Life Is Beautiful 2017 Preview

There’s more to do in Vegas than gambling – much more. One great event is Life Is Beautiful, and killer music & more festival that comes this weekend, Friday-Sunday, September 22nd-24th:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd

Downtown Stage Chance the Rapper, 11:25 PM – 12:55 AM Two mixtapes, 2012’s 10 Day and 2013’s Acid Rap, have launched Chicago’s Chance the Rapper (QRO photos at a festival) into the big time (like an endearing Kit Kat commercial, and his Chicago-sponsored South-by-Southwest showcase in 2015 was shut down due to massive overcrowding – QRO recap). He comes back to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos), now to headline (QRO photos at a festival), behind his latest collaboration, last year’s team-up with Jeremih, Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama, and his Grammy-winning mixtape, Coloring Book. Book was the first streaming-only album ever to get a Grammy nomination, let alone a win – oh, and he also won the Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance!

Lorde, 9:20 PM – 10:35 PM It’s been fast and furious, the success of Lorde (QRO live review). The New Zealand songstress (QRO photos) is barely out of her teens, but blew up in a huge way in 2013 behind Grammy-winning single “Royals” and Pure Heroine, to should-be-headlining festival status (QRO photos at a 2014 festival). She’s become such a megastar that her actually being Randy Marsh was a season-song story line on South Park (“I am Lorde, yah-yah-yah…”). She comes to Life Is Beautiful behind her strong, much anticipated follow-up, Melodrama (QRO review).

Two Door Cinema Club, 7:35 PM – 8:35 PM Hailing from Northern Ireland, but debuting on French label Kitsuné (QRO photos at a festival in France), Two Door Cinema Club (QRO live review) have made a splash in America with songs like “What You Know” (QRO video) and “I Can Talk” (QRO video), as well with breakthrough debut Tourist History (QRO review) & 2012’s follow-up Beacon (QRO review) – so come to da Club (QRO photos at a festival).

2 Chainz, 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM Originally one-half of southern hip-hop duo Playaz Circle, Tauheed Epps broke out on his own as 2 Chainz (QRO photos at a festival), behind successful records Based on a T.R.U. Story and B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time.

DREAMCAR, 4:25 PM – 5:15 PM A team-up of two bands still popular with the kids, AFI (QRO live review) singer Davey Havok teams up with the members of No Doubt (QRO album review) who aren’t Gwen Stefani as DREAMCAR.

Kamaiyah, 3:05 PM – 3:50 PM Oakland rapper Kamaiyah (QRO photos) got notice last year for performing alongside Drake on YG’s single “Why You Always Hatin?”.

Ambassador Stage Blink-182, 11:15 PM – 12:45 AM Emerging from the southern California punk scene, Blink-182 (QRO photos) kept things light with their youthful energy and humor, and became MTV mainstays with “What’s My Again?”, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and more. They grew up a bit at the start of this century/millennium’s first decade, before singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge left and the group entered into “indefinite hiatus” (which saw drummer Travis Barker at one time get his own MTV reality series). But Barker, DeLonge, and singer/bassist Mark Hoppus reunited (QRO photos at a festival) in 2011 for the well received return Neighborhoods (QRO review), before DeLonge left again in 2015 (to pursue his interest in the UFO cover-up conspiracy…). So Barker & Hoppus recruited Alkaline Trio singer Matt Skiba to keep it going (QRO photos headlining a festival), including last year’s California (and being the wise act to drop out of the debacle that was Fyre Festival before it happened).

Slightly Stoopid, 9:35 PM – 10:35 PM Coming out of the melting pot of mid-nineties SoCal, thanks to being discovered by Sublime’s late frontman Bradley Nowell (while the band was still in high school), Slightly Stoopid (QRO photos outdoors) have lived out Nowell’s sunbaked combination of punk, reggae, rock, and hip-hop. Their loyal fan base has let them stay outside the major label system, while still filling venues worldwide (QRO live review), and being very active on the festival circuit (QRO photos outdoors).

