By Jorge Perezchica
Photography by Enrique Solis
Downtown Indio continues to evolve as a year-round destination for arts, culture, and entertainment, and one of its newest additions is helping shape that vision. The Dune Room, a 300-capacity live music venue and community gathering space, has quickly become a hub for musicians, artists, and music lovers since opening in December 2025.
The venue is the latest venture from Ron Mesh, a veteran music tour manager, audio engineer, and entrepreneur whose career spans more than three decades working with legendary acts including Guns N’ Roses, Collective Soul, The Cult, and Tower of Power. While Mesh has spent much of his career behind the scenes in the music industry, The Dune Room represents a more community-focused project aimed at creating connections through music, creativity, and shared experiences.
Located in the former Little Street Music Hall space, Mesh says the foundation for the concept was already established.
“The idea and business model were already in place since the Gonzales Brothers opened Little Street in the same location,” Mesh says. “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel.”
Instead, Mesh expanded on the concept by combining several of his passions into one destination.
The decision to open in Indio was also influenced by the city’s long-term commitment to developing a thriving downtown entertainment district.
“I was inspired by a combination of a passion for coffee, on-the-go substantial snacks, live music, and the sense of community that can emerge around shared experiences,” Mesh says.
“The city has a vision of an entertainment district along with some amazing incentives for independent businesses,” Mesh says. “That makes it easy; this project would not have been feasible in other cities.”
While live music is at the heart of The Dune Room, the space is designed to be welcoming throughout the day. Visitors can stop in to work remotely, connect with friends, or simply enjoy a relaxed atmosphere.
“During the day, you should feel welcome from the moment you step through the door,” Mesh says. “We have plenty of space, so there’s no rush here. Grab a workstation, plug in, relax, grab a coffee, or bring your own from one of the other local spots, we’re all on the same team here.”
One item Mesh is especially proud of?
“But you’re not going to want to miss out on our bagels!” he adds with a laugh.
The daytime concept has already attracted a growing creative community
“In a couple short months, we’ve already become quite the daytime hangout for musicians and artists, both local and passing through,” Mesh says.
When the sun goes down, The Dune Room transforms into a professionally designed performance venue. Drawing on decades of experience in live production and audio engineering, Mesh placed a strong emphasis on sound quality and acoustics.
“At the moment there isn’t much to compare it to, but we’re hoping that will change for Downtown Indio soon,” he says. “We paid very close attention to acoustical design and professional production, something most venues of this size are lacking.”
As the home of world-famous music festivals, Indio already attracts music fans from around the globe. Mesh believes the city is ready to support more live music experiences throughout the year.
“Indio is more than ready,” he says. “With accessibility for the community to a world-class venue, leaning heavily on local talent as they set their sights on the Coachella grounds, along with a healthy dose of touring bands and local talent as support seems to be the winning ticket.”
That commitment to local artists and diverse programming is reflected in the venue’s calendar, which has already showcased an impressive range of genres and events.
“I think we’ve already shown our hand with this one,” Mesh says. “We’ve had tango, punk, hardcore, reggae, local and world-class DJs.”
Successful programming for Mesh is about creating a thoughtful flow that serves the community while introducing audiences to new experiences.
“The art is booking, so one night transitions into the next intentionally,” he says. “Our bookings have to be well thought out, so it’s not like throwing darts.”
Mesh also credits several local music advocates and artists for helping him navigate the region’s music scene.
“I only hire local staff wherever possible,” he says. “Asking questions, learning, and demographics are very important.”
“Thanks to Josiah Gonzales, Noe Gutierrez, Pedro La Bass, Camillo Gomez, Sage Jackson and others for guiding me through the local scene,” Mesh adds. “I’m the new guy here, I respect the territory.”
As Downtown Indio continues to grow as an entertainment destination, The Dune Room is helping create a space where emerging artists, touring acts, and the local community can come together under one roof. By blending live music, hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere, Mesh has created more than just another venue — he’s helping build a gathering place for the city’s next chapter.
WEB: duneroomindio.com
SOCIAL: @duneroomindio