Music Festivals

Rumbazo (September 10, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center) Ready for the Latin music blowout of the year? This inaugural fest, featuring performances by Colombian pop star Maluma, Puerto Rican rapper Ivy Queen, Bronx-born singer Prince Royce and others, delivers rhythm, culture and Hispanic heritage Downtown.

Life Is Beautiful (September 16-18, Downtown Las Vegas) The street fest’s eighth edition will bring in big names—Gorillaz, Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde and Beach House among them—and rising stars, along with local acts, comedians, culinary showcases and more.

When We Were Young (October 22, 23 & 29, Las Vegas Festival Grounds) This single-day fest seemed too good to be true to fans of early-2000s emo, but it proved real—real enough to sell out three separate dates, in fact. Find tickets and you, too, can catch My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Jimmy Eat World, Avril Lavigne, Bright Eyes and more.

PLUS! 

Life Is Sh*t (September 17, the Dive Bar); iHeartRadio Music Festival (September 23-24, T-Mobile Arena & Area15); Lost in Dreams Festival (September 30-October 1, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center); Reggae Rise Up (October 7-9, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center); When We Were Hungry (October 20-21, Rockstar Bar). 

Concerts

Eddie Vedder (October 7, Dolby Live) Pearl Jam still hasn’t played Las Vegas since 2006, having been forced to cancel a planned May concert here when a member caught COVID. Seeing Vedder isn’t the same thing, but he’ll be armed with a backing band that stars Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and former RHCP guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, among others.

Kehlani (September 9, the Chelsea) As if this Bay Area queen didn’t already have the R&B game on lock with 2020 album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, she one-upped herself on April’s Blue Water Road, an intimate body of work that feels tailor-made for the Chelsea.

St. Vincent (October 1, the Pearl) Anyone who caught Annie Clark’s 2021 Life Is Beautiful set here knows, she doesn’t take the stage willy-nilly. The indie singer-songwriter’s artistry stretches from her music to her staging to her costuming, all of which should leave you dazzled by night’s end.

My Chemical Romance (October 7, T-Mobile Arena) After a six-year hiatus, Gerard Way and his Black Parade mates reunited in 2019 for a tour scheduled to reach Las Vegas in October 2020. The pandemic wound up pushing that back two years, heightening the excitement for MCR’s return, particularly in the wake of new song “The Foundations of Decay,” the band’s first since 2014.

Mary J. Blige (October 8, Michelob Ultra Arena) We’ve got “Real Love” for the iconic Queen of Hip-Hop Soul who has spent 30 years empowering listeners with songs they now know by heart. Always pushing forward and never pigeonholed, Mary J. always offers something special.

Om (October 11, Brooklyn Bowl) Al Cisneros is best known as the devilish singer and bassist behind legendary stoner-metal trio Sleep, but he’s also the devilish singer and bassist behind stoner-metal trio Om, the sort of hypnotic sound generators for which edibles were invented.

Carly Rae Jepsen (October 15, Theater at Virgin) Yeah, “Call Me Maybe” was fun, but have you heard Emotion? The Canadian singer has proven to be so much more than a one-hit wonder, serving up candied pop bliss you can sink into and rewind again and again.

Drab Majesty (October 27, Backstage Bar & Billiards) Vocalist Deb Demure (Andrew Clinco) calls this LA outfit’s dark, synthy sound “tragic wave,” and that nutshells Drab Majesty’s memorable live experience—shadowy, cryptic and draped in the strange suggestion of peril.

Steve Lacy (October 31, House of Blues) Gen Zers know this Californian, who came up as the guitarist for The Internet, has become a full-blown sensation in his own right, behind a string of albums that swirl up soul, funk and pop and send them in unexpected directions. This show sold out instantly, but where there’s a will, there’s usually a way.

Turnstile with Snail Mail (November 8, Brooklyn Bowl) We love unusual pairings, and this one’s a doozy: throttling melodic hardcore (Turnstile) mixed with dreamy indie pop (Snail Mail). What do they have in common? Besides their restless spirits, they’re both from Baltimore.