Also: Sean Paul, 8:15 PM – 9:05 PM – QRO photos at a festival J Boog, 6:55 PM – 7:45 PM Day Wave, 5:35 PM – 6:25 PM Shy Girls, 4:20 PM – 5:05 PM – QRO photos at a festival The American Weather, 3:05 PM – 3:50 PM

Huntridge Stage Russ, 10:35 PM – 11:20 PM This year rapper Russ Vitale finally released his debut record, There’s Really a Wolf, after a whole slew of mixtapes.

The Revivalists, 8:35 PM – 9:15 PM New Orleans seven-piece Americana rock band The Revivalists (QRO photos at a festival) were last year named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Bands You Need To Know.”

Also: They., 6:50 PM – 7:30 PM Circa Waves, 5:15 PM – 5:55 PM – QRO photos The Rhyolite Sound, 3:50 PM – 4:20 PM

Fremont Stage Zeds Dead, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM Canadian duo DC & Hooks make up the genre-defying Zeds Dead close out the first night of Freemont Stage (QRO photos at a festival).

Big Gigantic, 10:50 PM – 11:50 PM Boulder’s Big Gigantic (QRO photos at a festival) mix (big) electronic beats with live drums and even live saxo-mo-phone. Known to set crowds in a writhing heap of body parts (QRO photos at a festival), Big Gigantic (QRO photos at a festival) has been showcasing their electronic fervor all across the globe (QRO photos at a festival), and the last ever New Year’s Eve at New York City’s closed landmark venue Roseland Ballroom (QRO live review).

Matoma, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM Norwegian DJ & producer Tom Stræte Lagergren comes to much warmer Vegas as Matoma.

RAC, 8:20 PM – 9:20 PM Portuguese DJ and producer André Allen Anjos, a.k.a. RAC, comes back to Life Is Beautiful.

Bonobo, 7:05 PM – 8:05 PM While most DJs-as-artists are pretty new in the indiesphere, Simon Green (QRO photos at a festival) has been spinning for over a decade as Bonobo (QRO live review), and plays live at Life Is Beautiful.

Also: Hayden James, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM Viceroy, 4:40 PM – 5:40 PM Superpoze, 3:35 PM – 4:35 PM Bill Nye, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM – QRO live review

Toyota Music Den Viceroy, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM David Shaw & Zack Feinberg (The Revivalists), 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM RAC (DJ set), 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Kamaiyah, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Day Wave, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Comedy House Vladimir Caamano; Ryan O’Flannigan; Sam Jay; Scout Durwood and Matthew Broussard, 9:00 PM – 10:15 PM Vladimir Caamano; Ryan O’Flannigan; Sam Jay; Scout Durwood; Matthew Broussard and Solomon Georgio, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM Scout Durwood; Solomon Georgio; Matthew Broussard; Mike Lawrence and Sarah Tiana, 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd

Downtown Stage Muse, 10:50 PM – 12:55 AM Devon’s Muse (QRO photos at a festival) is now established as full-fledged mega-stars. The trio reached for true stadium glory with 2009’s The Resistance (QRO review), as their electric bombast, which had already conquered Europe, set its sights on the States, playing Saturday Night Live (QRO Music on Late Night TV) and headlining Madison Square Garden (QRO photos). Yet 2012 was in even bigger, with the gigantic (in every sense of the word) The 2nd Law (QRO review) – not to mention making the official song for the London Olympics, “Survival”. 2015 saw Drones top charts in U.K. & America, and win the Grammy for Best Rock Album. They’re completely suitable to headline Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos headlining a festival).

