VEGAS MUSIC ROUNDUP: Over/Underwood on Celine Slot at Resorts World, New Downtown Music Festival Says FU to F1

Carrie Underwood’s “Reflection” residency returns to the Resorts World Theatre next spring. Six new dates – March 26, 28, 29, and April 2, 4, and 5 — go on sale at 5 a.m. PT Friday, August 2 at AXS.com.

While this is certainly good news for Underwood fans, it’s much more newsworthy for suggesting bookends for a possible Celine Dion residency at the same theater. The last “Reflection” date before next spring will be October 26.

This would give the “My Heart Will Go On” singer — who wowed the world at the Olympics’ opening ceremonies last Friday — five months to squeeze in what has already been reported as a mini-residency planned for either late 2024 or early 2025.

Dion and Underwood were among the original Resorts World headliners scheduled when the casino resort opened in 2021 — along with Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

Dion’s opening engagement was canceled, of course, at which time the Las Vegas icon announced her struggle with the rare neurological condition known as Stiff Person Syndrome.

Music to Get Downtown Back Up

Downtown Las Vegas plans to mount a free annual music festival as alternative programming to the F1 Grand Prix starting this year. The hope is to draw the overflow of tourists in town either without race tickets or without an interest in European motorsports whatsoever.

The Neon City Festival, an idea hatched by Circa Resort & Casino owner Derek Stevens, intends to take over several downtown blocks much in the manner that Life is Beautiful used to. That’s before its new owners downgraded it to “A Big Beautiful Block Party” scheduled to perform in a parking lot behind the Plaza Hotel on September 27-28.

Neon City’s dates will be November 22-24. Though no acts have been confirmed yet, they’re expected to perform on stages in the Arts District, at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, and on Fremont and 3rd streets.

Pretty Lights, the alter ego of electronic music producer Derek Vincent Smith, has scheduled two nights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (October 25 and 26). This will be the collective’s first Las Vegas performance since 2017. An artist presale is already underway, with a public onsale beginning at 10 a.m. PT August 1 via prettylightsmusic.com.

Jam band Widespread Panic canceled its third annual weekend run at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, from September 20-22, due to guitarist Jimmy Herring’s treatment for Stage 1 tonsil cancer. Refunds will automatically be issued from the point of purchase. Ticketholders don’t need to do anything to secure a refund.

Nelly Furtado told Britain’s NME she wants to perform a Las Vegas residency with Timbaland. It would focus on the “I’m Like A Bird” singer’s “Loose” album, which topped the charts in 10 countries upon its 2006 release.