Turn up the music

True story: Las Vegas audiences once booed Elvis Presley. Badly. Also true: When the Grateful Dead routinely packed Sam Boyd Stadium in the ’90s, lots of Las Vegans openly called for the band and its pot-smoking fans to get out of town and never come back.

Music has always been part of the fabric of Las Vegas – think Rat Pack – but that tapestry didn’t always weave in different kinds of music. For the longest time, plenty of folks had the haughty idea that Las Vegas not only didn’t need certain kinds of acts, but would actually be worse off for showcasing them.

Today, of course, it’s a much different story. Today, superstar musicians are redefining the headliner, and music is more vital than ever in driving visitors to Las Vegas. Music consistently makes big business and entertainment news in Las Vegas. Last week was no different.

– The Review-Journal’s Doug Elfman broke the story that downtown Las Vegas will host the Life is Beautiful music festival next fall with multiple arena-size acts over two days.

– Country-pop superstar Shania Twain stopped traffic on the Strip by arriving at Caesars Palace on horseback to promote the Dec. 1 start of her residency at the Colosseum.

– Country icon Garth Brooks wrapped up a hugely successful three-year, 180-show run at Wynn Las Vegas.

– British rockers Def Leppard announced a nine-show stay at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, scheduled for spring, after similar runs by Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses.

Elton John’s first stab as a Colosseum regular went so well he signed up for another. The thumping beats of the Electric Daisy Carnival – and the hundreds of thousands of fans it attracts – will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in June. Country stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw start their own run at The Venetian next month.

Now imagine if the 2013 Legislature can muster the will to approve the UNLVNow project, which would build a domed stadium a stone’s throw from the Strip. Imagine the kinds of concerts – both touring productions and one-time events – that would book this venue once it’s complete.

In this global tourist destination with an ever-evolving business model, concerts are one of the safest bets on the Strip when it comes to attracting visitors. We’ve come a long way from booing Elvis. Especially in this fragile economy, keep the music playing – and turn it up.