Vegas, Vegas, Vegas – don’t sleep on tomorrow night at Brooklyn Bowl. Do you like country, alt-country and Americana? Heck if you like music in general you need to join me at the Sturgill Simpson show on Thursday night. Dude put out one of the top albums in all of 2014, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, is absolutely crushing crowds all over the country and between Coachella and Stagecoach he’s making a stop in our city. Having seen him a couple weeks ago I can attest that you will have a great time. Sturgill and his band JAM and you’ll want to be there to witness it. Oh and The Lone Bellow open so for every person who kept asking to add them to Life is Beautiful in the past, here’s your chance to see them in Vegas, you have no excuses now. Two great acts, one show! Hope to see you there!
Countdown to Life is Beautiful 2014: Las Vegas Philharmonic & The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil perform a Tribute to The Beatles
7 Oct17 days until the second Life is Beautiful festival in Downtown Las Vegas, October 24-26! If you haven’t gotten your tickets, do so at www.lifeisbeautiful.com and if you have, awesome and I can’t wait to see you!
If there is one performance you can’t miss, it’s this one. I’ m talking about legendary, one time only performance. In honor of The Beatles’ 50th Anniversary of coming to Las Vegas, I’ve gotten the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil to join forces for a 40 minute tribute to the Fab Four. It’s going to break down like this, on Sunday afternoon you are going to want to make your way to the main stage where the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a 20 minute solo set of Beatles songs before being joined on stage by the cast of LOVE for an incredible performance of acrobatics and dancers meets symphony. Yes you read that correct, this is all going to happen at once, Cirque du Soleil cast members will be flying, Beatles music will be playing and you as a spectators are going to witness an incredible never before seen show.
If I could begin to explain how excited all parties involved are, you wouldn’t believe me. Everyone is pouring their blood, sweat and tears into this performance and I promise you this is going to be legendary.
Me personally, this performance is the coolest thing I’ve ever had the opportunity to work on. And yes, I realize I work for a festival so I’m not joking when I say how amazing this opportunity is. Not only is LOVE my favorite show in Las Vegas, I clearly am a fan of The Beatles, Giles Martin working on the arrangement for this performance is just WOW and the opportunity to work with the Philharmonic is such an incredible one (these musicians are uber talented and hearing them in rehearsals gave me chills); this magical in so many ways.
Want to read a little more, check out this article from my buddy John Katsilometes who interviewed the great, Giles Martin about the upcoming performance and arranging the music specifically for this show.
R.I.P. Johnny Winter
17 JulI was saddened to hear about the passing of legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter. Yet another amazing and talented musician who has left us this year. Personally I’m thankful that a spontaneous last minute trip to Jazz Fest this past May provided me the opportunity to hit the late night (and what became legendary) Gov’t Mule and Special Guests show at the Saenger Theatre where Johnny Winter sat in for a few songs. In what would become one of his final live performances, that was special regardless but now it has a whole new memory for me.
Check out this photo of Warren Haynes and Johnny Winter from Dino Perrucci Photography which amazingly captures that special moment on the evening of May 2, 2014.
VIDEO: 2013 Life is Beautiful Festival MUSIC Recap
22 JunOh man, just 24 hours from the 2014 Life is Beautiful lineup! I cannot wait to share this year’s lineup with everyone. Each minute we get closer to releasing it the more excited I get. I hope my enthusiasm and love for the talent assembled for year two of the festival is shared by you as well after tomorrow. I hope that as you watch this video below which recaps the music portion of Life is Beautiful 2013, you get pumped to create a whole new set of beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
“A music festival is a gathering of a lot of strangers but I must say that music by the end of the night it always makes me feel like I know everybody that I shared that experience with and there’s nothing else in the world that can do that like music.” – Dan Reynolds, Imagine Dragons at Life is Beautiful Festival
Contest: Win Tickets To See @WidespreadPanic in #Vegas
5 JunAin’t life grand?! Widespread Panic is returning to Vegas and performing at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino July 2-4! Even better, if you’re reading this you have a chance to WIN two tickets to see Panic perform July 2 with Greensky Bluegrass! All you have to do is leave a comment below and tell me your favorite Widespread Panic song or memory and I’ll pick one lucky winner! The contest is open until the first day of summer, June 21!
Regardless if you win or not you should plan on heading to these shows as it’s going to be quite a three night run as Panic also welcome Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe on July 3 and Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Independence Day! Click HERE to purchase tickets.
Hey Vegas, YOU + ME @ Brooklyn Bowl the next three nights for O.A.R.
24 AprOkay Vegas, anyone who was in high school or college circa 1999 should be joining me at Brooklyn Bowl the next three nights as O.A.R. comes to town for a stopover!
C’mon be honest with yourself, you know you’ve spent plenty of college nights and fraternity/sorority parties rocking out to “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker,” “Hey Girl,” “City On Down,” and if you’re a little younger chances are you’ve grown up with “Shattered,” “This Town,” “Heaven” and now their new single, “Peace.”
Regardless of anything I’ve said above if you’re into music, the next three nights are simply ones you won’t want to miss. Perhaps I’m biased but a live O.A.R. show is an event and more importantly a damn good time. So come on, drive yourself over to the Linq, marvel at the High Roller, stroll up to Brooklyn Bowl and come see some killer music in one of the best live music settings. Oh and if you think it’s going to be a late one, shows are at 7:30, you have no excuse.
Now back to the music…….
Life is Beautiful #DTLVMS Wednesday at Park on Fremont
2 JulFireworks, Grilling, Apple Pie, and some good American music sounds just what the doctor ordered this 4th of July and we’re getting things started a night early! The next installment of the Life is Beautiful Downtown Las Vegas Music Showcase is going Americana this Wednesday night as we invade the parking lot at Park on Fremont for an evening of sweet music. Homegrown festival act, Beau Hodges Band will headline a great night of music also featuring Justin Mather, Easy 8’s, Kalsey Kulyk and Megan Barker! Hope you can make it, going to be a fun one! Also if you’re one of the first 50 people in attendance you’ll be able to snag one of these schnazzy posters designed by local artists Hernan Valencia.
8 amazing outdoor music venues via CNN Travel
12 JunIf you’re at all like me, sometimes it’s not just about the band or artist you are going to see in concert but rather the venue may be the bigger draw. When you get the holy grail of venues and your favorite band together, it quite possibly can be the best show you’ve ever seen. And with that, here are 8 amazing outdoor music venues complied by CNN Travel.
I can’t, won’t and will never argue with the first one on the list, Red Rock Amphitheatre. I’ve seen shows in all different places, spaces, countries, etc. but nothing compares to Red Rocks. I recall driving up to the venue with my head out the window like a little kid pulling up to Disney World. It truly is a magical place and I hope everyone gets to experience a show there at least once.
Do You Hear The Music? 