Cage the Elephant, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM With hardly a full-length album to their name, Kentucky’s Cage the Elephant (QRO photos) was snatched up by EMI Records at a low-key SXSW showcase. Following some impressive U.K. airplay, the band packed up and moved to London, where they released their first studio album in 2008. The following two years were a haze of international touring, late night TV shows, festival appearances (QRO photos at a festival) – and preparation for 2011’s Thank You, Happy Birthday, following that up with 2013’s more indie-influenced Melophobia and 2015’s Dan Auerbach-produced Tell Me I’m Pretty (which won the Grammy for Best Rock Album). They have also become a wild festival presence (QRO photos at a festival). As their blues-y rock infused live show will prove (QRO photos), elephants were never meant to be caged (QRO photos).

ScHoolboy Q, 7:25 PM – 8:15 PM Hip-hop artist Quincy Matthew Hanley – a.k.a. ScHoolboy Q (QRO photos at a festival) – followed up 2011’s acclaimed Setbacks with 2012’s Habits & Contradictions and 2014’s Oxymoron.

Capital Cities, 5:50 PM – 6:40 PM Enjoy the exciting and excitable electro-pop of Capital Cities (QRO photos at a festival), who come back to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival) after playing the likes of the Statue of Liberty (QRO live review), with word of a new record in the works.

BROODS, 4:25 PM – 5:10 PM New Zealand brother-and-sister duo BROODS (QRO photos at a festival) come to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival) off of last year’s sophomore full-length Conscious. Also: Coin, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Ambassador Stage Wiz Khalifa, 11:35 PM – 12:50 AM The Pittsburgh singer/rapper upset about as many fans as he gained with his move from stoner rap into bona-fide pop music, but he is what he is. Wiz (QRO photos outdoors) makes music that’s fun to listen to, including his team-up with Snoop Dogg, Mac & Devin Go To High School (QRO review), or his hit Furious 7 single “See You Again”, even if it’s rarely thought provoking or based in anything other than weed or girls. One thing’s for certain, he (QRO photos) will never run out of marijuana-based puns.

Milky Chance, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Mixing folk with reggae and even electronica is the fast-rising German duo Milky Chance (QRO photos at a festival).

Lil Dicky, 8:40 PM – 9:30 PM Middle class suburban Philly kid David Andrew Bird began rapping to get attention for his comedy, but fell in love with the music and made it his full-time gig as Lil Dicky with 2015 full-length debut Professional Rapper.

Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness, 7:20 PM – 8:10 PM Frontman of Something Corporate and then Jack’s Mannequin (QRO live review), Andrew McMahon’s emotional piano has since gone solo (QRO photos) and In the Wilderness (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: Sofi Tukker, 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM Jacob Banks, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM – QRO photos Ella Vos, 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

Huntridge Stage Local Natives, 10:00 PM – 10:45 PM Silver Lake’s Local Natives (QRO photos at a festival) have been riding the alt-country/folk wave, but seem to be doing it better than most, charting in 2010 with debut Gorilla Manor and 2012’s Hummingbird (QRO review), moving up to headliner tours (QRO live review), and well-received on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), including old England (QRO photos at an English festival). They come to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival) after last year’s release of their latest, Sunlit Youth (QRO review).

MISSIO, 8:15 PM – 8:55 PM Austin electronic duo MISSIO come to Life Is Beautiful off of this year’s debut full-length, Loner.

Stick Figure, 6:40 PM – 7:20 PM Self-taught multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff front the northern California reggae-dub outfit Stick Figure.

Sigrid, 5:10 PM – 5:50 PM Barely old enough to drink in the States, Norway’s Sigrid (QRO photos at a festival) found international success this year with single “Don’t Kill My Vibe”.

San Fermin, 3:45 PM – 4:25 PM Brooklyn baroque-pop band San Fermin (QRO photos) come to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival) behind this year’s Belong.

Fremont Stage Kaskade, 11:45 PM – 1:00 AM Ryan Raddon’s origins, which include a two-year mission in Japan for the Mormon Church, might sound more apropos for a country musician, but he’s become a top electronic performer worldwide (QRO photos at a festival).

Deorro, 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM Formerly TON!C, Mexican-American DJ Erick Orrosqueta comes to Life Is Beautiful under his new name, Deorro.

