By Josh Bell
MGM Grand 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21-22, $68.25-$630 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
Last year, the iHeartRadio Music Festival brought together more huge names from more musical genres than any other festival around, all in the name of celebrating the iHeartRadio website and app, which offers music from more than 800 different radio stations across the United States. Some people may have thought that the event was a one-time-only launch party, but this year the festival returns with an equally impressive lineup, filled with the most high-profile artists in the music industry.
The festival crosses genres, so it ranges from elder statesmen of rock ’n’ roll (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) and influential alt-rock pioneers (Green Day, No Doubt) to country superstars (Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley), pop divas (Pink, Rihanna) and red-hot electronic dance music artists (Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia). And that just scratches the surface of the lineup.
One festival performer who crosses genres herself is singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, riding high on her massive new single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Swift is one of the biggest stars of country music, but her singles have also topped the pop and adult contemporary charts. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” expands on Swift’s pop approach with songwriting and producing contributions from pop guru Max Martin.
Opening for Swift will be twin-sister singer-songwriter duo Megan & Liz, YouTube sensations who won a contest to join the prestigious festival lineup. They’ll get the chance to rub elbows with the likes of Usher (pictured), Jason Aldean, Enrique Iglesias and Mary J. Blige (yeah, they’re all on the bill, too), and quite possibly some other surprise guests. They’re all part of the only festival that could do justice to the biggest radio juggernaut around.
