September 2015 - Las Vegas Entertainment News

VEGAS INSIDER REVIEW

by Chuck Rounds

September 2015

  

 LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT

NEWS & REVIEWS

     The LINQ Promenade and The LINQ Hotel & Casino will offer an array of delicious ways to celebrate "Go Orange Day" on Thursday, September 3 to raise hunger relief awareness. Select venues throughout will feature special menu items with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Three Square, Southern Nevada's largest food bank.

     VEGAS! THE SHOW CELEBRATES ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY! Thank you for your continued support of VEGAS! The Show! We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with you. As always, VEGAS! The Show is live nightly at 7pm & 9pm at Saxe Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

     Aussie Hunks, the newest male revue performing downtown at the D Las Vegas, hosted its official grand opening for VIPs and media on Tuesday, August 18. The flirtatious and cheeky performance features eight of Australia's hottest dancers taking male stripping to the next level. Classically trained in genres such as break dance, erotic hip-hop, popping and locking, the guys offer an explosive experience to women and men alike. With a blend of comedy, seduction and personality, the group left the audience enticed and wanting more. The kickoff event included notable Las Vegas performers, a pre-reception with food and drinks and a special 'eye' candy buffet.

     With a thrilling array of spectacular illusions featuring majestic cats, Dirk Arthur Wild Magic debuted at the International Westgate Theater inside Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Monday, August 24. The exciting, fast-paced show weaves comedy with breathtaking big cat magic, beautiful dancers and large-scale illusions.

     Due to overwhelming response, legendary comedian and impersonator Rich Little has announced his hilarious new show "Rich Little Live" has been extended another 12 weeks at the world-famous Laugh Factory inside The New Tropicana Las Vegas. Featuring a compilation of impersonations, sketches and interactive video, "Rich Little Live" highlights the actors, musicians, politicians and personalities Little has worked with throughout his more than 50 years in entertainment, spanning from his television career in Canada to his first United States appearances to the legendary "Dean Martin Roasts" to the present day.

In the wake of entertainment and executive changes at Westgate Las Vegas, 

     

     Suzanne Somers has decided that her show, "Suzanne Sizzles," will not continue.

     Celine Dion brought "The Power of Love" to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to resume her critically-acclaimed Las Vegas residency show, Celine. After a year hiatus, the stage came to life as Celine made her momentous return to a sold-out house and multiple standing ovations from thousands of fans. Celine at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is a glamorous show directed by legendary Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich and presented jointly by AEG Live and Caesars Entertainment. Celine's updated Las Vegas show includes her biggest hits mixed with timeless hits by iconic artists that celebrate all generations and genres of music ranging from Frank Sinatra and Elvis to the Bee Gees, Queen and Prince. The show features a full orchestra and band and is set to a visually stunning presentation designed exclusively for the 4,300-seat state-of-the-art venue. Celine also returns to The Colosseum with a new stage wardrobe composed of exclusive designs developed by her stylist in collaboration with Atelier Versace, Schiaparelli, Elie Saab and Mugler.

     This year, Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas Resorts are celebrating Mexican Independence Day Weekend with mariachi bands roaming the properties throughout the weekend, an exclusive line-up of some of today's hottest Latin artists, and authentic Mexican and southwestern dining offerings, including:

Caesars Palace

     Enrique Iglesias at The Colosseum - Sept. 13 and 14

Let Enrique "Be Your Hero" this Mexican Independence Day weekend! The Latin superstar has sold more than 100 million albums (albums and singles combined) worldwide and is a multiplatinum artist in almost every country around the world. Performances are Sunday, Sept. 13 and Monday, Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. Tickets range in price from $39.50 to $300, not including fees.

     Plácido Domingo at The Colosseum - Sept. 15

Recognized as one of the finest and most influential singing actors in the history of opera, Plácido Domingo will treat your ears to his world-renowned singing. His work in the recording studio has earned him 12 Grammy Awards, three of which are Latin Grammys, and will guarantee a performance of a lifetime. Performance is Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $79.50 to $500, not including taxes and fees.

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Marco Antonio Solís at The AXIS - Sept. 11

One of the most important figures in the rise of Mexican and Latin music to world prominence, Marco Antonio Solís will serenade Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 11 at 9 p.m. The 2014 Lo Nuestro Pop Male Artist of the Year has been awarded five Latin Grammy Awards throughout his career. Tickets range in price from $74 to $250, plus applicable taxes and fees.

