Reggae roots
Pop reggae outfit UB40 has just unleashed a new album that explores and reinvigorates some of the songs that defined their genre, and the band’s founding members Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue chose Las Vegas as the starting point for a U.S. tour to show off the new material. A Real Labour of Love was released in March and quickly became UB40’s highest charting album since the 1993 classic Promises and Lies. When the reunited group hits the stage for two nights at The Linq Promenade’s Brooklyn Bowl, July 27-28, expect to hear their biggest hits, like “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You” and “Red Red Wine,” as well as new tracks like “Here I Come” and “Hush Darling.”
Hot Summer Sounds
Nine-time Grammy nominee Dave Koz is back at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Las Vegas on July 28, but this time the jazz saxophone favorite is bringing all his friends. The Summer Horns tour is an all-star lineup showcasing the timeless tunes from June’s Summer Horns II: From A to Z album. Joining Koz on the record (he plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax) and at the show are Gerald Albright on alto sax, Richard Elliot on tenor sax, Rick Braun on trumpet and Aubrey Logan on trombone and vocals. The Smith Center is gonna swing like never before.
Quick Hits
Comedian Kevin Hart celebrated his birthday in Las Vegas the same weekend as his Irresponsible Tour performance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. After his stand-up gig, Hart hopped over to Drai’s Nightclub on the rooftop of The Cromwell and joined Trey Songz onstage throughout the night.
“Nitro Circus” motorcycle daredevil Travis Pastrana made history this month when he took over the Strip for three iconic stunts to pay homage to Evel Knievel on the History channel’s Evel Live. But Pastrana isn’t finished after jumping 52 crushed cars, 16 Greyhound buses and the Caesars Palace fountains. He’s just getting started. “Nitro Circus” is coming to the Strip full-time in 2019 at Bally’s Las Vegas, where the Jubilee Theater will be redesigned to accommodate the spectacular feats in the works. Tickets go on sale in October.
Chippendales The Show hit a mega-milestone at the Rio this month with its 7,000th performance in 16 years at the off-Strip property, an unrivaled streak of stamina. Up next: Celebrity gossip Perez Hilton guest stars from July 26 through Sept. 2.
Add another big one to the trophy case of Criss Angel. The Luxor headliner was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention in Grand Rapids, Mich. None other than the legendary Lance Burton presented the award, which has been presented to only two other “commercial” magicians: Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn.
Brock Radke is an award-winning entertainment reporter who has been covering the city since 2000, and interviews key movers and shakers on his All The Vegas podcast, available at allthevegas.com.