Elton John (November 1, Allegiant Stadium) The 75-year-old rock icon, who staged not one but two Las Vegas residencies at Caesars Palace (The Red Piano, 2004-2009 and The Million Dollar Piano, 2011-2018), fittingly brings his Farewell Yellow Brick Road final tour to town for a last local performance.

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE WEEK

Caifanes (September 10-11, Mandalay Beach)

Alejandro Fernández (September 15 & 17, MGM Grand Garden Arena)

Grupo Firme (September 15, Allegiant Stadium)

Pancho Barraza (September 16, Theater at Virgin)

Gloria Trevi (September 16, Michelob Ultra Arena)

Enrique Iglesias (September 16-17 Resorts World Theatre)

Pitbull (September 16-17, Zappos Theater)

Emmanuel (September 17, the Colosseum)

Los Ángeles Azules (September 17, Michelob Ultra Arena)

Banda MS (September 18, Michelob Ultra Arena)

Christian Nodal (September 18, MGM Grand Garden Arena)

PLUS!

Duran Duran (September 1 & 3, Encore Theater); Swedish House Mafia (September 2, T-Mobile Arena); Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (September 3, Pearl Theater); Mötley Crüe & Def Leppard with Poison & Joan Jett (September 9, Allegiant Stadium); Imagine Dragons (September 10, Allegiant Stadium); Melvins (September 12, Backstage Bar); Interpol & Spoon (September 13, Theater at Virgin); Nine Inch Nails (September 15, Zappos Theater); Girl Talk (September 16, Brooklyn Bowl); Sacred Reich (September 17, the Space); Boy Harsher (September 20, Backstage Bar & Billiards); Bad Bunny (September 23-24, Allegiant Stadium); Khruangbin (September 29, Brooklyn Bowl); Demi Lovato (September 30, Venetian Theatre); Gang of Youths (October 1, 24 Oxford); Soft Kill with Portrayal of Guilty (October 1, Backstage Bar & Billiards); Roger Waters (October 1, T-Mobile Arena); Killswitch Engage (October 5, House of Blues); Quicksand (October 6, 24 Oxford); Alice Cooper (October 8, Dollar Loan Center); Karol G (October 14, T-Mobile Arena); Bonobo (October 15, Area15 A-Lot); The B-52s (October 19, 21 & 22, Venetian Theatre); Panic! At the Disco (October 21, T-Mobile Arena); Slaughter (October 22, Fremont Street Experience); Foals (October 28 Brooklyn Bowl); Allen Stone (October 28, 24 Oxford); Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros (October 28-29, Theater at Virgin); Phantogram (November 2, Brooklyn Bowl); Jeff Beck (November 4, Pearl Theater); Protomartyr (November 4, Backstage Bar & Billiards); The Who (November 4-5, Dolby Live); Jonas Brothers (November 10-12, Dolby Live); AmonAmarth (November 11, Brooklyn Bowl); Post Malone (November 11, T-Mobile Arena); Awolnation (November 12, Brooklyn Bowl); The Ghost Inside (November 18-19, Brooklyn Bowl); Cannibal Corpse (November 25, House of Blues).

BIG STEPPING

Compton’s king of rap sits in the upper echelon of some of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. He’s a once-in-a generation MC who offers an introspective look into the Black experience through a union of spoken word, jazz and West Coast flavor. Kendrick Lamar’s whiplike wordplay and aptitude for storytelling stem from a life he lived on the streets, immersed in hip-hop culture and the ever-present threat of gang violence. His previous three albums—Good Kid, m.A.A.d City; To Pimp a Butterfly; and Damn.—wrote a new chapter for modern hip-hop, earning him 14 Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize. And his latest release, May’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (his first album in five years), brings Lamar’s legacy full circle. It’s a complex and bold step forward for Lamar, whose new role as a father has clearly shaped the themes upon which he touches. The rapper hasn’t performed much beyond festivals lately, so this one isn’t to be missed. –Amber Sampson

With Baby Keem, Tanna Leone, September 9, 7:30 p.m., $69+, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

Strip Residencies & Shows

Travis Scott(Opens September 17, Zouk Nightclub) We’ve seen an explosion of non-DJ superstars and live performances in Las Vegas megaclubs in recent years, but the union of creative forces Travis Scott and the Zouk Group promises to raise the bar, especially considering the Houston rapper has only recently returned to the stage.

