Here’s the best music in Las Vegas this weekend

Forget gambling, Las Vegas is a music lovers’ town. It’s the kind of place where you can see shows that other cities only dream about, from watching A-list pop stars play by the pool to catching classic-rock legends perform intimate sets to seeing the caliber of EDM talent that entire festivals are built around. And then there’s the vibrant local scene. There are so many options here that you’ll drive yourself crazy just keeping track of what’s going on, much less trying to decide what to do. For the sake of your mental health, we’ve narrowed it down for you. Here’s the lowdown on the best music in Las Vegas this weekend.

FRIDAY

MUSIC IS BEAUTIFUL at VARIOUS VENUES DOWNTOWN

This Friday, don’t miss Music Is Beautiful, a night of music presented by First Friday Las Vegas and linked to the Life Is Beautiful festival this fall. On eight stages, more than two dozen local acts are set to perform, including Boiis, Brittany Rose, Brumby, Bukka, Cameron Dettman, Cameron Calloway, Daniel Park and the Rabbit Hole, among many others. Music Is Beautiful is free and there are shuttles running continuously between venues throughout the night. Visit firstfridaylasvegas.com for a full list of bands and venues.

MICHAEL GRIMM at VINYL AT HARD ROCK HOTEL

Michael Grimm has a story that’s well known by now: On the strength of his exceptional voice, the longtime Vegas resident and performer won “America’s Got Talent” in 2010 and gained a tremendous amount of exposure. Propelled by the TV turn and bolstered by an album produced by Don Was, Grimm seemed on his way to launching an admirable career. But the spark never ignited, even with some high-profile gigs, supporting a Stevie Nicks tour and a residency at the Flamingo. Grimm is back with a brand-new record, just in time to kick off his three-month residency at Vinyl this Friday, which gives him a chance to regain some of that earlier momentum. Grimm’s residency runs Fridays through Sundays, from now until Aug. 30. Tickets are $19.95-$39.95. (702-693-5000 ext. 6914)

RUSTY MAPLES at THE BUNKHOUSE

Friday night at The Bunkhouse (124 S. 11th St.) features an absolutely solid local lineup that includes Rusty Maples, When We Escape, Rafael Lemos and Reno’s Failure Machine. The show is $5 and starts at 10 p.m. (702-854-1414)

QUITTERS at THE DOUBLE DOWN

On Friday, the Quitters and the CG’s party with Redbush out of Laramie, Wyo. The show is at the Double Down (4640 Paradise Road), which means it will cost you a whopping total of absolutely no dough — well, not counting drinks, obviously. (702-791-5775)

BIPOLAR at BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS

Catch an all-local bill at Backstage Bar & Billiards (601 E. Fremont St.) featuring BiPolar, DiM., Wretched Sky, Providence Among Sheep and Fighting the Phoenix. Show starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $8. (702- 382-2227)

MOJO RISING / SWEET HOME ALABAMA at COUNT’S VAMP’D

Feeling wistful for that classic era when Jim Morrison and the Van Zant brothers ruled the radio? Good news, then, for you: On Friday at Count’s Vamp’d (6750 W. Sahara Ave.), Mojo Rising and Sweet Home Alabama pay tribute to the Doors and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The show’s free and starts at 9:30 p.m. (702-220-8849)..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

TONY MACALPINE at COUNT’S VAMP’D

Toward the tail end of the Reagan era, guitar gods roamed the Earth freely, wowing the world with monolithic riffs delivered with fleet fingers. Back then, Tony MacAlpine was a titan among titans, featured frequently in Guitar World alongside revered players such as Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen, among others. Three decades on, MacAlpine still has phenomenal chops. Should be absolute treat to see him shred live.

SATURDAY

PUBLIC ENEMY at THE JOINT AT HARD ROCK HOTEL

Few would argue that Public Enemy is vastly important to the rap game and even beyond. Just ask the legion of like-minded acts that followed, bands such as Rage Against the Machine and MCs such as Immortal Technique, Sole, Brother Ali and Killer Mike, whose collective output is undoubtedly inspired, at least in part, by PE, an act among the first brave pioneers to stake out the landscape, at a time when the climate was a lot less friendly to rappers in general, much less ones as outspoken as PE. The conviction of the crew is still affecting, particularly on tracks such as “Bring the Noise,” “By the Time I Get to Arizona” and “911 Is a Joke,” classic cuts that sound just as vital now. Catch Public Enemy with the Cult this Saturday at the Joint at the Hard Rock. Tickets are $39.50-$150 (702-693-5222)

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS at JUNEFEST at SUNSET STATION

OK, hands up: Who here remembers the words to “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” and can sing the whole thing by heart, a cappella even? Yep, that’s what we thought: Everybody. There’s a reason that tune’s played so often on classic-rock radio — because it’s a classic, duh! And so is “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Expect Jett, who’s aged gracefully and seems every bit as timeless as her tunes, to play those cuts and more at KKLZ’s annual Junefest this Saturday at Sunset Station, with Berlin, the Romantics and John Waite. Show starts at 4 p.m., and tickets are $34-$100. (800-745-3000)

GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION CD RELEASE at BACKSTAGE BAR & BILLIARDS

Guilty by Association is celebrating its latest release on Squidhat Records, “Coming Home,” the band’s third album, at Backstage Bar and Billiards (601 Fremont Street) with Battle Born, New Cold War and Sounds of Threat. The show starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $7 in advance, and $10 at the show.

RNR at THE BUNKHOUSE

On Saturday, The Bunkhouse (124 S. 11th St.) host another great local show featuring RNR, which is set to take the stage with the Lique and the Concrete Project from Cali; DJ Duwop Rose gets things started at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8. (702-854-1414)

DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! ALL WEEKEND

Feel like dancing this weekend? You’re in exactly the right place. The options are endless this weekend and the talent is truly stupifying, as usual. On Friday night, Diplo’s at Encore Beach Club, Calvin Harris is at Hakkasan (and Wet Republic on Saturday), Dillon Francis is at the Wynn’s Surrender Nightclub at Encore, Thomas Gold’s over at SLS Vegas’ Foxtail Pool, Danny Avila’s at SLS Vegas’ Life Nightclub (and Foxtail Pool on Saturday) and Taryn Manning — better known to you as Pennsatucky from “Orange Is the New Black” — steps behind the tables at Ditch Fridays Palm Pool & Dayclub. On Saturday, Tiesto’s at Hakkasan (and Wet Republic on Sunday), and Sunday, DJ Snake is at Encore Beach Club and Eva Shaw is at Hakkasan. Phew! Tired yet? You will be.

Read more from Dave Herrera in bestoflasvegas.com. Contact Dave at dherrera@reviewjournal.com