Chayanne at The AXIS - Sept. 12

Puerto Rico's own, Chayanne, will bring his first solo national tour in four years to The AXIS to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. He will be performing titles from his recently released album, "En Todo Estaré," on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $69 to $160, plus applicable taxes and fees.

Pepe Aguilar at The AXIS - Sept. 14

Four-time Grammy Award and three-time Latin Grammy Award winning artist, Pepe Aguilar, has sold over 13 million albums worldwide. His song "Por una Mujer Bonita" won him a Grammy for Best Mexican-American/Tejano Music Performance. Performance is on Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $69 to $175, plus applicable taxes and fees.

Ricky Martin at The AXIS - Sept. 15

"Shake your Bon-Bon" with GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, Ricky Martin, as he launches his ONE WORLD TOUR in support of his brand new album, "A Quien Quiera Escuchar." The music superstar will perform on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $49 to $160, plus applicable.

Fremont Street Experience's Rock of Vegas 2015 summer concert series will conclude this Labor Day weekend with a free concert on Sunday, September 6 at 9 p.m. featuring Kansas and special guest Blue Oyster Cult performing on the 3rd Street Stage. Every May through September, Fremont Street Experience transforms Downtown Las Vegas into the hottest place to be with the annual Rock of Vegas summer concert series; one of the most popular summertime events in Las Vegas featuring rockin' nightly entertainment, free headliner concerts and Viva Vision shows.

Kansas
Kansas has spent than four decades as a part of the soundtrack of the lives of multiple generations. The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show) and a million-selling gold single, "Dust in the Wind." Kansas appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the '70s and '80s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. "Carry On Wayward Son" was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995 and went to #1 in 1997. The band, which is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, keyboardist David Manion, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, and original guitarist Richard Williams, continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences around the world.

Blue Oyster Cult
For over four decades, Blue Oyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. The band from Long Island, NY is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work. Blue Oyster Cult occupies a unique place in rock history because it's one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. Upon the release of BOC's self- -titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy yet heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BOC's hits include "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from 1976's Agents of Fortune, the pummeling "Godzilla" from 1977's Spectres and the hypnotically melodic "Burnin' for You" from1981's Fire of Unknown Origin. BOC still maintains a relentless touring schedule that brings new songs and classics to fans from all over.

     Whether a runner or a walker, all Las Vegans can show off their stride for a great cause at the inaugural "Show Your Heart Run" to benefit the Children's Heart Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Kellogg Zaher Park (7901 W. Washington Ave. Las Vegas). Participants can enjoy their choice of a 5K race or a 1.7 mile fun walk. Festivities begin at 6:30 a.m. with a warm up and announcements; the 5K run begins promptly at 7 a.m., with the 1.7 mile fun walk beginning immediately following the race start. To register as a runner, walker or sponsor, please visit www.chfn.org or call 702-967-3522.

     Known for bringing wonder and delight to millions of spectators across the globe, Cirque du Soleil welcomes Vegas visitors and locals to get an inside look at KÀ as it reveals the astounding history, background and science behind one of the most fascinating theatrical venues in Las Vegas. Guests will have the unique opportunity to attend the KÀ Theatre Spectacular, a free open house that highlights the impressive work, inspiration and unprecedented technology used in this $165 million production. The complimentary open house will take place at the KÀ Theatre inside MGM Grand every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Guests of all ages are welcome to attend.

     Long live the Queen! With a show surviving five presidents, three wars and the turn of a century, Las Vegas' longest-running headliner and "Queen of the Strip", Frank Marino, will celebrate 30 years performing on the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday, Sept. 19. The first entertainer to reach this milestone, Frank and his cast of talented female impersonators take the stage nightly at Las Vegas' newest resort, The LINQ Hotel & Casino. In addition, The LINQ Hotel & Casino recently welcomed a "Divas Las Vegas"-themed gaming pit, featuring six custom blackjack tables of him and the brilliant cast of Divas Las Vegas. This marks yet another first for Marino, the superstar female impersonator who can add to his long list of accomplishments, including 2 stars on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame, a key to the city and a street named after him. Previously, Marino has had a $25 poker chip in play on the casino floor and a Big 6 betting wheel, where guests were able to bet on impersonators from the iconic show. In honor of his 30th anniversary, Marino has also created a Commemorative Frank Marino doll, named the "Frankie" Doll, which has hundreds of different costumes, just like the Diva himself.