Miranda Lambert (Opens September 23, Zappos Theater) Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan have made their mark at Resorts World Theatre with new country music residencies. Now, Lambert takes her turn in the spotlight, launching her new Velvet Rodeo production at Planet Hollywood.

David Blaine (Opens September 30, Resorts World Theatre) A magic show in a 5,000-seat Strip theater? All eyes will be on Blaine, perhaps the only famous illusionist without a steady Vegas gig, when he launches a different kind of residency show later this month.

PLUS!

Shania Twain (closes September 10, Zappos Theater); Aerosmith (reopens September 14, Dolby Live); Bat Out of Hell: The Musical (opens September 27, Paris Theater); Adele (0pens November 18, the Colosseum).

Nightlife: Wind down summer with these Labor Day weekend club parties

You haven’t experienced nightlife in Vegas today if you haven’t hit Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World and witnessed the awesome technological capabilities of its “mothership” rig that roves over the dancefloor. The Deadmau5 “cube” residency might be the best way to see what that venue can do, and it’s back for a massive Labor Day weekend bash on September 2. One night later, longtime Vegas resident DJ Kaskade helps launch the holiday weekend shenanigans with a September 3 set at Omnia at Caesars Palace, a venue also known for its mind-blowing ceiling installation.

You’ll need to log some serious pool time over the weekend, and there’s no better place to begin than Encore Beach Club. Absorb some positive vibes and tropical house sounds on September 3 compliments of Kygo, who’s working on a new album these days and might have some fresh tracks to share. For live hip-hop, head to Mandalay Bay’s secluded Daylight Beach Club on September 4 to catch the charismatic Swae Lee, whose many hits always feel right for summer. Or take in one of the most iconic Vegas pool parties when the legend Steve Aoki commands the festivities at Wet Republic at MGM Grand on September 4. –Brock Radke

Comedy

Sarah Silverman & Friends (September 4, Encore Theater) Let’s hope Silverman’s debut at Wynn’s intimate music and comedy room turns into a recurring gig; the Strip could use more disruptively hilarious female comedians to break up the great Gaffigans, Seguras and Maniscalcos of the scene.

Steve-O (October 16, Theater at Virgin) We don’t really know what to expect from the recovering Jackass star’s Bucket List tour stop at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, because Steve-O has always been utterly unpredictable. But it will surely be entertaining, and he’ll likely share lessons learned from a lifetime of terrible decisions, because that’s the subtitle of his new memoir, A Hard Kick in the Nuts.

Jo Koy (November 19, T-Mobile Arena) This former Las Vegan is bigger than ever, coming off his flick Easter Sunday and continuing on his massive Funny Is Funny tour. Koy’s Vegas fam will be on the Strip for this one, and he’ll be making fun of them, as usual.

PLUS!

Nikki Glaser (September 2, Theater at Virgin);Nate Bargatze (September 9-10, Encore Theater); ALV Comedy Fest (September 16, MGM Grand Garden Arena); Sebastian Maniscalco (September 17, Encore Theater); Tracy Morgan (September 24, Venetian Theatre); Vir Das (October 8, Summit Showroom at Venetian); Nimesh Patel (November 7, Wiseguys).

Food & Drink

Authentic Flavors

John Bentham—CEO of Ivory Star Productions, which produces the annual Glittering Lights holiday display at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway along with casino shows like Tape Face, Marriage Can Be Murder and more—grew up as a military brat and spent several years living in Germany. “The culture and feeling of Germany is still deep within my soul,” he says, which is why, when he started producing events, he dreamed of creating an authentic Oktoberfest festival that could become an annual destination event in Las Vegas.

