This past weekend (Sept 17-19) music’s finest descended to the bright lights of Las Vegas for Life is Beautiful. Nestled in the city’s Downtown, the festival has been shaking the streets of the neon capital since 2013, and returned this year after taking a pandemic-induced break last summer.
With four stages sprawling over multiple blocks, punters could witness everyone from upcoming Brooklyn DJ Yaeji and rising star Ashnikko to commanding victory laps from the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish. The latter used her set to give a handful of tracks from recent album ‘Happier Than Ever’ their first ever live airings.
Here’s what went down at Life is Beautiful, in stunning pictures.
All photographs: Jenn Five/NME
1Californian funk-popper Remi Wolf kicks things off
Credit: Jenn Five
2Along with bangers like ‘Slumber Party’ and ‘Daisy’, Ashnikko packs a pair of knee-pads for her most full-on choreo moments
Credit: Jenn Five
3Next up – Willow Smith rocks out
Credit: Jenn Five
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4Glass Animals bring the peanut butter jelly vibes to Las Vegas
Credit: Jenn Five
5Megan Thee Stallion leads the charge on Friday night
Credit: Jenn Five
6It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life – and Brooklyn’s Yaeji leaves Downtown feeling good on Saturday evening
Credit: Jenn Five
7Before long, the clock strikes Haim time
Credit: Jenn Five
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8It’s the band’s first festival set in well over a year, and Alana is delighted
Credit: Jenn Five
9Ludacris leads the party over at the Bacardi stage
Credit: Jenn Five
10Bills, bills, bills – pop-punkers Greenday headline Saturday night
Credit: Jenn Five
11Canadian duo Death From Above 1979 bring their dance-punk to Life is Beautiful on Sunday
Credit: Jenn Five
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12Daddy’s home! St. Vincent serves up her bourbon-soaked new record for the Downtown stage
Credit: Jenn Five
13The career-spanning setlist also includes ‘Cheerleader’, ‘Digital Witness’ and live favourite ‘Marrow’
Credit: Jenn Five
14Young Thug joins Lorde, Kanye West and Kid Cudi in the small but flourishing club of ‘artists performing in glass boxes’ – and adds fire to the equation
Credit: Jenn Five
15The Atlantan rapper plays the likes of ‘Go Crazy’, ‘Ski’ and recent Drake collab ‘Way 2 Sexy’
Credit: Jenn Five
16Closing out the festival is left to none other than Billie Eilish
Credit: Jenn Five
17The singer brings hits galore – and some impressive pose-striking – to the Downtown Stage
Credit: Jenn Five
18It’s a special Sunday headline set, too, marking Eilish’s first festival show in over a year
Credit: Jenn Five
19To mark the occasion, a handful of ‘Happier Than Ever’ tracks get their first ever live airing…
Credit: Jenn Five
20… with ‘NDA’ ‘I Didn’t Change My Number’ and ‘Therefore I Am’ all getting their stage debut
Credit: Jenn Five