Black tie gala, country fest nearing sellouts

Two of the Coachella Valley’s big entertainment events of 2012 could be sold out before 2011 is done.
Palm Springs International Film Festival board chairman Harold Matzner says 1,600 tickets for the Jan. 7 black tie Awards Gala have been sold. The $350 tickets are sold out. The total tickets, costing up to $2,500 a person, will be cut off at 1,850 even though Matzner says more could be sold.
The Jan. 5 opening night film at the 1,100-seat Palm Springs High School auditorium has sold out even thought the film hasn’t been announced.
Concierge passes for reserved seats and platinum passes for all access also have sold out. Individual tickets don’t go on sale online for Palm Springs International Film Society members until Dec. 23. They go on sale to the general public on Dec. 26.
Paul Tollett, president of the Goldenvoice concert promotion company, says Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, also is likely to sell out the Empire Polo Club in Indio before New Year’s Day.
The April 27-29 event is being headlined by Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton.
This year’s two-day festival didn’t quite sell out, but Tollett said he wanted to hold attendance to the 55,000 per day figure it almost reached.
“Same as last year,” he said in a text message. “Seemed like it worked.”