That becomes a reality at the Orleans Arena, September 29 through October 2, with the launch of Seven Oh Brew Oktoberfest. The inaugural event will feature multiple stages and more than 50 live entertainment acts spread over a revamped “festival grounds” outdoor area, plus a traditional Maipole Village with workshops, demonstrations and plenty of other activities. And the fest is still accepting applications for vendors, promising to provide one of the most expansive offerings of German and Bavarian brews and bites ever seen in Las Vegas. Ticket information is available at sevenohbrew.com.

“To start an event of this caliber and magnitude is pretty overwhelming, but we’ve hired incredible people to join this team to pull this off, and … the Orleans Arena team are phenomenal partners,” Bentham says. “My ultimate goal over five years is to create one of the largest and best Oktoberfest events in the U.S., something that becomes a legacy event.” –Brock Radke

PLUS!

San Gennaro Feast (September 21-25, M Resort); Las Vegas Greek Food Festival (September 23-25, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church); Great American Foodie Fest (September 23-25, Silverton); Tropicana Wine Mixer (September 24, Havana Room at Tropicana); Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival (October 5-9, Tivoli Village); Downtown Brew Festival (October 22, Clark County Amphitheater); The WhiskyX (October 29, Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard Pool); Black Las Vegas Food Festival & Block Party (October 29, Clark County Amphitheater); Great Las Vegas Taco Festival (November 4-6, Craig Ranch Regional Park); Las Vegas Pizza Festival (November 12, Industrial Event Space); La Cuvee One Drop (November 12, Rivea).

Sports

UFC 279 (September 10, T-Mobile Arena)

Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin III (September 17, T-Mobile Arena)

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos (October 2, Allegiant Stadium)

Shriner’s Children’s Open (October 7-10, TPC Summerlin)

Notre Dame vs. BYU football (October 8, Allegiant Stadium)

Vegas Golden Knights home opener vs. Chicago Blackhawks (October 13, T-Mobile Arena)

NASCAR Weekend (October 14-16, Las Vegas Motor Speedway)

UNLV men’s basketball home opener vs. Southern (November 7, Thomas & Mack Center)

UNLV women’s basketball season opener vs. Pepperdine (November 7, Cox Pavilion)

UCLA vs. Illinois & Baylor vs. Virginia men’s basketball (November 18, T-Mobile Arena)

UNLV vs. UNR football (November 26, Allegiant Stadium)

Performing Arts & Culture

Nevada Ballet Theatre: Dracula (October 6-9, Reynolds Hall) Enter the spooky season with NBT’s production of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula adaptation. Set to the music of Franz Liszt, the dark, otherworldly adventure is packed with eerie Gothic grandeur, from its costumes to its sets.

Las Vegas Philharmonic: American Classics (September 17, Reynolds Hall) The Phil opens its 2022-2023 season with a show dedicated to red, white and blue, featuring selections by American composers William Grant Still, Wynton Marsalis, George Antheil and Ferde Grofé.

Opera Las Vegas: Women Composers Festival (September 23-October 8, multiple locations) This three-weekend celebration, which kicks off OLV’s 24th season, will include three separate productions: Proving Up by Missy Mazzoli and featuring librettist Royce Vavrek; the world premiere of Letters to Lily by local composer Emily Clements; and Bellesongs, a recital by soprano Kara Grover and pianist Lois Henry.

Penn Jillette reading & signing (October 19, the Writer’s Block) The longtime Strip headliner has published a handful of books over the years, but Random, out October 11, will be his first in six years. It’s being touted as a thrilling work of fiction about a young Las Vegas native who must figure out how to repay his late father’s debt to a kingpin.

Las Vegas Book Festival (October 22, Historic Fifth Street School) The coziest season for book reading is upon us, which means it’s time for Southern Nevada’s largest annual literary event once again. Specifics remained unavailable at press time, but expect the 2022 book fest to include panel discussions, activities, workshops and, plenty of books by local authors.

PLUS!

