A Note from the Publisher

Thank you to our advisory board whose talents, insights, and passions contribute to the quality of this publication.

Jacqueline Guevara
Executive Director, Joshua Tree National Park Association
Barnett English
Festival Founder and Director, Joshua Tree Music Festival
Dave Catching
Owner, Rancho De La Luna Recording Studio & Rancho De La Luna Mezcal,
Musician, Producer
Mario Lalli
Musician, Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man, Mario Lalli and the Snake Charmers
Bobby Furst
Owner/Creator of FurstWurld, Artist

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brandy Lee Dyess
Per Schorn / Nele
Scott Witter
Carly Foulkes
Cierra Breeze
Penelope Valentine
Alexandra Hicks (Rattlesnake Season & Hibernation)
Joe Schaeffer (Cover Photo)

WE WOULD NOT BE HERE without our amazing team, the love of this diverse and colorful, supportive community, and the following businesses that have partnered with us. Please, whenever you can, show them some love – lots of it!

29 Palms Inn, 29 Palms Creative Center, Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, The Saint Boniface Boutique Hotel, Cabots Pueblo Museum, Casuelas Café, Compound YV, Copper Mountain College, Cork Tree Restaurant, Coyote Cone, Desert Dog Coffee, Desert Vacation Rentals, Fans Sports Bar & Grill, Karen Martin of Farmers Insurance, Healthy Generations, Hi-Desert Nature Museum, Karen Lowe of Inspire Realty, Jenifer Halbert Realtor, Joshua Tree Saloon, Joshua Tree Excursions, King of the Hammers, Kitty’s Wildlife Refuge, Larry & Milt’s Western Café, Libby’s Realty, MazAmar Art Pottery, Nature’s Health Food & Café, Palm Desert Bike N’ Brews, Peace of Mind Retirement Planning, Pointed Pearl, Recapitate Hats, Sacred Fire, Stargazing Joshua Tree, Tac/Quila Authentic Mexican Cuisine, Thai Café – Yucca Valley & 29 Palms, and Tortoise Rock/Spotlight 29 Casino. If you would like to partner with Joshua Tree Voice through digital and print marketing, please contact us at (760) 237-0124.

“The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” The Robert Earle King lyric comes to mind as Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) lifts the bottle of Rancho De La Luna Mezcal in celebration with his friend/fellow music shaman, and the elixir’s co-owner/creator, Dave Catching, at a back yard barbeque. But look deeper into the lives of these two rock smiths, and you’ll see the commonality of an incredible work ethic on multiple platforms and the uncanny knack of surrounding themselves with phenomenal people. Catching, widely revered for his rock and roll beard and his work with bands Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Mojave Lords, earthlngs?, and others, is founder and owner of the famed Rancho De La Luna Recording Studio in Joshua Tree, a place Grohl has frequently used to record. Catching and business partner, Bingo Richey, have created Rancho De La Luna Mezcal, arguably the “best Mezcal in the world.” Dave Grohl loves it, as do many. Full story on pages 4-7.

In October 2022 we celebrated the first Joshuas Honors Gala at the historic Joshua Tree Retreat Center. 22 honors were given, more than 15 acts performed, food and beverages were overly delightful. Everyone on the production team worked hard to make this a special night, but we had no idea what we would tap into. The gathering of creative hearts and minds coming together to lift up those who pour themselves into their craft and this community created an energy we had never experienced before. But then again, we’d been isolated and locked down for a season that lasted longer than anyone expected, and Covid restrictions had just been lifted.

October 2023 proved it wasn’t a fluke or matter of timing – the gathering created yet another vortex on the storied property, one of joy, love, and kindness, and we were overwhelmed once again. There were more than 15 performances – not a single repeat from the year prior – and the magic happened AGAIN.

If you have not yet been or have been and do not want to miss it, please save the date – Sunday, October 20, 2024, and join us at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center Sanctuary. We’ll feed you. We’ll entertain you with a vast array of the area’s incredible talent. Libations will flow. And we will be in awe together at just how deep the love and talent runs in this beautiful kaleidoscope community.