Latest news with #Sphere
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This U.S. party destination was just ranked the best city in the world for a night out
Nothing beats a night out. Whether you're exploring a rooftop nightclub in a city you're visiting or in your hometown catching up with friends for a drink at the latest neighborhood hot spot, a night out is something we all look forward to. Every city has its own unique energy, but we wanted to know what was the best city in the world for nightlife—from moderately mild to extremely wild. To find out, Time Out surveyed thousands of people in places all over the globe to learn what they love (and in some cases loathe) most about the nightlife scene in their cities. We asked locals to rate their city's nightlife based on the quality and diversity of venues and activities (including options not limited to bars or nightclubs), as well as affordability, and then crunched the numbers to complete our list. And after tallying the results, the winner is… Las Vegas. Yes, America's ultimate party spot topped our rankings with 89 percent of respondents rating the nightlife scene in Las Vegas as 'good' or 'amazing,' the highest percentage among cities the world over. Las Vegas found its way to the top because it delivers what many cities can't: Big, over-the-top experiences that include star residencies on the neon Strip in show-stealing venues like Sphere, huge nightclubs featuring the world's top DJs, immersive art museums and places where bartenders will serve you a drink that's lit on fire when it arrives. But what's most exciting about Las Vegas right now is the re-emergence of the city's Arts District. Although a not-so-hidden secret for years, the neighborhood has seen an astonishing number of new cocktail lounges pop up this year adding to the reason why locals are so stoked about their city right now. Right behind Las Vegas in our rankings of the best cities in the world for nightlife are Madrid and Paris at two and three respectively. Vegas was the only American city to land on the list, but stay tuned for our U.S.-specific ranking later this week. In the meantime, make sure to brush up on all of the best cities for nightlife on the planet —and find out how each spot claimed its place.
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Europe's hottest event music platform expands across the Middle East
Their bands have also featured at Expo 2020 Dubai and the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | No Credit A UK-based startup that's revolutionised live music bookings across Europe and beyond is now setting its sights on the Middle East's booming events industry. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... FixTheMusic, a free-to-use online platform that connects event planners with top-tier bands, DJs, and musicians, has officially launched a regional hub in Dubai - marking a major expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and neighbouring destinations like Jordan and Egypt. And with the region's appetite for luxury weddings, high-end corporate galas, and unforgettable private parties at an all-time high, the timing couldn't be better. Adam Southall, Co-Founder of FixTheMusic, said: 'Since 2015 we've helped thousands of couples and corporate planners book outstanding live music in more than 60 countries. 'The GCC's vibrant events scene is a natural next step for us. 'By formalising our Middle East operations, we can get outstanding artists on stage at the region's most spectacular venues with less friction and more creative choice.' FixTheMusic's artists already have a proven track record across the Gulf and wider Middle East. Most notably, performing at five‑star hotels, beach resorts and landmark venues throughout the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Their bands have also featured at Expo 2020 Dubai, the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Dubai International Boat Show and other marquee GCC events. From luxury ballrooms and desert palaces to private‑island resorts and city‑skyline rooftops, the platform is trusted by the region's leading properties. This includes Four Seasons, Ritz‑Carlton, Jumeirah, Kempinski and more, to perform at weddings, corporate galas and private celebrations of every scale. The expansion comes as governments across the Gulf are using mega‑events, venue investments and streamlined licensing to diversify their economies and meet the region's huge appetite for live performance. Dubai alone supported more than 460 exhibitions, concerts and festivals in 2024. While Abu Dhabi is co‑funding a 20,000‑capacity Sphere venue to complement its Formula 1 and Yas Island concert calendar. Qatar is still riding the wave of The FIFA World Cup 2022 which drew over 1 million visitors and 1.8 million fan‑zone attendees - and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reforms saw the General Entertainment Authority issue 1,673 live‑entertainment licences, illustrating explosive audience growth. Together these initiatives create a region‑wide ecosystem of new venues, supportive regulation and international audiences; ideal conditions for FixTheMusic's curated artists to thrive. With a dedicated operations base in Dubai, the brand can now coordinate artist logistics across borders, smoothing the process for planners handling multi-destination celebrations or corporate roadshows. Whether it's a solo violinist for an engagement at the Burj Al Arab, or a 10-piece showband for a mega wedding in Doha, the platform promises seamless booking, secure payment, and a carefully vetted pool of global and local talent. And unlike traditional talent agencies, FixTheMusic puts planners in direct contact with performers - cutting out hidden fees and delays. The company is already working with a who's who of tech giants, global brands, and event agencies, many of whom have longstanding relationships with FixTheMusic in Europe and the U.S. Now, those relationships are expanding across the Middle East. About FixTheMusic Founded in 2015 by musician brothers Ed and Adam Southall, FixTheMusic makes it fast, transparent and secure to discover, compare and book world-class live entertainment for weddings, private parties, corporate events and charity galas worldwide.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Was This the Geekiest Concert of All Time?
