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Dead Artists Ball brings icons back to life: Saturday, Sept. 27
Which icon will you embody during the Dead Artists Ball? Step into a night of Hollywood glamour on Saturday, Sept. 27,where you can channel an artistic legend, past or present, or bring your most dazzling attire to the red carpet and own the spotlight.
Belt it out during the costumed karaoke performances and contest; dance the night away with beats spun by DJ Cliff Porter; and get swept up in surprise popup performances throughout the night. Featured artists including Heidalicious, Jenes, Jenny O, and Whitney Myer will ignite the stage, while the soaring aerial ambience of Moonlight Movement transforms the atmosphere into pure spectacle.
Proceeds benefit the Sierra Arts Foundation’s arts integration programs, which bring creativity directly into Washoe County School District classrooms. Every ticket purchased brings artists into Washoe County classrooms to help fuel the next generation of imagination.
Celebrate the legends, revel in the performances, and support the arts in northern Nevada.
The Dead Artists Ball takes place at the Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., the evening of Saturday, Sept. 27. Tickets start at $50. Click here to learn more and get tickets. (Sponsored Content)
Ethereal state
Experience a night of otherworldly music and spectacle when Australian electropop duo Empire of the Sun bring their Ask That God Tour to Reno. Band members Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore are known for their genre-defying blend of electronic, pop and cinematic flair that has captivated fans across the globe. Since the release of their breakthrough album Walking on a Dream, featuring hits like “We Are the People” and the title track, Empire of the Sun have continued to push creative boundaries. Follow-up albums Ice on the Dune and Two Vines cemented their global success, with collaborations ranging from Lindsey Buckingham to members of David Bowie’s Blackstar band. After an eight-year hiatus, the pair released their latest album Ask That God featuring the singles “Changes,” “Music on the Radio,” and “Cherry Blossom.” The current leg of the duo’s North American tour in support of their 2024 album concludes with an appearance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. Catch Empire of the Sun, with special guest Roi Turbo, at 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Grand Theatre inside Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St. Tickets start at $76.10. Visit www.grandsierraresort.com.
Path of the dragon
Dragon Lights Reno returns for another season of whimsy and wonder at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden. This year’s theme is “Odyssey of Waves and Woods.” Larger-than-life light displays will illuminate the arboretum’s paths as visitors wander through three zones. The scenes in the Asian Culture Zone highlight the beauty and symbolism of Chinese heritage through intricate lantern craftsmanship. The Odyssey of Waves Zone is a vibrant underwater world showcasing an array of marine life. And the Odyssey of Woods Zone is filled with mythical creatures, exotic plants and other fantastical elements. Along the way, participants can shop for lantern souvenirs and Asian handicrafts, run around in an interactive playground, or fuel up with a variety of food and hot or cold beverages served up by local and traveling food vendors. The seasonal attraction opens on Friday, Sept. 26, and runs daily through Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden inside Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. Tickets range from $16 to $86. Kids age 2 and younger get in for free. Go to dragonlightsreno.org for tickets and other information.
Remembrance and resilience
Director Paige Bethmann’s feature documentary film Remaining Native confronts the generational trauma that reverberates decades after many Indigenous children were taken from their homes and put in Indian boarding schools in order to assimilate them into white American society. Bethmann’s film is a coming-of-age story told through the perspective of Ku Stevens, a young runner from the Yerington Paiute Tribe. The documentary follows his struggle to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great grandfather’s escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present and future. Bethmann says in her director statement that “… the goal of (Ku’s) run and my film is to bring awareness to what happened at Indian boarding schools and to shine a light on the resilience of Indigenous people as the country reckons with this dark and under-told history.” Remaining Native is one of 150 feature-length and short films that will be shown at the eighth annual Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25. Remaining Native will screen at 10:45 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26, at Galaxy Theatres Legends IMAX, 1170 Scheels Drive, Sparks. The filmmaking team will hold several free screenings in the area in conjunction with National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (aka Orange Shirt Day), a Canadian day of remembrance observed on Sept. 30 that recognizes the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. These screenings will take place on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, 1 Jacobsen Way, Carson City; and on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5, at Fox Peak Cinema, 501 E. Williams Ave., Fallon. Visit www.remainingnativedocumentary.com/orangeshirtweek2025 for more details. Go to ciffnv25.eventive.org/welcome for more information on the Cordillera International Film Festival.
