Miss Gay Las Vegas at Piranha Since 1973, Miss Gay America has honored the fiercest female illusionists, crowning them with bedazzled tiaras befitting their fabulousness. Our local preliminary contest celebrates its 25th anniversary Thursday night at the Fruit Loop watering hole, so stop by and cheer on your favorite drag artists while sipping $7 Absolut cocktails. February 27, doors at 10 p.m., free.
Naughty By Nature at 1 Oak Hip-hop hooray! The New Jersey trio is back like vertebrates Friday at the Mirage nightspot, bringing their old-school hip-hop to 1 Oak’s new Flashback Friday bash. Feel them flow, then stick around for resident DJ Que’s beats. February 28, doors at 10:30 p.m., $40 men, $30 women.
Madeon at Surrender The French EDM star wrote and produced on Lady Gaga’s Artpop and already has an impressive festival résumé under his belt, including EDC, Coachella and Lollapalooza. Did we mention he’s only 19? Catch the wunderkind at the Encore club Saturday—just don’t buy him a drink. March 1, doors at 10:30 p.m., $32 men, $22 women.
St. Baldrick’s Shave Parties It all started when 19 partygoers shaved their heads for charity at a St. Patrick’s Day bash in New York. Now, St. Baldrick’s Foundation donates millions of dollars annually towards childhood cancer research, much of it funded by shave-offs like the ones going down at McMullan’s, Nine Fine Irishmen, Rí Rá and Vinyl this Saturday. Grab a pint and watch the buzzers work, or register at the Vegas event page at stbaldricks.org and put your own locks on the line. March 1, times vary, free.
Henrix at Light Another week, another residency debut. This time, it’s from commercial EDM producer/DJ Henrix, who developed his pedigree in Las Vegas’ party-peer city, Miami. Given the densely packed builds and drops and remixes in his sets, we imagine he’ll make the Light crowd feel at home in his second home. With DJ Steve Powers. March 1, 10 p.m., $40 men, $20 women.
High Rollers Weekend: The AllNighter at Backstage Bar & Billiards The High Rollers scooter rally returns February 27 to March 2, and highlighting the musical festivities is Saturday night’s ode to first- and second-wave ska. A crack super-band of skankers—backed by LA outfit Kingston a Go Go—headlines the evening, with American and British DJs rounding out the sounds between sets. March 1, 9 p.m., $15, free for High Rollers wristband holders.
Social Tuesdays at Fizz Las Vegas Not terribly long ago, a large, diverse group of gay men called Sin City QSocials met every Tuesday night to do the gay version of happy hour, typically at non-gay drinking spots. The popular concept has been dormant in recent months, but it’s being resurrected by one of the QSocial founders for the new Social Tuesdays, which launches at an appropriate place: Caesars Palace champagne bar Fizz, whose creative director is Elton John’s husband, David Furnish. March 4, 7 p.m., free.
Bleach at Beauty Bar We’re trying to give Bleach a break, but the monthly underground tutorial/dance music event won’t stop booking great DJs who infrequently play Las Vegas—like talented English dubstep/grime/bass producer/DJ Plastician, this month’s headliner. And if you’re already rolling your eyes, take heart: The dubstep he peddles is the superior U.K. variety. Actually, his preferences in bass range from sinister, subterranean grit to melodic, heaven-bound breakbeat. Plastician sounds restless, and we suspect he’ll make your feet feel similarly. March 4; producer session, 8 p.m., free with RSVP; DJ party, 9:30 p.m., $10.