Tycho, 9:35 PM – 10:25 PM Ambient electronics comes back to Life Is Beautiful in the form of Scott Hansen (QRO photos at a festival), a.k.a. Tycho (QRO photos), who is touring (QRO photos) off of last year’s acclaimed Epoch, his follow-up to 2014’s Awake (QRO review).

Goldroom, 8:15 PM – 9:05 PM Electronic musician Josh Legg, a.k.a. Goldroom (QRO photos), comes to Life Is Beautiful behind last year’s debut studio album, West of the West.

Classixx, 6:50 PM – 7:50 PM Los Angeles DJ duo Michael David & Tyler Blake (QRO photos at a festival) – a.k.a. Classixx (QRO photos at a festival) – come to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos).

Also: Ekali, 5:35 PM – 6:35 PM Whethan, 4:35 PM – 5:35 PM Wingtip, 3:40 PM – 4:30 PM Bethany Mota, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Toyota Music Den Local Natives, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Broods, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Ella Vos, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Sofi Tukker (DJ set), 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Classixx (DJ set), 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th

Downtown Stage Gorillaz, 11:20 PM – 12:55 AM Once upon a time, Damon Albarn (QRO solo album review) was only known as the singer for nineties Britpop greats Blur (QRO album review). Then came the new century/millennium – and Gorillaz. His team-up with artist Jamie Hewlett fashioned the first ‘virtual band’ – cartoon-esque characters that made up the band, with their own identities, and no relation to any actual musical contributors, as Albarn recruited guest start after guest star. After 2010’s The Fall (QRO review), Albarn & Hewlett had a falling out, and Gorillaz seemed done. But this year the band has returned in force with the strong Humanz (QRO review), with a new slew of guest stars. Life Is Beautiful headlining set is one of the few U.S. shows by Gorillaz, so expect guest stars – along with animated likes of Murdoc, Noodle, 2-D, and Russel.

The xx, 9:20 PM – 10:30 PM Almost overnight, south London’s The xx (QRO photos) went from little known to massive acclaim. Even before debut record xx (QRO review) actually came out, the dark, post-punk revival act was garnering lots of attention (QRO photos at a festival). They quickly jumped from opening (QRO live review) to headlining, as they were overshadowing the headliners. They also saw Baria Qureshi depart (QRO photos with her), leaving them a three-piece (QRO photos at a festival): Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith (who’s become famed DJ in his own right as Jamie xx – QRO photos at a festival). Certainly subdued, they are much better suited for nighttime (QRO photos at a festival) than at chattering rock clubs (QRO video), but have found a way to make it work outdoors (QRO live review outdoors) and at festivals far and wide (QRO photos at a festival). The group (QRO photos) comes to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival) behind this year’s I See You (QRO review) and big tour (QRO live review of U.K. tour kick-off), following 2012’s Coexist (QRO review).

ZHU, 7:35 PM – 8:35 PM Electronic producer/musician Steve Zhu managed to stay anonymous until two years ago, but has blown up as ZHU. He comes back to Life Is Beautiful for a second year in a row, after last year’s release of his debut album, Generationwhy.

De La Soul, 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM Since 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul (QRO photos) have masterfully mixed hip-hop with genres from jazz to alternative and remained a critical favorite (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: PVRIS, 3:30 PM – 4:10 PM – QRO photos

Ambassador Stage MGMT, 11:00 PM – 12:10 AM All of a sudden, Wesleyan University gave birth to a bunch of indie acts, but none blew up like MGMT (QRO live review). Songs like “Electric Feel” (QRO video) and “Time To Pretend” (QRO video) launched 2007’s Oracular Spectacular in the stratosphere. The follow-up was bound to bring them more back down to earth, and Congratulations (QRO review) is a classic over-ambitious sophomore release, with third, self-titled record full-on weird. There was a big break after MGMT, but this year (QRO photos at a ’17 festival) they’re coming back with Little Dark Age. The two-man psych-rock band of Ben Goldwasser & Andrew Van Wyngarden (QRO photos outdoors) is more than prepared to blow minds outdoors when they come to play Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos at a festival).

