Group performing in desert (7)
I believe the answer is:
abandon
'desert' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'group performing' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'aband' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'performing' becomes 'on' (as in being on stage).
'aband'+'on'='ABANDON'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abandon that I've seen before include "Lack of inhibition; desert" , "Desert; lack of restraint" , "Stop" , "Desert - it's wild" , "Desert; give up (action)" .)