     Labor Day Weekend marks the end of summer, but things are still heating up at SLS Las Vegas as some of the biggest names in music come together for an epic weekend of partying on the Las Vegas Strip. This year, the impressive lineup features EDM favorites R3hab, NERVO and Fedde Le Grand as well as world-renowned hip-hop icon Flo Rida, Grammy award winning artist Lil Wayne, hip-hop's hottest new star Fetty Wap and more.

     Due to overwhelming response, The IN ITS ENTIRETY Concert Series has been extended at Rocks Lounge inside Red Rock Resort. The hit monthly concert series, which features live performances of music's most iconic records "in their entirety," will continue every second Friday of the month, beginning Friday, Sept. 11 with a performance of Chicago's multi-platinum selling album Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits by the In Its Entirety band and special guests, the Lon Bronson Band horn section.

     MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will host comedian and Emmy Award-winning actor Brad Garrett's annual Maximum Hope Foundation Charity Poker Tournament Saturday, Sept. 19 on the casino floor between Wolfgang Puck and the KÀ Theatre. The tournament, which will begin at noon, will offer participants the opportunity to play alongside Garrett, other celebrities as well as professional poker players. All proceeds from the event will go to the Maximum Hope Foundation. The poker tournament is a No-Limit Hold'em event requiring an entry fee of $250. Participants will have the opportunity to re-buy within the first two hours of play for an additional $100. There also will be a final add-on available at the conclusion of the two-hour re-buy time period. The winner will take home a guaranteed $10,000 first-place prize. All participants must be 21 years of age or older.

     On Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, Madsen Promotions' celebrated NZ Bee Gees Tribute Show returns to the M Resort by popular demand. For one night only, the popular New Zealand group will celebrate "One Night Fever," an all-new show dedicated to the legendary disco hits of the Bee Gees. Guests will relive the Bee Gees' rise to fame and decades-long success with a special pre-show video while they dance and groove to popular hits like "Stayin' Alive," "You Should Be Dancing," and "Jive Talkin'."

     MGM Grand Hotel & Casino will welcome comedian, podcaster and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) commentator Joe Rogan when he takes the KÀ Theatre stage Friday, Sept. 4 at 9 p.m. With more than 20 years of stand-up experience, Rogan has sold out shows worldwide and recently released his fourth hour long comedy special "Joe Rogan: Rocky Mountain High" which premiered on Comedy Central in November 2014. Since 2002, Rogan has provided commentary for the UFC which airs on Pay-Per-View outlets and FOX. He currently hosts "The Joe Rogan Experience," a podcast featuring an array of guests from the pursuits of comedy, science, social activism and Mixed Martial Arts.

     Summer may almost be over but the Beach Concert Series at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is just starting to heat up! Media are invited to photograph and enjoy upcoming shows at Mandalay Bay's Beach Concert Series including performances by O.A.R., Ziggy Marley and Randy Houser with Dustin Lynch.
Friday, Sept. 4: Australian Pink Floyd
Friday, Sept. 18: O.A.R.
Friday, Sept. 26: Lost ‘80s Live

     Rock legend George Thorogood & The Destroyers will return to Las Vegas for a special performance at the Sunset Amphitheater at Sunset Station on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. Located poolside at Sunset Station, the Sunset Amphitheater is the perfect destination for a concert experience under the stars.

     Multi-platinum alternative rock heavyweight Incubus heads to The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas for a two-night concert series on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6 at 8 p.m. After nearly two years off the grid, conceptualizing and recording new material, Incubus - Brandon Boyd (lead vocals), Mike Einziger (lead guitar), Chris Kilmore (turntables, keyboards), Ben Kenney (bass), and José Pasillas II (drums) - has its sights set on a "non-traditional" album in 2015. Einziger told Billboard.com, that although the band didn't have "any plans of making this record," the new music is "pretty indicative of where we are now. This is what the band sounds like in 2015."

     World music takes over The Pearl inside Palms Casino Resort with a special performance by Croatian pop star Oliver Dragojevic featuring the UNLV Symphony Orchestra and special guests on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 8 p.m. Special guests include 10 time GRAMMY award winner, legendary Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; Spanish harmonica genius Antonio Serrano known for performances with Paco DeLucia, Toots Thielemans and Wynton Marsalis; singer-writer Gibonni who is responsible for more than a dozen of Dragojevic's hits; upcoming country star Annie Bosko and Dragojevic's band "Dupini." Fans will also be treated to a special intermission performance by Nina Kraljic, winner of Season one "The Voice" of Croatia.