HAIM, 9:25 PM – 10:25 PM Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, along with drummer Dash Hutton (QRO photos at a festival), only started putting out music in 2013, but have already been turning heads (QRO photos), thanks to great single “Don’t Save Me” and debut full-length, Days Are Gone (QRO review). They come to back to Life Is Beautiful (QRO photos) after the release of follow-up Something To Tell You (QRO review) and getting numerous high-profile fans – and even playing the legendary after-party for the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary with Prince!

Pusha T, 8:05 PM – 8:55 PM Pusha T (QRO photos at a festival) began as one-half of Clipse with his brother No Malice, but has since headed out on his own, signing to Kanye’s GOOD Music and releasing his debut My Name Is My Name in 2013.

Mura Masa, 6:45 PM – 7:35 PM Out of Britain’s Channel Islands comes producer/multi-instrumentalist Alexander Crossan, a.k.a. Mura Masa (QRO photos at a festival).

Also: Hippo Campus, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM – QRO photos at a festival Middle Kids, 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM SG Lewis, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Huntridge Stage Vince Staples, 10:30 PM – 11:15 PM Life Is Beautiful got a choice lyricist in Vince Staples (QRO photos at a festival). The Long Beach native first came up with others, such as in the group Cutthroat Boyz and in association with Odd Future (QRO live review), but has since made a name all his own (QRO photos at a festival), including an appearance on The Daily Show (QRO Music on Late Night TV).

Dua Lipa, 8:35 PM – 9:15 PM English singer Dua Lipa (QRO photos at a festival) started out by covering other people on YouTube, but was quickly snapped up by Warner Brothers for this year’s self-titled debut album and #1 single “New Rules”.

Kali Uchis, 6:50 PM – 7:30 PM Karly Loaiza, a.k.a. Kali Uchis, got notice for working with Snoop Dogg, but has since graduated to her first ever headlining tour this year, coming to Life Is Beautiful.

Frenship, 5:15 PM – 5:55 PM Electropop duo Frenship (QRO photos) bring all their fr(i)en(d)s with them to Life Is Beautiful.

Mondo Cozmo, 4:10 PM – 4:50 PM This festival season, one of the most ubiquitous performers has been Josh Ostrander, a.k.a. Mondo Cozmo (QRO photos at a 2017 festival). He’d previously run in acts Laguardia and Eastern Conference Champions, but now is operating solo (QRO photos). Also: Cameron Calloway, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Fremont Stage Tchami, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM Returning to Life Is Beautiful for the second time in three years, French producer & DJ Tchami is a pioneer in the future house genre.

Pretty Lights, 10:30 PM – 11:45 PM Colorado-based producer Derek Vincent Smith (QRO photos at a festival) puts some energy behind his electronic work as Pretty Lights (QRO photos at a festival). While his most recent full-length is still 2013’s A Color Map of the Sun, where he used only self-created samples, he’s put out a slew of singles. He comes to Life Is Beautiful for a second time.

TroyBoi, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM Mad Decent artist TroyBoi comes to Life Is Beautiful.

Big Wild, 7:50 PM – 8:50 PM After a trip to Big Sur in California, Boston DJ Jackson Stell became Big Wild.

Also: Kyle, 6:40 PM – 7:40 PM Tokimonsta, 5:35 PM – 6:35 PM Tennyson, 4:35 PM – 5:25 PM Bearson, 3:35 PM – 4:45 PM Rachel Platten, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM – QRO photos

Toyota Music Den Mondo Cozmo, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Middle Kids, 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Tycho (DJ set), 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Frenship, 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Hippo Campus, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Comedy House Jozalyn Sharp; Donnie Johnson; Sam Tallent; Bobby Status; Joe Caliz; Matt Markman and Brandon “Gooch” Hahn, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM