Noise

Don’t even think about skipping Life Is Beautiful’s three headliners

Image
From left, The Weeknd, Arcade Fire, Florence + The Machine.
Illustration: The Weeknd and Arcade Fire by Amy Harris; Florence + The Machine by Owen Sweeney / AP

Who: The Weeknd

When: Friday, 11:30 p.m., Downtown Stage

Genre: R&B

Songs You Know: “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” “Starboy”

Song You Should: “High for This”

Who doesn’t love Abel Makkonen Tesfaye? Okay, you might not know his actual name, but Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is bound to close Life Is Beautiful’s first night with a set of bangers, including tracks from his March EP, My Dear Melancholy. Since debuting with his 2011 mixtape House of Balloons, The Weeknd has become one of the biggest names in sexy, ’80s- and ’90s-inspired R&B, and even though he’s a Vegas regular, you won’t catch a headlining set like this inside a club. Lastly, if you’re a fan of supermodel Bella Hadid, keep your eyes peeled all weekend. Rumor has it the star-studded couple is back together.

Who: Arcade Fire

When: Sunday, 9:20 p.m., Downtown Stage

Genre: Indie Rock

Songs You Know: “Wake Up,” “Reflektor,” “Everything Now”

Song You Should: “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)”

Arcade Fire defined the rock sound of the early aughts with 2004 debut album Funeral. Since then, the Canadian outfit has grown into one of the biggest names in indie rock (it won Album of the Year for The Suburbs at the 2011 Grammys) while shifting toward a more electronic sound, beginning with 2013’s Reflektor and continuing on last year’s Everything Now. Fans hailed 2017’s Mandalay Bay show as one of the year’s best Vegas concerts; don’t miss out this time around.

Who: Florence + The Machine

When: Saturday, 11:10 p.m., Downtown Stage

Genre: Pop/Rock

Songs You Know: “Dog Days Are Over,” “Shake It Out,” “You’ve Got the Love”

Song You Should: “Girl With One Eye”

Lead singer Florence Welch has a voice that can stand alongside today’s best, but unlike her contemporaries (here’s looking at you, Adele), Welch’s brazen lyrics come to life thanks to cinematic, rocking arrangements. She might steal the spotlight, but her band is the backbone, crafting fun melodies with buzzing guitars and stomp-your-feet percussion. And while the English group’s latest album, High as Hope, might feel a bit more melancholy than records past, there’s still plenty for Welch to pull from to keep the crowd dancing Saturday night.

Life is Beautiful September 21-23, gates open at 2 p.m., $135/day (Friday & Saturday sold out), $655 3-day VIP (3-day GA sold out).Downtown Las Vegas, lifeisbeautiful.com.

Share
Photo of Leslie Ventura

Leslie Ventura

Get more Leslie Ventura
Top of Story