How Day Club Palm Springs’ poolside parties offer a unique concert experience

As hundreds of thousands of concertgoers make their way out to the desert for back-to-back weekends of the annual three-day Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio this week, Coachella promoters Goldenvoice are also curating its annual daytime poolside bash dubbed Day Club Palm Springs.

Day Club is a separate ticketed event, though those headed to Coachella are certainly welcome to enjoy the festivities, which include live performances by big-name DJs, pop-up branded activations, poolside bites and cold cocktails. The events take place during both Coachella weekends at the Hilton Hotel Palm Springs on April 15-16 and 22-23.

For the first weekend, the Saturday lineup kicks off at noon and will feature performances by Vintage Culture, Dombresky and LP Giobbi. Sound Nightclub, a Los Angeles EDM space, will curate Sunday’s roster, which includes sets by Hot Since 82, Nora En Pure and Kyle Watson.

Weekend two starts with Two Friends and Laszewo on Saturday and Sunday is set with Elderbrook and English singer-songwriter and DJ SG Lewis, who is making both his Day Club debut and third Coachella appearance with sets happening both festival weekends. He said that friends who have played Day Club in the past tipped him off that it was a “fun, day-party vibe and you’re basically helping those ease their hangovers, too,” Lewis said during a recent phone interview.

He said that he’ll feel “right at home” with a set at Day Club since the event seems to fit flawlessly with the style of music he’s known to play: euphoric, sunny and vibey. The 28-year-old electronic artist released his latest record, “AudioLust & HigherLove,” back in January and hopes to give fans a taste of something new with tracks featuring past desert performers Tove Lo, Channel Tres and Ty Dolla Sign.

Since he’s performed at Coachella before, he said he’d always heard the buzz about early-day festivities and pool parties, but to finally be a part of that action is thrilling since spinning the decks while the hot sun is beaming down from above is his favorite way to perform.

“I’m really excited to kind of explore this side of the dessert and I love DJ’ing in the daytime since it’s a slightly more laid-back vibe to playing rather than the kind of hectic headline approach,” he said. “I’m looking forward to setting the vibe; it’s all about curation. For performances like this, I always just play the records that feel right in the moment, whereas (some other) sets are very much a pre-planned performance. But this is more about a conversation between me and the audience, the music tastes and kind of the vibe that you’re trying to set at the time.

“I have my whole family coming out as well, and I know that my mom will definitely prefer hanging out at the Day Club,” he said with a laugh.

During the 2022 Day Club event, fans lounged by the pool, danced and splashed around in waist-deep water. They sipped on mezcal cocktails and grooved to acts like Dom Dolla and John Summit, Kim Petras, Duck Sauce and Louis The Child.

Like in previous years, guests can be pampered on site and enjoy things like mini spa treatments from event sponsors like Clinique. Blue Triton will also be applying glitter tattoos for attendees wanting a little something sparkly to put on. And there will be plenty of tequila seltzers and other offerings from Kim Crawford wines, Tecate and Red Bull. Each company typically sets up bold, colorful and playful activations with plenty of interactive props and backdrops that are perfect for all of those selfies, group photos for Instagram and TikTok dances.

Additional on-site activations and artists are expected to be announced in the days leading up to the performances. Day Club’s primary curator Becky Rosen-Checa said that these events are really open to anybody looking for a more elevated experience and that Day Club isn’t like any other poolside gathering.

“The party will allow locals, festival-goers, and folks who aren’t a part of the weekend madness a chance to catch their favorite dance and electronic artists,” she said. “As one of the few (non-Coachella) events in April with festival-level talent, Day Club offers an unparalleled opportunity for locals and visitors alike to see their favorite dance and electronic artists in an accessible setting. To deliver an unforgettable experience, we’ve cultivated fantastic relationships with brand partners, like Clinique and Tecate, who help us bring unique activations to life. It’s more than just a pool party.

“The investment in world-class talent, purposeful brand partnerships and its breathtaking desert backdrop truly sets Day Club apart from the rest.”

Day Club Palm Springs

When: 12 p.m. April 15-16 and 22-23

Where: Hilton Hotel Palm Springs, 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs

Tickets: Single-day GA tickets start at $30. Two-day weekend passes start at $55. Tickets are now available at dayclub.ps. The event is 21-and-older only.