Gone, but not forgotten
What do surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan and rock music icon David Bowie all have in common? Well, aside from being groundbreaking artists in their respective fields, they are all … dead. Honor their memory—and/or those of other well-known creative visionaries and famous celebrities—at The Dead Artists Ball, an immersive experience “where Hollywood glam meets the Oscars, the Grammys and the wild energy of Studio 54.” Come dressed as your favorite legend and dazzle the crowd with your best impersonation of your chosen artist. The evening will feature a mix of entertainment, including music spun by DJs Cliff Porter and Heidalicious, celebrity impersonations, a costumed karaoke contest with a cash prize, aerial performances by Moonlight Movement and Biggest Little Circus and live painting demonstrations. VIP entry starts at 6 p.m., followed by general admission at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, at Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St. Tickets are $50-$100. Proceeds from the event will benefit Sierra Arts Foundation’s Literacy Through Art Integration Program. Go to deadartistsball2025.my.canva.site or sierraarts.org/event/sept-27-the-dead-artists-ball-2025.
Block rockin’ beats
Get those endorphins pumping this weekend with the debut of Desert Moon, a two-day electronic music experience in downtown Reno. Expect plenty of chest-thumping bass, rapid-fire beats and out-of-this world sounds at the festival, which kicks off on Friday, Sept. 26, with performances by EDM acts GHENGAR, FuntCase, Habstrakt, Midnight Tyrannosaurus, Rated R, Seth David, Pretty Sweet, PYKE and locals Kill Your Utopia and JARS, enhanced by immersive stage design, large-scale art and other attractions. “Deathstep” powerhouse Sullivan King, known for his metal breakdown-inspired drops and live guitar solos, headlines the first night. Extraterrestrial EDM outfit ATLiens headlines the following night. The 18+ event will run from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27, at the City Plaza, 30 N. Virginia St., in downtown Reno. Two-day tickets start at $110 for general admission and $140 for VIP admission. Visit www.rvltnevents.com.
American music
If an EDM blitzkrieg is more than your senses can handle, perhaps the Southern country rock sounds of The Ransom Brothers will be more to your liking. The Austin, Texas-based quartet take listeners on a journey through the heart of America’s musical heritage with their blend of country, rock and folk, creating a sound that’s as rich and diverse as the Texan landscape itself. The Ransom Brothers are set to perform at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, at the Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane. The next night, veteran rockers the Greg Golden Band will bring their signature blend of rock, blues and Americana to the RPM stage. Known for their high-energy performances and soulful tunes, the classic rock band has many years of experience touring and playing with a variety of rock acts, including TESLA, Eddie Money, Sebastian Bach, Y&T, Frank Hannon Band and L.A. Guns, among others. The group hits the RPM stage at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27. Both shows are free. Visit www.renopublicmarket.com.
Motor heads
Celebrating “music, metal and motorcycles,” the Street Vibrations Fall Rally marks its 30th anniversary with three days of live performances, custom bike shows, bike games, scenic rides and vendors selling motorcycle gear, apparel and more at venues in Carson City, Reno and Virginia City. The motorcycle festival kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 27. The main festival site will be located at Ralston Street between Second and Third streets, across from the J Resort, 345 N. Arlington Ave. Tickets are $10 per person per day or $20 for a three-day pass. Events held in Carson City and Virginia City will have free admission. Check roadshowsreno.com for a schedule of events. The Tripwire Music Festival will take place in conjunction with Street Vibrations on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27, at the J Resort Festival Grounds, 251 N. Arlington Ave. The music fest features rock acts Puddle of Mudd, Black Stone Cherry, We the Kings, Lovelytheband, Red Voodoo, Split Persona, Eternal Descent and Skynnyn Lynnyrd. Tickets are $56-$142. Go to www.tripwirefestival.com for details.
Making beautiful music together
The University of Nevada, Reno’s Performing Arts Series opens its 65th season with a concert by musical duo Acoustic Eidolon. Formed by Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire, Acoustic Eidolon (pronounced “idle on”) brings a rich sound that blends folk, classical, Celtic and world music into an unforgettable musical experience. Their story began in 1995, when cellist Alkire was hired to record with a local ensemble just down the street from Scott, who performs with a the guitjo, a double-neck instrument with both guitar and banjo stringing. The musical chemistry was instant. What started as an artistic collaboration quickly evolved into a full-time partnership and, eventually, marriage in 2001. With 13 albums to their credit, the couple captivates audiences throughout the world with their genre-bending blend of original and previously recorded music and engaging, personal stories. Acoustic Eidolon will perform at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Harlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital Hall, 1338 N. Virginia St., in the University Foundation Arts Building on the University of Nevada, Reno, campus. Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for youth ages 3-17 and free for UNR students with a valid WolfCard. Call 775-784-4278, or visit www.unr.edu/pas.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email 11days@renonr.com for consideration. Email advertising@renonr.com for advertising info!
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