Saturday: Diamond Rio, 'Triple Threat Tour'

COUNTRY SHOWDOWN: Country stars Diamond Rio, Little Texas and Restless Heart will perform on a triple bill at Spotlight 29 Casino and, not being shy, they're saying it's part of their “Triple Threat Tour.”

Diamond Rio has earned three platinum CDs and won the Country Music Association's Vocal Group of the Year award four times.

Little Texas has been around since 1991. Its hits include “Some Guys Have All the Love,” “You and Forever and Me” and “God Blessed Texas.”

Restless Heart was one of RCA's biggest bands of the 1980s and early ‘90s before breaking up in 1996. Original members Larry Stewart, Paul Gregg, John Dittrich, Dave Innis and Greg Jennings are back for this tour.

The Triple Threat Tour, 8 p.m., Spotlight 29 Casino Showroom, 46-200 Harrison Road, Coachella. $45 and $55. Information: (800) 585-3737

TODAY-SUNDAY

START YOUR ENGINES: The charming village atmosphere of downtown Palm Springs could get a little loud this weekend.

About 5,000 bikers are expected to roar into town for the annual American Heat Motorcycle Weekend. Palm Canyon Drive will be closed to traffic from Alejo to Baristo roads from 4:30 a.m. Saturday until 9 p.m. Sunday.

There will still be shopping, dining and live entertainment, but there also will be a Chrome Alley Vendor Show, parties, a poker run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and an Open Bike competition.

A great place to congregate is the Palm Canyon Roadhouse on Palm Canyon at Ramon Road, which is hosting the kick-off party at 4 p.m. today. The rockin' Alyce Bowie band plays there 8 p.m. today and Saturday.

American Heat Bike Weekend, 4 p.m. today through 4 p.m. Sunday, downtown Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Information: (775) 329-7469

SATURDAY

INDIE FILM EVENT: “Trucker,” an indie film making its way through the film festival circuit, may not make a huge splash at the box office, but it could put Michelle Monaghan in the ranks of serious young film stars such as Anne Hathaway for her starring role as a foot-loose trucker forced to deal with maternal responsibilities.

Monaghan will appear at a 7 p.m. screening of “Trucker” and participate in a Q&A with director James Mottern at 8:45 p.m. at Cinemas Palme d'Or.

This is a road film that serves as a metaphor for the emotional journey a tough, independent truck driver takes when she's suddenly forced to care for the 11-year-old son she abandoned long ago.

“Trucker,” with an appearance by Michelle Monaghan, 7 p.m., Cinemas Palme d'Or in the Westfield Palm Desert shopping center, 72-840 Highway 111, Palm Desert. Information: (760) 779-0730

STORY OF A STAR: William Mann has written such Hollywood books as “Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn,” “Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood” and “Edge of Midnight: The Life of John Schlesinger.”

Now he's turned his focus on the woman who has been called Hollywood's last great star, Elizabeth Taylor, with the book, “How To Be A Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood.” It's scheduled to be released Oct. 21, but it will be available for purchase with the author's autograph following his lecture.

Author talk by William Mann, 2:30 p.m., Palm Springs Public Library, 300 S. Sunrise Way. Free. Information: (760) 416-6731

MORE THAN AN OPERA: Mezzo soprano Anna Hurwitz and baritone John Michael Koon of the New York City Opera will join three young vocalists from the new Southern California Institute for the Performing Arts for “An Evening of Opera and More” to benefit the performing arts school in Palm Desert.

Representatives from Bargains Thrift Store in Palm Desert will take a collection for their causes, such as homeless aid, community assistance and sending kids to camp, but the evening is primarily to give exposure for the classes New York mezzo soprano Rose Kingsley is teaching as part of her developing “institute.”

The opera part of the evening will be arias from Pietro Mascagni's “Cavalleria Rusticana.” The “more” part will be production numbers from Broadway musicals such as “Cats” and “Phantom of the Opera.” The singers will be accompanied by an orchestral keyboard player.

Bring a chair and have a picnic while enjoying sweet music in a lovely setting.

“Opera and More in the Park,” 4-6 p.m., Palm Desert Civic Park, San Pablo Road off Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Free. Information: (760) 200-1800

SUNDAY

JAZZ LIVE: You know Hal Linden as Barney Miller and Debby Boone as the singer of “You Light Up My Life.”

But they've both performed with the Desert Cities Jazz Band. The chemistry has been so profound, they've decided to record a live CD.

Linden is an excellent jazz clarinetist, and Boone has been acclaimed for her way with standards. So they'll record a song Benny Goodman recorded with Rosemary Clooney titled “Memories of You.”

Boone, daughter of singer Pat Boone, also is the daughter-in-law of Clooney.

Hal Linden and Debby Boone with the Desert Cities Jazz Band, Vicky's of Santa Fe, Club Drive at Highway 111, Indian Wells. Doors open at 1 p.m. $10. (760) 345-9770.