The debut of the first Desert Soul Club in May at Tonga Hut, Palm Springs was a smash! Fans of ’60s soul sounds from the hi and low desert, and beyond, filled the room to capacity as DJ Bobby California and DJ Lee Joseph spun floor filler after floor filler off of 45 RPM platters.

Desert Soul Club announces its’ summer dates:
June 25, 9 PM – 1 AM
July 23, 9 PM – 1 AM
August 27, 9 PM – 1 AM
No Cover.

Tonga Hut, Palm Springs
254 N Palm Canyon Dr,
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Desert Soul Club Facebook Page at this link

The Desert Soul Club is Palm Springs’ monthly mod / soul / funk dance party, bringing the True Sounds of Mod to the low desert. Created by DJ Bobby California and “DJ Lee” Joseph, the heart and soul of the Club is based on irresistible dance grooves from a universe of wonderful hit and unknown records produced during the r&b, beat, mod, Motown, heyday of the early to mid-60s, extending through the funk era of the late 60s and early. Northern soul, freakbeat, boogaloo, afrobeat, and psychedelic soul will all be represented from Memphis, Chicago, New Orleans, Philly, Europe and beyond. Bobby and Lee dig deep into their knowledge and cache of globe-spanning tracks, inviting you to stomp, shout and work it on out!

Tonga Hut sez:

It’s that time again…
Please join us Sunday June 7th for another amazing event: the BIG BASTARD BACCHANAL!!!
Parking lot sale & art show, begins at 2pm with tunes outside provided by DJ Tonga Tom.

Dance party inside begins at 6pm with DJ Lee Joseph.Durangos Tacos will be on hand as usual serving up their usual fair of tacos, quesadillas, & burritos.

AND… As per the theme, we want to get the largest gathering of members of the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard present for a group photo at 4pm.

So won’t you please join us and celebrate the start of the summer Tiki season?

Tonga Hut Palm Springs kicks off the season with a special Shag Menu Signing Event!

Shag signs the new Tonga Hut Palm Springs menu
Friday, October 3
Signing at 6 PM Sharp
Mid-Century sounds from DJ Lee
Tonga Hut remains open until 2 AM

Tonga Hut Palm Springs
254 N Palm Canyon Dr,
Palm Springs, California 92262
(760) 322-4449
www.tongahut.com/tonga-hut-palm-springs.html

Price:
$25 includes a menu and drink coupon

Shag will be in the house signing his newly designed Tonga Hut drink menus. There will a limited amount available. Get there early; first come first served!

Tonga Hut Palm Springs is the offspring of the Tonga Hut North Hollywood, Opening its’ doors in 1958 during the heyday of tiki culture in Southern California, Tonga Hut is the oldest surviving tiki bar in Los Angeles.

Tonga Hut Palm Springs has been lovingly decorated by artist Tiki Diablo and Chase Marshall (Beauty Bar in L.A. and Cobra Lounge in NYC) with vintage items as well as contemporary contributions from many artists in the tiki community including Leroy Schmaltz from Oceanic Arts, Eric October, Bosko, Kirby, Nelson’s Tiki Hut and “Mad Dog” Mike Gilbert.

Tonga Hut’s menu offers classic Polynesian/Cantonese/American dishes, like you might have found at Don the Beachcomber on old Palm Canyon Drive in the Rat Pack era. The cocktail menu contains more than 40 drinks including classic cocktails, classic tiki drinks as well as numerous original drinks including some that are exclusive to the Palm Springs location.

DJ Lee Joseph heads up the “independent underground” label Dionysus Records, which has specialized in the retro sounds of surf, exotica, garage rock, rockabilly and psychedelia since the mid ‘80s, and has a weekly show called “Over Under Sideways Down” on the mid-century centric LuxuriaMusic.com internet radio station. He has held numerous club residences in Los Angeles, and DJs at the yearly Tiki Oasis event in San Diego. “DJ Lee” brings to Tonga Hut Palm Springs a deep knowledge and collection of era appropriate music from lounge and exotica to French Ye Ye, surf to soul and other “swinging” sounds from the 1950s -1970s, on vinyl of course!

Tonga Hut Palm Springs Facebook Page
Tonga Hut North Hollywood Facebook Page
Tonga Hut North Hollywood Twitter
Tonga Hut Palm Springs Twitter

Friday, June 27,  DJ Lee spins Exotica, Lounge, Soul, Swinging ’60s plus more Mid Century Delights at Tonga Hut, Palm Springs – 254 N. Palm Canyon Drive, 94462 – 7 pm- 12 midnight or later!

Join me at the brand new Tonga Hut Palm Springs! I’ll be spinning exotica, lounge, surf, instrumentals and swingin ’60s sounds for your mid-century style dining and imbibing! I’ll be there from 7 PM till…they pull the plug! No Cover! Tonga Hut Palm Springs 54 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262, (760) 322-4449, http://www.Tongahut.com