Life certainly became beautiful this year for ‘Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival’ in Downtown Las Vegas. Positive vibes filled the air while the energy was electric, as all the senses were transfixed by the music, art, ideas and tastes. The three-day adventure kicked off with Life is Beautiful creators meeting with Mayor Goodman and Yellow Bird from Mystère by Cirque du Soleil® at the neon Life is Beautiful playground to celebrate the fourth year of the festival in Downtown Las Vegas.
Located in the Northwest corridor of the festival grid, the Downtown Stage was the go-to spot to witness the major headliners of the evening. Set against the skyline of Downtown Las Vegas, guests enjoyed remarkable sets by Bloc Party, Tegan & Sara, The Shins – for their only U.S. tour date – and Mumford & Sons. Those looking for an electric experience found exactly that at the Troubadour Stage with performances by fan favorites including Galantis and Zhu. Organized by Insomniac, this stage features more than 10 lasers, 200 lighting fixtures and 590 video tiles hanging from the towering ceiling. The Troubadour Stage pulsed with light and dance music, allowing guests to get lost in a sea of whimsy and bass.
Music and art isn’t all Life is Beautiful has to offer. One of the most invigorating pillars of the festival is the IDEAS Series, showcasing great thinkers and stimulating the minds of festival-goers. Two of the stand-out speakers today were Stacey London and Shepard Fairey. Best known for the hit series What Not to Wear, London is one of America’s foremost fashion experts and she took the stage sharing her experiences and wisdom with the crowd, not to mention her sass and style. Founder of the OBEY GIANT art campaign, Fairey shared his innovations in changing the way people see art in the urban landscape.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 23: Recording artist G-Eazy performs on Ambassador Stage during day 1 of the 2016 Life Is Beautiful festival on September 23, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)
One of the biggest draws of today was an inspirational talk during the IDEAS Series. RuPaul Charles, television personality, author, model, drag queen and executive producer of Logo’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” took the stage to roars of cheers from thousands of festival-goers. He shared his story of transformation, inspiring audience members to examine and transform their own lives. His talk encompassed what Life is Beautiful is about: people coming together to learn, grow and love one another.This year’s festival footprint brings out the kid in each and every one of us.