Author Amanda Skenandore (September 9, the Writer’s Block); Reflections From the Haze and Eggwalking publishing party (September 15, Avantpop); Henderson Symphony: Bang! (September 23, Dollar Loan Center); UNLV Symphony Orchestra: Verdi, Beethoven & Brahms (September 28, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall); Author P Moss (October 6, the Writer’s Block); California Guitar Trio & Montreal Guitar Trio (October 7, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall); Las Vegas Philharmonic: Appalachian Spring (October 15, Reynolds Hall); UNLV Dance: In Bloom (October 21-22, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall); Author Kid Congo Powers (October 22, the Writer’s Block); LoveNVegas book signings (October 23-25, Planet Hollywood); Jazz singer Nnenna Freelon (November 9, Myron’s); UNLV Opera: Roman Fever & The Stronger (​November 9-10, Beam Music Center); Las Vegas Philharmonic: Sibelius Symphony No. 2 (November 19, Reynolds Hall); Las Vegas Master Singers: Coronation Mass (November 22, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall).

Theater

Smith Center musicals (various dates, Reynolds Hall) The performing arts center’s latest Broadway series runs the gamut, from ’90s jukebox musical Jagged Little Pill (September 6-11) to beloved classic Annie (November 22-27) to the pop retelling of the lives (and deaths) of King Henry VIII’s wives in Six (September 20-October 2) to musical titan Hamilton (October 18-November 6)—a fittingly stacked bill for the venue’s 10th anniversary.

Majestic Repertory Theatre: Angry F*gs (September 29-October 23) What better way to grab your attention for the opening of Majestic’s latest season than with this “wild, dark comedy about left-wing terrorism” by Topher Payne, Never one to shy away from politics, Majestic says its production is meant to show “solidarity” with the queer community.

Broadway in the Hood musicals (various dates & venues). The local nonprofit that aims to expose at-risk youth to plays and theater opportunities, stages the thought-provoking drama American Son (September 2, Historic Fifth Street School) and Lion King Jr. (October 7-8, West Las Vegas Library). Earlier this year, the theater’s statewide touring production of American Son brought themes of law enforcement and its impacts on families to the fore.

PLUS!

Las Vegas Little Theater: The Foreigner (September 9-25); Vegas Theatre Company: Dry Land (September 14-October 2, Art Square Theatre); Super Summer Theatre: Retro 45 Celebration–The Best of SST (September 15, Spring Mountain Ranch Park); A Public Fit: Keely and Du (September 30, Flamingo Library); Nevada Conservatory Theatre: The Cherry Orchard (October 7-16, Judy Bayley Theatre); A Public Fit: Three Days of Rain (October 14-November 7, Super Summer Theatre In City Stage).

Industrial Poetry

The idea of American ingenuity is older than this nation, but only recently have we started thinking about how natural resources fit into the picture.

Premiering at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Hall, Cirque Mechanics’ Zephyr plays with these themes using a Wheel of Death or “Wheel of Destiny”—a traditional circus discipline that utilizes a spinning beam with a cage on one end for the acrobat, and a counterweight on the other—to breathe life into the story. “This large Wheel of Destiny act will power the blades of the windmill, spin the turbine and create, hopefully, a nice breeze for the people sitting in the fifth row in the audience,” says Chris Lashua, creative director for Cirque Mechanics, which will bring the touring production to town.

The story centers around the character Nigel, who loses faith in the wind’s ability to power his windmill and turns to motor-powered energy, “much like humanity and the industrial revolution,” Lashua explains. He says audience should expect an “immersive” circus and clowning experience in a theater setting.

Since 2000, Cirque Mechanics has been using self-built mechanical contraptions as a focal point of their productions, to adapt the circus for the stage. “Rather than hiding how the aerialist is lifted, we make it a part of the poetry show,” he says, adding that there’s no shortage of heartfelt emotion and storytelling woven in with industrial themes. –Shannon Miller

September 24, 7:30 p.m., $20-$50. Artemus W. Ham Hall, unlv.edu.

