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.
Here’s what went down at Life is Beautiful, in stunning pictures.
All photographs: Jenn Five/NME
1
Californian funk-popper Remi Wolf kicks things off
Credit: Jenn Five
2
Along with bangers like ‘Slumber Party’ and ‘Daisy’, Ashnikko packs a pair of knee-pads for her most full-on choreo moments
Credit: Jenn Five
3
Next up – Willow Smith rocks out
Credit: Jenn Five
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4
Glass Animals bring the peanut butter jelly vibes to Las Vegas
Credit: Jenn Five
5
Megan Thee Stallion leads the charge on Friday night
Credit: Jenn Five
6
It’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
7
Before long, the clock strikes Haim time
Credit: Jenn Five
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8
It’s the band’s first festival set in well over a year, and Alana is delighted
Credit: Jenn Five
9
Ludacris leads the party over at the Bacardi stage
Credit: Jenn Five
10
Bills, bills, bills – pop-punkers Greenday headline Saturday night
Credit: Jenn Five
11
Canadian duo Death From Above 1979 bring their dance-punk to Life is Beautiful on Sunday
Credit: Jenn Five
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12
Daddy’s home! St. Vincent serves up her bourbon-soaked new record for the Downtown stage
Credit: Jenn Five
13
The career-spanning setlist also includes ‘Cheerleader’, ‘Digital Witness’ and live favourite ‘Marrow’
Credit: Jenn Five
14
Young 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
15
The Atlantan rapper plays the likes of ‘Go Crazy’, ‘Ski’ and recent Drake collab ‘Way 2 Sexy’
Credit: Jenn Five
16
Closing out the festival is left to none other than Billie Eilish
Credit: Jenn Five
17
The singer brings hits galore – and some impressive pose-striking – to the Downtown Stage
Credit: Jenn Five
18
It’s a special Sunday headline set, too, marking Eilish’s first festival show in over a year
Credit: Jenn Five
19
To 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