First female headliner at the Sphere announced

Not Beyonce. Not Taylor Swift. Not Lady Gaga. And Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” does not count.

It’s Sara Landry.

Landry, a star in the electronic-music culture is set to be the first female ever to headline Sphere. The 31-year-old artist from Austin is booked on Oct. 17, the final weekend of Unity, the groundbreaking first partnership between electronic-music festival powerhouses Insomniac and Tomorrowland.

The festival opens Aug. 29 with Chase & Status, following with Kaskade on Aug. 30 and Eli Brown on Aug. 31 (go to unityxsphere.com for tickets and info).

Landry is to headline Unity’s final, Friday-night production. Bass powerhouse Subtronics close the festival Oct. 18.

“I’m very excited to be playing Sphere for the first time,” the electronic-music star said in a statement. “It’s going to be so special, in a truly immersive way, and to do it with two of my favorite promoters as well — I can’t wait.”

Landry’s “dark, driving hard techno has become a favorite at festivals and small venues alike,” according to a joint news release from Insomniac and Tomorrowland.

Landry was the first hard-techno DJ to play the Mainstage at Tomorrowland festival in Boom, Belgium in July 2024. She performed to more than 400,000 revelers. She played Electric Daisy Carnival, founded by Insomniac, in 2024 and 2025, an event that draws about 170,000 per night.

Slander, the DJ tandem of Derek Andersen and Scott Land, has also been announced to headline Sept. 27, the event’s third weekend. The duo from L.A. is known for their melodic bass lines, sure to take full advantage of Sphere’s advanced audio technology.

Super Tease 60

Swifties are finding that their idol has (maybe) dropped some Easter eggs teasing an appearance at Super Bowl 60, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The stadium is home to the 49ers of course, the team the Chiefs beat in Super Bowl 58. That was the last I saw the Niners, my favorite team since age 13, play until Saturday’s preseason tilt, also at Allegiant Stadium. Huge difference in atmosphere, folks.

In her “New Heights” appearance last week, Swift told co-host (and maybe future brother-in-law) Jason Kelce that she and Travis Kelce are obsessed with sourdough bread.

“Sourdough has taken over my life in a huge way, Swift said as she appeared next to her beau, Travis Kelce. San Francisco is famous for sourdough bread. The 49ers’ mascot is the spongy Sourdough Sam.

Swift then said, “I’m really talking about bread 60 percent of the time.” Sixty, as noted, is the number for next year’s Super Bowl.

And, after Jason’s long shout welcoming Swift to the podcast, the superstar said, “Thank you for screaming for like 47 seconds for me.”

Forty-seven? How random, Except, Levi’s Stadium was the 47th show on Swift’s “Eras Tour.” The read from here is, Swift has more of a chance of appearing at the next Super Bowl than Levi’s Stadium’s home team. Set it to music, tee it up, and other related metaphors …

Run with the stars

The couple who looked like Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani at South Point Arena and Equestrian Center on Saturday night, were. The superstars attended Taylor Sheridan’s equine passion project The Run For A Million (commonly called TRFAM). Half the attendees at the show are steeped in cowboy culture. The other half are visiting. Commingling is encouraged.

The annual competition is also the richest event in the history of reining, with 16 riders vying for the $1 million first-place prize. French pro Arnaud Girinon, aboard Flexing Guns N Town, won Saturday’s event. The announcers, who know more about the event than I do (having seen exactly one performance) said it was the greatest upset in the history of the sport.

Shelton and Stefani watched the reining event that capped the six-day event. The superstars were alongside supermodel (and cutting contestant) Bella Hadid. Hotel owner Michael Gaughan and General Manager Ryan Growney were also nearby, everyone taking up the safe sanctuary of Cinch Saloon overlooking the arena.

Shelton and Stefani later dined at Michael’s, the hotel’s fancy steakhouse.

Hadid is a regular competitor on the cutting circuit, and is dating the cutting champ Adan Banuelos. Hadid is a regular competitor on the cutting circuit, especially at South Point. The couple are a focal point in the equine community.

The event is to reported to be featured in Sheridan’s “The Last Cowboy” documentary-competition series on Paramount+. But the show’s next season, its sixth, hasn’t been confirmed. Spurred by its success (hah), Sheridan and his hands will be back next year.

Tease this …

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is expanding The Shag Room, it’s bangin’ live-music venue. It’s like a hideaway, but everyone knows where to find it. There are more plans in the offing for the revival of the Center Bar or Circle Bar, call it what you want for now; and also the old Body English/Magic Mike Live space.

Cool Hang Alert

Country music is the theme of the scene at Monday’s Dark, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8, at The Space. Vegas favorites Fletch Walcott, Bucky Heard, Kendra Daniels, Sandy Knights, Markeis Simon, Lannie Counts, Brandon and Kelly Albright, David Tatlock and Katie Kern are set to perform. Two of those names are full sentences.

Proprietor Mark Shunock emcees, Kenny Davidsen leads the band. Go to thespacelv.com for intel.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.