood that isn’t always seen as the safest, and inviting people of all ages to come together to celebrate their community – that is really powerful, that is The Hue.
”

That sounds like plenty of work was put in to host the event! How long did it take to plan and organize the 3rd annual Hue Festival?

“We started talking about the need to start planning Fall 2012 (around the time the school year starts), but did not start officially meeting until after everyone came back from the Holiday break in December/January 2012.”

With roughly seven months to plan and conduct such an event, what was the age range of the volunteers and students that were involved?

“We had youth volunteers representing different middle schools in our community (including Bobby Duke Middle School and Cauhilla Desert Acadmeny), all the way to high school, folks in college, and of course several adult allies.”

Are there any qualifications or requirements needed to help or volunteer to be a part of the Hue Fest crew?

“Not at all! We welcome everyone to be part of the planning committee, broken up into six (6) subcommittees: Art, Entertainment, Logistics, Marketing, Fundraising, Vendors. Youth that want to be a part of the planning committee from its onset are welcome to join one of these six committees. We also have a lot of folks show up the day of the event that want to volunteer: we need those people too! This year a couple of our youth from our Logistics Committee took charge of recruiting and training these day-of volunteers beforehand.”

Excellent organization! How many people attended this years Hue Festival compared to the very first year?

“Every year we are fortunate to grow. We had an estimated 4,000 people attend this year. Super exciting to see that number grow from an estimated 1,000 attendees our first year.”

Were all of the art installations made by the youth from the Coachella Valley?

“The youth and adult allies from the Art Committee was fortunate enough to receive support from Goldenvoice this year to create an art piece that was to be displayed at The Hue, and for the first time ever also at Coachella Fest. In addition to any art that is produced by the youth, the Art Committee reaches out to local artists via a ‘Call to Artists’ every year.”

Out of all the artists chosen to perform, who traveled the farthest?

“This year we had artists come from Los Angeles, CA and Riverside, CA.”

It is fantastic that artists are willing to go beyond measures to support The Hue Music and Arts festival in the desert. Now what do local artists have to do to be apart of next years festival, as far as show casing their talent or art work?

“Anyone that wants to participate, whether as an artist, as a band, or as a volunteer should visit our website.
All applications can be found under the “Be Part of The Hue” tab online.”

http://www.thehue.us

What do Coachella Valley natives have to look forward to for next years festival?

“We hope that it will be bigger and better than ever!”

Thank you, Esperanza Navarro, for dedicating your time as a youth coordinator and making this dream a continuous reality for the youth of the Coachella Valley.
Thank you again for doing an interview with College of the Deserts first student radio station. We definitely enjoyed the 2013 Hue Music and Arts Festival. We are without a doubt anxious to attend next year’s festival!
Don’t forget to like their Facebook page for recent updates!

https://www.facebook.com/TheHueFest

For tix visit us on campus at College of the Desert, MSTC Building 2nd Floor,#207!

Wash will be at the Palm Desert 76 Station, 73-801 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, ca (Next to Elephant Bar) May 4th starting at 9am!

Just print this flyer and bring it to the Indio Del Taco Saturday, April 27th, located at 82742 Hwy 111, right across from the Indio Courthouse. Event will be happening from 4p-8p. We’ll have music by DJ LF, prizes and giveaways!

Make it a Del Taco night!

For more info visit: www.partywithbb.com

Written by Suzette Elizondo::

The Coachella Valley Art Scene hosted their fourth annual “Doo Wop in the Desert” a retro Valentine’s dance at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs on February 9, 2013 that led lovebirds and those seeking love out onto to the dance floor.

Once you stepped inside the Commune at the Ace Hotel you were whisked away back into time. The décor represented love at its finest with balloons galore, shimmering decorations from hearts to stars and everything in between. For those that had to work up the courage to dance, there was a dessert table that displayed charming cupcakes, cookies and sweets.

Coachella locals showed up dressed to the nines in their best retro attire.  From slick hair do’s, to vintage threads all for one special night. The ladies favored pencil skirts, classy heels, tight curls, and sassy up-do’s. The gentlemen looked sharp in their suits, cuffed jeans, refined cardigans and pompadours.

