Craig Nyman: Life Is Beautiful lineup blends genres and generations
Editor’s Note: Our sincere thanks to the guest columnists who stood in for Robin Leach during his two months of annual summer travels. As he returns, Robin has interviews with Paralympics host Amy Purdy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Las Vegas magician Franz Harary in Macau in today’s Friday Neon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Then in the RJ’s Sunday Life, we’ll have his story of the 100 new restaurants and vineyards that have sprung up north of Ensenada in Mexico. One of the next big events is Life Is Beautiful from Sept. 23-25 in Downtown Las Vegas. We invited Craig Nyman, head of music and live performances for Life Is Beautiful, to give us a rundown.
In a weekend that’s all about partying, our other guest column by Glenfiddich ambassador Jennifer Wren takes a look at three fabulous faces of Las Vegas cocktail culture. Here’s Craig:
By Craig Nyman
From music festivals and sporting events to residencies and nightclubs, Las Vegas is a city filled with all kinds of entertainment. In three weeks, one of Las Vegas’ most-anticipated music festivals, Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, returns to Downtown Las Vegas for three days of music, art, culinary delights, inspirational speakers and culture.
At Life Is Beautiful, we look to create an experience that spans generations and genres, allowing festivalgoers to embrace the diverse world of music and explore new artists. This year’s lineup brings more than 75 of the world’s most celebrated music artists here, crafting a unique experience given our footprint of more than 18 Downtown city blocks and variety of talent across our stages.
More than five years and two albums later, Mumford & Sons will make a triumphant return here and deliver an electrifying set, while hip-hop fans who reveled in Kendrick Lamar’s closing set in 2015 will get another dose of star power in J. Cole, who is not only staking his claim at the top of the hip-hop world but this summer also went platinum two more times.
The electrifying trio of Major Lazer returns to not only headline but also claim their spot as the first artists to perform back-to-back at Life Is Beautiful. Keeping in the dance vein, one of the most influential DJs of the last two decades, Bassnectar, brings his insane visuals and bass-heavy beats along with rising star Flume, whose new album, “Skin,” is receiving acclaim on top album lists and features fellow festival performer Aluna George.
The Lumineers, who had a No. 1 album this year, will make their Las Vegas debut, while rock legends Jane’s Addiction ride into town on the heels of its 25th anniversary tour to mark the band’s critically acclaimed album “Ritual de lo Habitual.” Las Vegas favorites The Shins will perform their only 2016 U.S. show, while G-Eazy returns as one of the top-billed artists after emerging on The Huntridge stage at Life Is Beautiful in 2014.
One of the most talented and charismatic artists of this generation, Leon Bridges, brings his soulful sound and slick band to town for his Las Vegas debut. This is a show that all festival attendees will want to see. I’m getting too excited just thinking about his performance.
That excitement carries over to the funky dance party that will take place when Chromeo graces the stage, as well as sister duo Tegan and Sara. Mix in beach-vibe sets by reggae mainstays Dirty Heads and Iration, the fierce rock and roll of Band of Skulls and Bloc Party, as well as must-see sets from emerging acts like Jack Garratt, Bishop Briggs, Nothing But Thieves and Grammy-nominated Highly Suspect, and there is diversity across the board.
Alright, all you late 1990s and early 2000s kids, we didn’t forget you. It’s time to relive your youth as Jimmy Eat World and Third Eye Blind roll through for what is sure to be two giant, singalong sets. SoCal rockers Young the Giant are back with a new album and return after a few years, as are Australian rockers The Temper Trap and fan favorites The Naked and Famous.
Dance fans are in for a treat in addition to Major Lazer, Bassnectar and Flume, as we have a DJ lineup that should make any fan gush. That roster includes of-the-moment artists with hits including Zhu, Snakehips and Galantis to bass heavyweights Excision and Snails and the collaborative sets of Keys N Krates and Autograf.
I’ve shared with you half our lineup, but I’m so excited for you to experience the festival this year that I’ll just keep going. Two acts that I must mention because they’re can’t miss: Banks and Steelz, a new collaboration of Paul Banks of Interpol and Rza of Wu-Tang Clan. The second, Kamasi Washington, made jazz cool for a younger generation and put out one of the most acclaimed albums of 2015. Kamasi is the sax player on Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly.”
With more than 70 artists at Life Is Beautiful, the best way to get ready to rock might be through our station via Pandora. Get yourself in the know and come dance with us. Life Is Beautiful is more than a music festival. Come see for yourself. The lineup is curated to allow fans of all ages to not only see their favorite artists, but also experience new and exciting acts.
So step out of your comfort zone and join Life Is Beautiful for an experience that goes beyond the norm and taps into the real meaning behind music festivals. I hope to see you there!
Be sure to check out our other guest column from Jennifer Wren, ambassador for Glenfiddich who discusses three fabulous faces of Las Vegas cocktail culture. We’re just days away from the debut of our website RobinLeachVegas.com, and we hope that you are as excited as we are. And check out Robin’s rendezvous to Mexico’s wine valley of Guadalupe and his chat with electric violinist Lydia Ansel in Sunday Life of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
