Life is Beautiful may find a new home downtown in the near future.
Insiders familiar with the festival’s intentions suggest that Rolling Stone, the owner of LiB, is considering hosting the event at the Plaza later this year. While not yet officially confirmed, preliminary plans point towards a two- or three-day festival potentially starting as early as the final weekend of September, with specific dates and duration yet to be disclosed.
Jonathan Jossel, the CEO of Plaza, chose not to provide any comments on the matter when approached on Sunday morning.
The revamped Life is Beautiful would utilize all of the Plaza’s outdoor space, which encompasses approximately 20 acres, including the surface parking, adjacent garage, Core Arena, and the area previously occupied by the Greyhound bus station. It is rumored that the venue could accommodate up to 30,000 festival attendees.
Additionally, the hotel features a traditionally designed showroom where LiB has previously organized comedy shows and discussion sessions in more intimate settings during past editions. While the extensive food offerings have been a hallmark of the LiB experience, it remains uncertain if the upcoming event will showcase culinary delights or a significant art exhibition. Nevertheless, a large-scale outdoor music festival seems to be on the cards.
The Plaza has cultivated an artistic identity in downtown Las Vegas through the installation of murals by contemporary artist Shepard Fairey. The iconic hotel-casino, aged 53 years, has redefined its image in recent years by incorporating Fairey’s artwork, introducing the popular Carousal Bar, partnering with Pinkbox Doughnuts, and developing a set of outdoor pickleball courts.
Notably, the hotel served as the backdrop for the filming of U2’s “Atomic City” music video in September.
This potential relocation is viewed as Life is Beautiful’s final opportunity to showcase its magic downtown. While alternative venues like the Las Vegas Festival Grounds have been suggested as potential locations for the festival over the years, the Plaza seems to be the preferred choice at this juncture.
Life is Beautiful was established in 2013 through a collaboration with Tony Hsieh and San Francisco promoter Another Planet. In February 2022, Rolling Stone, a subsidiary of Penske Media, acquired a controlling stake in the festival. The upcoming event in 2024 marks the first edition where Rolling Stone holds sole ownership.
Traditionally, the festival has been held across 18 blocks in downtown Las Vegas, commemorating its 10th anniversary this past September. The lineup featured renowned acts such as The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, ODESZA, and Flume, alongside Khalid, The 1975, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Omar Apollo, and Kim Petras. The event also included performances by artists from Cirque du Soleil, as well as casts from Blue Man Group, Jabbawockeez, and Magic Mike Live, with headliners like Piff the Magic Dragon and Tape Face.
John Katsilometes’ column appears daily in the A section. You can find his “PodKats!” podcast [ppp1]. For more updates, follow him on X and Instagram.