The partygoers enjoyed the sounds that night from live bands to a DJ, who are all local artists. Performances included the bluesy band Natalie and the Shurpedelics, an alluring family band also known as Evaro and DJ Alf Alpha who played funky tunes throughout the night. Natalie and the Shurpedelics played oldies such as the Richie Valens classic, “We Belong Together.” They also played their own songs that had a soulful psychedelic sound similar to The Doors. Evaro tapped into the bluesy feel of Peggy Lee’s “Fever” and Elvis Presley’s notorious “Hound dog.” DJ Alf Alpha kept the love alive all night playing jingles from The Supremes all while mixing in funky tracks by James Brown and the great Marvin Gaye.

There were plenty of movers and shakers out on the dance floor that evening, 2-stepping and slow dancing in the name of love. The Doo Wop in the Desert sure was a night to remember. Love was indeed in the air that night, save yourself the heartache and make sure you make a guest appearance at the next Doo Wop. Photos courtesy of Suzette Elizondo

IE Reggae Festival Tix Now on Sale

Enjoy sweet Reggae music, Jamaican eats and plenty of culture at this family friendly festival!

The one-day festival, will which will take place on May 11, 2013 at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino will feature Reggae and Roots artists including Shinehead, Marty Dread and bassist Fully Fullwood, who has played with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Michael Rose, and more.

Take advantage of the buy one get one FREE ticket promotion and you and a friend can vibe all day long. For full lineup and ticket info click HERE. Children under 12 years are FREE with a paid adult.

http://www.showclix.com/event/3738282/tag/DesertCV

 To purchase tickets to the event or for more information regarding the Desert AIDS Project, go to: http://www.desertaidsproject.org/fundraising-at-dap/steve-chase-humanitarian-awards-gala/

Pictured: Rainbow Casey, Jennifer Bennett, Briana Taylor, Jennifer Kiehl, Sandra Taylor Coleman, Karen Schmitt, Nina Charming, Shauna Holmes, Key’Toya Nelson, Veronica Mora, Brieana Holguin, Brittney DeLeon-Reyes, Liridona Leti, Anna Maria Julianelli, Miranda Hane, and Claudia Gomez

V-Day Global Campaign: One Billion Rising

The College of the Desert Dramatic Arts Company has joined with activists around the world as part of ONE BILLION RISING, the largest call to action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

A wonderfully talented cast of women will take the Pollock Theatre stage the weekend of February 22nd, 2013, with a production of The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler.  All of the proceeds from the weekend-long event will directly benefit Shelter From the Storm. Performance times are:

Friday, February 22nd & Saturday, February 23rd at 7:00 pm

Sunday, February 24th at 2 pm

Location: The Pollock Theatre on the campus of College of the Desert

Tickets: $20 Adults / $10 for Students

ONE BILLION RISING brings awareness to the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. During this 2013 season (V-Day’s 15th anniversary) COD joins activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and other college campuses across the world in a united stand of defiance against the injustices of violence against women. In 2012, over 5,800 V-Day benefit events took place around the world, educating millions of people.  To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $90 million, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, reopened shelters, and funded over 14,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses. Over 300 million people have seen a V-Day benefit event in their community.

The Vagina Monologues presents a poignant and hilarious celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery. Celebrated as the bible for a new generation of women, it has been performed in cities all across the world and at hundreds of college campuses. The Obie Award winning play, based on interviews with over 200 women, is witty, irreverent, compassionate and wise. The COD production is directed by Noemi Villela Dean. The show features an impressive ensemble female cast and crew made up of professional performers, students, professors, and alumni, including: Rainbow Casey, Jennifer Bennett, Briana Taylor, Jennifer Kiehl, Sandra Taylor Coleman, Karen Schmitt, Nina Charming, Shauna Holmes, Key’Toya Nelson, Veronica Mora, Brieana Holguin, Brittney DeLeon-Reyes, Liridona Leti, Anna Maria Julianelli, Miranda Hane, and Claudia Gomez.

For ticket information/reservations and to learn more about V‑Day COLLEGE OF THE DESERT, call (760) 776-7370 or e-mail rdean3@collegeofthedesert.edu. To learn more about V‑Day and its campaigns visitwww.vday.org. For more information on Shelter From the Storm, please visitwww.shelterfromthestorm.com.