The new year is just around the corner, and Southern California casinos have a roster of entertainment options ready to kick off 2025. Visitors can expect stand-up comedy, throwback love songs, and more.
Be sure to check casinos’ official websites for the latest event information.
Actress, stand-up comedian and former NFL cheerleader Anjelah Johnson-Reyes will bring her comedy routine to Indio. Johnson-Reyes was a cast member of the sketch comedy show “MADtv.” Her first stand-up special, “Anjelah Johnson: That’s How We Do It,” aired on Comedy Central in 2009, and her most recent special, “Technically Not Stalking,” premiered on YouTube in October. 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Harrah’s Resort Southern California, Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center. Tickets start at $70. 760-751-3100. harrahssocal.com.
British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck has been writing love songs for decades, and at 88, he is finally ready to stop touring. The singer-songwriter known for hits such as “After the Lovin’” and “This Moment in Time” is wrapping up his Last Waltz Farewell Tour with a stop in Temecula. Fans can expect to hear performances of his most successful songs and some of his 2023 album, “All About Love.” 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula. 877-711-2946. Tickets start at $67. pechanga.com.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee LL Cool J was one of the first rappers to succeed commercially when the genre hadn’t quite hit the mainstream. He first came onto the scene in 1984 under Def Jam Records and profoundly impacted the hip-hop acts that followed. He has collaborated with several artists, including the late Michael Jackson. Their collaboration tapes were recently discovered in a storage unit in Van Nuys, which belonged to music producer Bryan Loren, but they will likely not see the light of day because of the Jackson estate’s wishes to keep them private. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at Yaamava Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd., Highland. Tickets start at $108; 21-and-older only. 909-864-5050. yaamava.com.
Slaughter was one of the few bands to emerge from Las Vegas during the hair metal boom in the ’80s. The group also survived the grunge wave in the following decade and enjoyed successful tours by performing alongside prominent acts such as Kiss. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $40. 68960 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City. 888-999-1995, aguacalientecasinos.com.
Join Motown stars The Temptations and The Four Tops for a show celebrating 40 years of music together. The two groups have a friendly rivalry, and once, they even battled each other, but off stage, they have nothing but respect for their group’s musical contributions. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $62-$93. 800-827-2946. fantasyspringsresort.com.
The Inland Empire’s radio station KFROG 95.1 FM is turning 35 and will host several performers for the milestone and offer contests and giveaways. Attendees can expect performances by Kelsey Hart, Bryan Martin and country duo LoCash. 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, 49500 Seminole Drive, Cabazon. Tickets start at $150. 951-849-3080. morongocasinoresort.com.
Tennessee-based stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan went from helping her husband sell cell phones to going viral in her 50s and launching a comedy career. Coming from the south, she tends to avoid politics in her routine altogether. Instead, she uses self-deprecating humor to address the private and somewhat squeamish parts of being human. Morgan released her first comedy special, “Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman,” in 2023 on Netflix and her book “What in the World?!: A Southern Woman’s Guide to Laughing at Life’s Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings,” in September. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Spotlight 29 Casino, 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella. Tickets are $69.70-$100.54. 760-775-5566. spotlight29.com.