     Life is Beautiful Festival announced the official artist lineup for the third edition of the music, food, arts and learning festival. In partnership with Another Planet Entertainment and Insomniac, Life is Beautiful will return to Downtown Las Vegas to provide festival- goers an exciting experience of world-class cuisine, extraordinary art and some of the world's biggest musicians. Headlining this year is 25-time GRAMMY® winner and global superstar, Stevie Wonder, Las Vegas hometown rockstars, Imagine Dragons, hip-hop heavyweight, Kendrick Lamar, and music legends, Duran Duran, who are among more than 70 established and emerging artists to hit the four outdoor stages throughout the weekend, September 25 - September 27. In collaboration with Insomniac, Life is Beautiful will host an entire Insomniac curated music area, taking over one of the four stages on the festival grounds. World leading and fresh faced dance music artists on this year's lineup include Thievery Corporation, Porter Robinson, Major Lazor, DJ Snake, Tchami, Cashmere Cat and many more.

     Jerry Seinfeld fans can catch the all-star comedian as he returns to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for two nights of his critically acclaimed stand-up comedy on Sept. 18 and 19, 2015. The two-night engagement is presented jointly by AEG Live and Caesars Palace. Jerry Seinfeld is best known for his role on NBC's "Seinfeld," the most popular and successful sitcom on American television, which was chosen as the best sitcom ever in a poll recently conducted by Vanity Fair and 60 Minutes. His internet show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" launched in 2012, has garnered critical raves, an Emmy nomination, and more than 70 million streaming views. His book "Seinlanguage" was released in 1993 and went on to become a #1 New York Times bestseller. Winning critical acclaim for such diverse projects as "Bee Movie," touring stand-up comedy performances, and guest-starring with longtime collaborator Larry David in the hit HBO TV show "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Seinfeld continues to reign among the nation's most popular comedy stars. He has headlined The Colosseum since Dec. 2003 and previously headlined the resort's Circus Maximus Showroom.

     Leading Latin pop star Alejandro Fernandez will return to Las Vegas bringing his Confidencias World Tour to the Mandalay Bay Events Center for a Mexican Independence Day celebration Tuesday, Sept. 15. Fernandez, who channels Mexico's rich tradition through his music and continues to capture the hearts of fans worldwide, is one of the most accomplished vocalists and biggest-selling artists in Latin music history. The Confidencias World Tour promises an unprecedented production from one of the most iconic voices in Mexican musical history. The dazzling show pays homage to Mexico via Fernandez's exceptional mariachi, orchestra and vocal prowess, featuring a collection of his greatest hits including traditional "rancheras," pop hits and songs from his new album Confidencias.

     Known as "La Reina del Rock"" (The Queen of Rock), Alejandra Guzmán brings the Rock Recargado ("heavy rock") Tour to The Pearl inside Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 8 p.m. Guzmán is a musical icon in Mexico and since her first album debut in 1989, she has sold more than 20 million copies, releasing 17 albums and has performed more than 900 concerts, giving her recognition and success for more than 25 years with multiple nominations and awards including winning the coveted Latin GRAMMY Award. La Guzmán, as she's affectionately referred to by fans, is a legendary performer, beloved for her racy image, infectious dancing and colorful outfit changes — not to mention her powerful voice.

     Straight off NBC's hit show, "Last Comic Standing" and the critically acclaimed movie, "Chef," and of course, Netflix, Canada's number one stand-up export, Russell Peters returns to The Pearl inside Palms Casino Resort on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 8 p.m. This stop finds Peters showcasing all new materials from his Almost Famous World Tour featuring the comedian's latest takes on some of his favorite communities, jobs he can understand, cell phones, dating and his uncle who's never been punched in the mouth, plus Peters' signature lightning fast improv with the audience. The show will also feature Peters' Official Tour DJ, New York City's DJ Spinbad, as well as video cameras and screens for an up-close and intimate show.

     Olympia Weekend, the most prestigious event in the world of bodybuilding, returns to the Orleans Arena September 17 - 20; though many of the events will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend is a bodybuilding competition sanctioned by the International Federation of Bodybuilders Professional League (IFBB Pro League). Past champions include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, and Ronnie Coleman. This prestigious event is one of the highest accolades in the sport of professional bodybuilding. The parallel contest, Ms. Olympia, will feature Ms. Olympia Iris Kyle, Fitness Olympia Adela Garcia, Figure Olympia Erin Stern and Bikini Olympia Sonia Gonzalez, who will return to defend their titles.

See you next month....