Free concert series coming to downtown Las Vegas in April
Fremont Street Experience is adding more free shows to its block party. Or, its six-block party, in this case.
The concert series “Free April Fridays” premieres April 5 with the “Pop 2000 Tour,” hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of ’N Sync with O-Town, BBMAK, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. On April 12 it’s Alien Ant Farm and The Ataris, April 19 The Sugarhill Gang and Tag Team, and April 26 Lit.
The series is designed to create momentum for FSE’s long-running Downtown Rocks free-concert series, which opens Memorial Day Weekend.
The FSE free-concert performances have proved a consistently popular draw under the Viva Vision canopy. Saturday, NASCAR fans packed the street for its free annual RaceJam concert, headlined by country music star Dylan Scott.
Prior to the “Free April Fridays” series, FSE hosts its “ShamROCK Bash” from March 14-17. This is 137 hours of free, live performances from such Irish bands as The Arcana Kings, The Black Donnelly’s, Craic in the Stone, and also a performance by Celtic dancers. Go to www.vegasexperience.com for all FSE intel.
Who Was Where
Penn Jillette, celebrating his 69th birthday Tuesday with his daughter and rising-star magician, Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette at Piff the Magic Dragon’s show at Flamingo Showroom. The crew posed with Piff, Showgirl Jade Simone and canine co-star Mr. Piffles.
Jillette has occasionally portrayed Pops the Magic Dragon, Piff’s quasi-estranged father. Twice I have seen Jillette giddy in the 20-plus years I’ve known him: After seeing Bob Dylan’s show at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan on Oct. 13, 2017, the day Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. And, as he has played Pops. He loves that character, and the satin suit.
What Works in Vegas …
Banachek at The Strat Theater. The “Mind Games” mentalists notches his 600th show at the venue on Thursday. Enjoy him in his current 5 p.m. slot, as he might be moving earlier, pending other activity in that venue (though everyone, including Duggie Scott Walker, is totally tight-lipped about this).
Banachek is great for the whole family. My 10-year-old nephew, Austin, still brandishes the fork he bent on stage with the headliner.
Might we recommend …
“The Conjurors — Cabin of Wonders” at The Venue at the Orleans. The engaging (and engaged) magicians Matthew Pomeroy and Natasha Lamb are wonderful to spend time with, fresh faces from the U.K. who also show a good deal of stage experience. The duo are still in the blush of their recent move to Vegas, on the pink cloud and wide-eyed at the reality of living here. They took in Luenell’s return to Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club on Sunday night, and got a crash-course in grown up Las Vegas comedy. Luenell crushes it, too, packing the place in her first Vegas show of the year. Different vibes, but see both these shows; take the kids to the magic one.
Cool Hang Alert
“Carmen’s Love Brunch” starring Skye Dee Miles, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center. Take us to church, anytime, Skye. This show rocks, the noshes are tasty, and all this soul is good for the soul. Go to thecomposersroom.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
