Las Vegas

Omnia Opening in Former PURE Nightclub Space at Caesars Palace

October 16, 2014Yehouda Silverman Leave a Comment

Hakkasan Group has announced that Omnia will take over the massive space formerly occupied by PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which closed in May after a nine-year run.

The name of the new venue in Latin simply means all things.

Set to open in Spring 2015, Omnia intends to mix luxury nightlife with world-class DJs but perhaps with a musical twist.

Speaking to USA Today this week, Hakkasan Group boss Nick McCabe said of the space which once hosted the likes of celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna, “Las Vegas is obviously a very EDM-driven market right now, and so we will certainly be featuring some top tier electronic talent. Ultimately though, our goal is to provide our customers with whatever they tell us they want, and so whether it’s a DJ, a live performance or a celebrity host, our programming choices will be driven by what our customers get excited about.”

Designed by the internationally renowned Rockwell Group, the 75,000-square-foot complex inside Caesars Palace boasts a main room and mezzanine, ultra-lounge and rooftop garden (see rendering above).

With DJs from around the world flocking en masse to play in Las Vegas, and being paid handsomely for their mixing services, it will be interesting to see if Omnia can truly be all things to all people.

Inside Drai’s Beach Club & Nightclub in Las Vegas Opening Memorial Day

April 14, 2014Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Situated 11 stories above the Las Vegas Strip atop The Cromwell boutique hotel, Drai’s Beach Club is promising to take Sin City’s club scene to the next level. Literally. A 360-degree two-level experience with multiple pools, mixology bars, elevated DJ booth, VIP luxury cabanas and gourmet food, the breathtaking venue features ten, 35-foot palm trees offering guests shade from Las Vegas’ blistering dry heat. In fact, in order to get the palm trees positioned on the hotel’s roof, a gigantic crane had to be brought in for the task.

“I’ve been dreaming of building a day/night club for the past 15 years,” explained Victor Drai, the nightlife impresario behind the operation, in a statement. “With the creation of The Cromwell, the opportunity finally arrived to make my dream a reality. The Beach Club and pools at Drai’s Beach Club will be like nothing that exists in Las Vegas. The size, scope and attention to detail, design and guest experience has driven our concept. I always build my venues so that there is a ‘wow’ factor from the minute you arrive. When a guest steps off the elevator, they are going to marvel at what we have built and the never before-seen-view will provide an unforgettable experience.”

DJs will be a central focus for Drai’s music program. So far 17 resident top-notch DJs have been named including Eric Prydz, Adventure Club, Showtek, DVBBS, Arty and 12th Planet.

“We are booking artists that will ignite the crowd and create an energy that is missing from many Las Vegas clubs today,” added talent buyer. “You won’t come to Drai’s and stand there holding your camera phone above your head aimed at a DJ a football field away. Instead, you are going to be in the middle of the biggest dance party on the Strip.”

Fatboy Slim: Las Vegas’ Club Scene Isn’t For Me

March 23, 2013Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Veteran British big beat DJ/producer Norman “Fatboy Slim” Cook (who is booked to play two sets at Ultra Music Festival this weekend) helped break dance music in America in the ’90s with breakthrough singles like “Right Here, Right Now,” “Praise You,” “The Rockefeller Skank,” and “Weapon of Choice” (remember the video starring Christopher Walken?). After touring the US extensively, Cook took a long break from playing the States, returning in 2011 with a much hyped residency at Marquee Dayclub (pictured above; video trailer below).

“I thought that sounded like a hoot,” Cook told us at the time. “I also played at Ultra Festival in São Paulo and all of the Americans were like, Why don’t you come to America and do this show?! I dunno. I guess no one suggested it. So it was a mixture of meeting the Ultra people in Brazil and friends of mine saying that Vegas is the new Ibiza.”

Talking to Rolling Stone, Cook says he has changed in mind about Las Vegas’ booming club scene. “I feel more at home at Detroit Movement than I do at EDC. I did a residency in Vegas two years ago, and to be honest, the Vegas side of it really isn’t for me – that whole VIP, table, bottles of Cristal, girls with pneumatic tits. That’s not my vibe.”

Will we see Cook returning to play small, dark clubs? That’s doubtful. Will he record another full-length album? According to the RS story, that’s not in the cards either as he feels like medium is outmoded.

Still, Cook remains exited about music: “Every now and then, you bump into someone like Major Lazer and it just reaffirms my faith. Every time I’ve watched some dreadful Dutch DJ be really bland and dull, then I see Major Lazer and it all makes sense again.”