When the hamburger-shaped spaceship with the word 'Millennium' on the back lowered down above me, I figured I was in for something special. What I didn't expect was that, for the next two hours, the 'Millennium…' let's call it 'Falcon,' would fly through an asteroid field before docking on a planet with light cycles and noir landscapes, as lines of code dropped down like rain and huge cylindrical gates of stars swirled around. But that's what happened, and, I must say, it was phenomenal. Last weekend, the iconic boy band Backstreet Boys started a short run of shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's that huge dome you've certainly seen on social media that houses its own unique Darren Aronofsky film, will soon reimagine The Wizard of Oz, and has played host to mega bands like U2, Dead & Company, Phish, and the Eagles. Backstreet Boys are the first pop group to play the venue, though, and when the dates were announced earlier this year, my wife, her best friend, and I knew we had to be there. Fast forward through months of waiting, miles traveled, and dollars spent, and we finally arrived at the Sphere for the show. We were there for night two of the multi-week run, so we implemented a strict 24-hour social media blackout to avoid being spoiled by videos and clips from the first night. That was mostly successful, so, as we entered the venue, we had no idea what to expect. Okay, we had a little bit of an idea. Backstreet's Sphere performances celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album Millennium, which, even if you aren't a fan of the band, you almost certainly know. It was one of the biggest albums in history, with singles such as 'Larger Than Life' and 'I Want It That Way.' That, coupled with the fact we've seen Backstreet at venues all across Los Angeles and Las Vegas over the past decade, gave us a bit of an idea what to expect. But once the countdown clock clicked to zero, things were taken to a whole other level. View this post on InstagramAs you sit waiting for the show to start, you're in this huge pseudo-laboratory. It's dominated by a massive, phallic structure in the middle, which seems to serve no purpose. But, when the show starts, we learn this structure is basically a mega telescope that lets us rocket into space. It's here we encounter the 'Millennium Falcon,' fly around the asteroid, and we're off to the races. What's hard to even describe in words is the feeling of watching all this happen. This was my first time ever at the Sphere, and it's unlike anything I've seen before. It's a completely immersive experience that stretches beyond what your eye can see. So, as long as you don't turn completely around, you feel like the band is performing in a different place from where you're sitting. Places that change in wild, imaginative, colorful ways throughout the show. And, more often than not, those visuals are sci-fi influenced. So, for the show's opener, 'Larger Than Life,' we get those 'Millennium Falcon' scenes that mirror Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. A little later, 'More Than That' takes us through a space station filled with red roses and silver beings, almost like Silver Surfer visits The Hunger Games. The song 'Siberia' takes the group to a snow planet (Hoth?) where huge statues of their faces (almost like the Donner Superman) are carved into mountains. And, up until this point, I felt like maybe I was imagining all the nerdiness. But then Backstreet did 'Get Another Boyfriend.' During that song, two-wheeled vehicles that aren't quite like lightcycles, but very darn close, blaze through a shiny, tech-inspired landscape. It's kind of like the Grid from Tron, until the camera pans up. That's when we see, way up in the sky, it's actually a smoky, dark, neo-noir skyline. Immediately I said, 'Tron meets Blade Runner.' It's both obvious and, frankly, awesome. Songs that follow had monoliths very reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, a huge, dare I say, world of water, and a clearly Tetris-inspired scene during 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).' At this point, a few of these connections were stretches, but others weren't, and after flying through an underwater oasis during 'Shape of My Heart' and the stage literally leaving the ground to simulate a spaceship during 'I Want It That Way,' the final three songs of the night locked everything in. 'We've Got it Going On' has the group singing in a sunburned, post-apocalyptic landscape that, at its center, houses multiple rings quickly circling a large ball of light. It looked like Stargate and the machine in Contact rolled into one. That went into 'The Call,' which was literally just The Matrix. No hiding it. Code drops from the top of the Sphere all the way down just like in the movies. It couldn't be clearer. Finally, for the last song of the night, the group did 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back).' 'Everybody' is probably Backstreet's most famous song and already had a super geeky monster music video when it was released in 1997. Later, it also made an appearance in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's 2013 meta-comedy This Is the End. So there was already some strong pop culture grounding. Here, though, this version wasn't filled with monsters or angels. It was, again, a huge sci-fi landscape filled with dancing robots that all looked like Star Wars Battle Droids wearing Mandalorian helmets. Now, was I merely reading this into the show? Was I projecting my love of these movies onto the performance? At some points, most definitely, and honestly I'm fine with it. As the 'Millennium Falcon' brought us back to the original laboratory, marking the end of the evening, I sat there in disbelief. I'd just witnessed not just a super fun, energetic pop show in arguably the most incredible, immersive venue in the entire world, but I had also been taken on a trip through worlds clearly inspired by, and sometimes directly based on, some of my favorite movies ever. Talk about a magical night I'll never forget. Backstreet Boys' 'Into the Millennium' tour at the Sphere in Las Vegas runs during the weekends through the end of August. Then, there's a possibility it could come back in 2026. If it does, I'm going again. Without a doubt. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Zac Brown Band announces four shows at the Sphere in 'dream come true' experience
