Library Thursdays at Liaison Bally’s new gay club is finally launching its drag night with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Raja and Delta Work. But why is it called Library Thursdays—and why are the performers called “reading masters”? Trust me, you want your divas reading—aka criticizing or insulting—when they perform. That is, as long as it’s not directed at you. July 17, doors at 10 p.m., $20, locals free with “KEY” text to 313131 before 11 p.m.
Showtek at Drai’s Beach Club You’ve heard Showtek before—especially the Dutch duo’s inescapable “Cannonball (Earthquake)” with Justin Prime and vocalist du jour Matthew Koma, and “Bad” with David Guetta and singer Vassy. It’s going to ensure you shake your ass despite the pounding sun above. LA twosome Sex Panther opens. July 19, doors at 10 a.m., $40+ men, $20+ women.
Opening day at Distill Good news, southwest dwellers. Come Saturday, you won’t have to trek into Summerlin or down to the Strip for tasty cocktails. A new location of the local bar opens its doors in Southern Highlands this weekend, so stop by, grab a drink and check out your new neighborhood hang. July 19, free.
Taryn Manning and Ryan Cabrera at Palms Pool It’s So You Think You Can DJ: Celebrity Edition! Well, not really, but the Orange Is the New Black star teams up with the pop-rocker behind the booth Saturday afternoon, each spinning a set under the sun at the off-Strip oasis. Hey, they’ll look pretty doing it ... July 19, doors at noon, $20 men, $10 women.
Re:Birth at The Phoenix Do you always indulge in a quick head-swivel when you pass the West Sahara bar with the enormous, fiery bird painted on it? Here’s a great excuse to check out what’s behind the walls of that beaked beacon. The Phoenix’s new third-Saturday event Re:Birth offers a bacchanalia for alternative-minded revelers, complete with a patio BBQ, craft vending, oracle readings, various bar games and something called a spank machine destined to render the naughty and willing unable to sit. Which works out, since underground DJs will take this one to sunrise. July 19, 9 p.m., free.
G-Eazy at the Bank The Bay Area rapper’s These Things Happen disc topped the Billboard Rap Albums chart shortly after debuting in the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 3. Not bad for a first album, eh? Find the heavily hyped MC on the mic at the Bellagio nightclub Saturday. July 19, doors at 10:30 p.m., $44 men, $22 women.
The Weeknd at Hakkasan The rising R&B artist definitely has some collabo cred, working with Drake on “Live For” and scoring a Grammy nod this year for “Remember You” with Wiz Khalifa. Catch his solo performance Sunday night during his Hakkasan main-room debut. In the booth: DJ Ruckus. July 20, doors at 10 p.m., $30 men, $20 women.
Nickel Beer Night with Distance at Beauty Bar For this edition of the infamous lager-drenched social, NBN promoter Joe Stasis celebrates another trip around the sun by booking two dubstep/bass acts who will be Vegas virgins no more. The U.K.-based Distance boasts metal influences such as Sepultura and Pantera, and LA’s Megalodon gives grime and dub equal time in his productions and mixes. Not your cup of suds? Have another, or however many nickel cups it takes to make dubstep sound like Debussy. July 22, doors at 9:30 p.m., $10.
