Courtesy Sand Dollar Downtown
Billy F. Gibbons rocks the Sand Dollar Downtown on May 26.
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 | 2 a.m.
While the Strip entertainment scene was abuzz with the grand opening performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “Mad Apple” at New York-New York on May 26, Downtown entertainment was being lifted to new heights. A private celebration marking the opening of the Sand Dollar Downtown at the Plaza on the same night last week was highlighted by surprise performances by Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top and John Popper of Blues Traveler, who joined local faves Franky Perez, Chris Tofield and others to christen the new stage. An expanded version of the legendary Sand Dollar Lounge on Spring Mountain Road, the Plaza spot offers nightly entertainment to go with craft cocktails, pizza and pool.
And if you didn’t already know, that “Mad Apple” party was quite the shindig, attracting plenty of celebs along with Vegas showbiz folks eager to get a look at the fast-paced new production. One half of the Silk Sonic residency at Dolby Live, Anderson .Paak, was in attendance, as were Vegas Golden Knights favorites Reilly Smith, Deryk Engelland and Shea Theodore. It would be impossible to name all the Vegas stars in attendance, just as it was impossible to miss the cast of “Fantasy” at Luxor cheering along in the front row. Check out this week’s issue of Las Vegas Weekly on Thursday for first impressions of “Mad Apple,” and come on back to LasVegasSun.com next week for some analysis explaining why this show is different and special.
As reported last week, Aerosmith’s residency comeback at Park MGM’s Dolby Live has been delayed. June and July concerts have been cancelled as frontman Steven Tyler has entered a drug treatment program after relapsing following foot surgery. The next Las Vegas Strip date on the band’s calendar is September 14, and Aerosmith has maintained tour dates that month in the northeast. Dolby Live will be occupied this weekend by the Jonas Brothers (June 3-11) before Usher begins the next iteration of his Vegas show on July 15.
Two new concert events already announced this week in Las Vegas: Texas-born singer and songwriter Koe Wetzel will return to the Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on August 20; And comedian Deon Cole will make a tour stop at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on September 2.
Tribute artists Sally Olson and Ned Mills will launch a new version of their “Carpenters Legacy” show at the Mint, the can’t-miss bar and lounge on Sahara Avenue just west of the Strip, on June 21. Billed as “the world’s only authentic Carpenters tribute in sight and sound,” the performance will take place in the Mint's 90-seat showroom and aims to re-create the 1976 United Kingdom tour that spread the timeless music of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter around the world. “Legacy” hits the Mint at 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and tickets and info are available at carpenterslegacy.com.
