And the winner is …
Though Vegas favorite Paul van Dyk was nominated in multiple categories at the 23rd annual International Dance Music Awards during Miami’s Winter Music Conference, he couldn’t maintain No. 1 status thanks to Armin van Buuren and Tiësto. Both DJs previously knocked van Dyk out of the DJ Magazine top spot, and now the WMC Best European DJ award has passed from van Dyk by van Buuren; the title of Best Global DJ remains in Tiësto’s hands. Don’t despair just yet; van Dyk still took home wins for Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track and Best Progressive House/Trance Track for his track “Let Go,” and Best HiNRG/Euro Track for “White Lies.”
In non-van Dyk news, Daft Punk won for Best Dance Artist (group), the team of Gabriel & Dresden were awarded the top American DJ spot, and David Guetta won multiple awards for “Love is Gone.” Amnesia in Ibiza won the Best Global Club title. And the Best U.S. Club? Well, Vegas wasn’t even nominated, so who really cares? There’s always next year …
Meanwhile, at another awards show …
While Vegas nightclubs were snubbed at the International Dance Music Awards, Sin City still brought home the bacon at the March 26 Club World Awards. As previously reported in the Weekly, our nightclubs saturated the CWA nomination categories, including nods for Tao Beach and LAX in the Best New Venue category, Best Club for Jet and a Best Superclub nom for Pure.
Though Pure Management could certainly have used a few trophies to distract from their recent ills, their Vegas clubs were passed over in every one of their categories (Pure won for Best Lighting System at their Aura Nightclub at Atlantis, Paradise Island). Steven Lockwood’s magic touch at Jet may not have earned them the Best Club title, but his landmark A/V party definitely had a hand in Jet’s wins for the Best Resident VJ title (which went to Roonie G) and Best Video System award (which went to Jet’s John Lyons System). Tao Beach lost their category to Toronto’s new arrival Circa, but as far as bottle service goes, Tao can celebrate their win, breaking in the inaugural Best Bottle Service award. Hey, Table 63! Pass us some Red Bull and an extra sparkler or two from your bottle of Grey Goose, please.
Puff-a-Palooza
Get ready for 36 straight hours of partying for the grand opening of Vegas’ next “fine dining/mega-club/hookah lounge.” Located inside a 10,000-square-foot purple building at 1030 E. Flamingo Road, Puff will kick off the party at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and keep it going nonstop until 5 in the morning on Sunday. For a $36 cover charge for all 36 hours, guests will be treated to free shots every hour on the hour, live music from bands and DJs, extreme performance acts of the fire-handler and aerialist variety, hors d’oeuvres and lots and lots of hookah (gawking at Puff girls in hot tubs and ladies with sexy body art is also included).
Aiming to provide locals and tourists with a nightlife alternative, Puff’s co-owner Karan Hoss says the 24/7 multi-genre music club will provide guests with fusion gourmet tapas, plush seating, an intimate dance floor, “killer” sound and lighting, a private VIP area and gaming. Puff is also getting in on the reality-TV game, signing a three-season deal for a national show following the lives of Puff employees and patrons. Hmm … you may want to rethink the 36 hours of continuous partying after all.
Rock this (pool) party
Pool-party season is here, and with it comes chic, poolside evening events. Opening April 4, Tao Beach will not only operate under its regular daytime hours as well as Friday and Saturday nights, but will also resuscitate the second year of Sunset Session Sundays starting April 20 from 10 a.m.-midnight.
On April 25, Kanye West’s “Glow in the Dark Tour” launches Red Rock Resort’s 2008 summer outdoor concert series at the Sandbar poolside venue. Other summer concerts include Crosby, Stills and Nash (no Young), Peter Frampton and UB40. No official word on what Cherry Pool will bring to the table—they were working on two poolside live music weeklies in addition to the more DJ-centric Red Rock Retreat—but sister property Green Valley Ranch will host free summer jazz concerts at its pool.
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino begins its “Friday Night Live” poolside concerts on May 2 with Puddle of Mudd. Also scheduled to appear throughout the summer are Eek-A-Mouse, Dropkick Murphys and Ozomatli, to name a few. Resident she-jay DJ 88 will also join the party every week, a madhouse which usually spills over into the water. Looks like the summer pool parties have a li’l something for everyone.