Art

Some Pigeons I Know (September 7-December 13, Sahara West Library) Artists and educator Myranda Bair was inspired to curate this exhibit one morning at sunrise, when she spotted two of its namesake birds having a moment, “like two friends lost in a conversation.” This group show, also featuring works by Angela Brommel, Lauren Grant, Melissa Russell, Sean Russell and Gavin Watts, finds the common threads between people and “a creature who builds homes, co-parents, and provides for their mates and offspring; a life we strive for ourselves.” (Photo Courtesy/Myranda Bair)

Trash Queen of America (Throughout September, Recycled Propaganda)Local drag star Lynn Troller has been preparing Trash Queen of America for five years, and she’s been packed: she’s been a regular at Piranha, a host of Oddfellows’ Bodywork and is currently a performer in residence at the Garden,. With this show, “America’s Next National Disaster” aims to expand her reign of “rebellious queer creativity” through “a visual art multidimensional experience” that “[tells] the story of the potassium-filled character since her beginnings.” Don’t forget to curtsy.

OUT! of This World (October 7-November 4, Core Contemporary) Co-curated by Core owner Nancy Good and Gender Justice Nevada board member Tracy Dean Skinner, OUT! of This World celebrates National Coming Out Day (October 11) with a fun, alien-flavored group show about how cool it is to be different, together. “We all have different identities and they should be celebrated, whether they’re flamboyant or muted or whatever,” Good says. This will be the first show held at Core Contemporary’s new home (900 Karen Ave. #B109)—and once again, proceeds benefit Gender Justice.

Duck Duck Shed (October 27-30. Neon Museum) In the 1972 book Learning From Las Vegas, architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown described various Vegas properties as “ducks” (buildings with a descriptive shape, like the Luxor) and “decorated sheds” (generic buildings given character through paint and signage, like the original Stardust). The Neon Museum marks its 10th year with duck-and-shed-centric tours, art shows and educational events, including a rare exhibition of Scott Brown’s photography. See duckduckshed.com for full details.

PLUS!

George Strasburger: Parables (September 2.-November 25, Sahara West Library); Dify Disapora: In Memory of Dave Hickey (Curated by Sush Machida, thru October 7, Donna Beam  Fine Art Gallery); Miguel Rodriguez (October 7-30, Priscilla Fowler Fine Art); Jamie Kovacs: Keys to Your Soul (October 27-January 10, Centennial Hills Library); Zoë Camper (November 11-December 30, Core Contemporary).

Taking notes, making room and building family

This fall brings three concurrently-running exhibitions to the Barrick’s three galleries. The largest is Notes for Tomorrow, a 2020 exhibition created by New York-based Independent Curators International (ICI). Featuring artworks selected by 30 different curators spanning 25 countries—from Australia to Zimbabwe—Notes for Tomorrow “reflects on a new global reality ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to its press statement. Some of the works draw on their home country’s mythologies; others shine a light on political structures, both currently-existing and long defeated. Featured artists include Invasorix, Daniela Ortiz, Yan Shi and other international talents, who were asked by the curators “to share an artwork they believe is vital to be seen today.”

Making Room features the museum’s most recent acquisitions, while observing the 10th anniversary of Into the Light, the 2012 exhibition that brought the Las Vegas Art Museum’s former collection, locked away since 2009, under the Barrick’s umbrella and back into public view. “Making Room shows us where we’ve been and where we want to go as the Museum strives for greater equity with more acquisitions of art by artists working across the spectrum of gender and race,” declares the show statement.

And Two Cultures, One Family: Building Family, Finding Home, a group show presented in conjunction with the Weaving Our Cultures Arts Festival (WoCAF) and curated by Dr. Erika Abad, asks questions about family relationships, gender, bicultural intergenerational dynamics and reproductive justice. Featured artists include Las Hermanas Iglesias, Gabriela Muñoz and Vegas’ own Krystal Ramirez.

For her own part, Dr. Abad considers Two Cultures, One Family a “love letter” to her mother and grandmother. “While our struggles are different, I am here because of them—a testament to their resilience and sacrifice,” she says. –Geoff Carter

All three exhibits up through January 28. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reception September 2, 5 p.m. Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art at UNLV, 702-895-3011, unlv.edu/barrickmuseum.

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