Ooh, Las Vegas: The Zac Brown Band is set to bring their southern twang to the Las Vegas Sphere. According to their website, the band will play four shows across two weekends in December at the venue. The first performance is scheduled for Dec. 5, the same day they plan to release their eighth album, 'Love & Fear.' 'Bringing our new album Love & Fear to Sphere Las Vegas is a dream come true,' Zac Brown wrote on the group's Instagram on Monday. 'It's my masterpiece so far.' The group began the rollout for their new album on June 6 with the lead single 'I Ain't Worried About It.' On July 18, they'll release 'Let it Run,' featuring Snoop Dogg. Additional album features include Marcus King and Dolly Parton. 'This show is the story of my life that I have never shared, a journey through my imagination, music and stories that have defined who I am,' the Instagram post continued. 'All of this brought to life in the incredible immersive environment of Sphere.' Tickets for the Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 shows will go on sale at 10 a.m. July 25, with an exclusive presale for the band's 'Zamily' members going live on Monday at the same time. Though 'Love & Fear' will surely take the spotlight, fans can almost certainly expect the usual hits, including multi-platinum hits like 'Knee Deep' and 'Chicken Fried,' at the Sphere. 'It will be a unique experience where you can really feel every note, every word, right there with us. We can't wait to share it with the fans,' Brown added. The Zac Brown Band's quartet of Vegas shows marks the second country act at the Sphere, coming just six months after Kenny Chesney wrapped up a 15-show residency on June 21. The band and Chesney previously collaborated on a live version of 'Everybody Goes to Heaven,' and the Zac Brown Band made a guest appearance during Chesney's 'Sun Goes Down' tour in 2024.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor ‘whispered' UFC comeback details and his future fighting plans
Conor McGregor is gearing up for his long-awaited UFC comeback after revealing to his BKFC business partner David Feldman that he's rejoined the sport's drug testing programme. The Irish fighter - who's been making waves in the headlines this week - has been away from the MMA organisation for four years, with his most recent clash ending in July 2021 when he suffered a TKO defeat (doctor stoppage) during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Although the 37-year-old was scheduled to stage his return last year in a showdown with Michael Chandler, he pulled out of the bout after breaking his toe. Talk of McGregor's potential comeback became increasingly rare, leaving supporters concerned they might have witnessed the final appearance of the 'Notorious' fighter inside the UFC octagon. Nevertheless, US president Donald Trump's announcement regarding plans for a landmark UFC event to be held at the White House during America's Semiquincentennial celebration next July has apparently sparked McGregor's eagerness to secure his place on the card. Feldman has subsequently disclosed that his BKFC co-owner had shared his UFC aspirations with him privately. During an appearance on the Ariel X Ade show, he revealed: "He's got two fights left on his contract, and he's got to get right," reports Dublin Live. Conor McGregor is aiming to return to MMA next year to compete at the White House (Image: AP) "The whole world's waiting, is he going to get in shape and fight? And he told me in person, he whispered in my ear. 'I'm in the testing pool, I'm getting ready to make my comeback. "'I'm going to fight on that [White House] card, then I'm going to have another fight, and then we can talk.' That's what he said [to Feldman]." McGregor has since officially announced his return to the drug testing pool in a chat with MMA journalist, The Schmo, confirming: "They're testing me. "I'm in the pool. That's what pools are for - jumping in and out. But I'm back in the pool. So get ready and stay ready, because damage will be done." With McGregor hinting at a comeback to MMA, the list of potential rivals is an exciting prospect for any combat sports fan, with names like Paddy Pimblett, Ilia Topuria, and Islam Makhachev on the table. The 37-year-old has not featured in a UFC fight for over four years (Image: Photo by) The buzz around the event has even tempted Jon Jones to consider coming out of his recent retirement, despite having left the sport only weeks prior and after much speculation about a heavyweight mega-fight with Tom Aspinall. Jones has teased fans by saying: "I can't promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I'll be on that card." Dana White, UFC CEO, has promised a card so special that it'll triumph what he achieved at UFC 306, which was held at the Las Vegas Sphere. He claimed: "Like when we did the Sphere. It's the Sphere on steroids. It's gonna be a one-of-one event. There'll be nothing like it ever again. I'm going to make this one of the greatest events of all time. It will be a full card, and it will be the best card we've ever done to date."
