Such Is Life: Scenes from Life is Beautiful 2017

Editor’s Note: We join with everyone in mourning the tragic act of violence in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. For more information on how to help the victims, please click here.

Life is Beautiful 2017, now in its fifth year, continued in its goal of bringing the best of music, art, food, and innovation to downtown Las Vegas. With headliners like Lorde, Muse, and Chance the Rapper, the fest brought together a satisfying blend of huge names and undiscovered talent that made for an unpredictable weekend.

Life is Beautiful was a complete takeover of eighteen blocks of bars, restaurants, and venues in Downtown Las Vegas, a neighborhood in the midst of a burgeoning cultural renaissance. Between the four stages, attendees could hop from one art installation to another and take in the sprawling murals and sculptures that had been commissioned for the festival. From the Meow Wolf Art Motel, which completely transformed a rundown motel into a maze of color, to the world’s first solar-powered mural by Felipe Pantone, the festival was a sprawling backdrop for thousands of selfies.

With such a palatable spread of performers having set the stage, it seemed right to have Gorillaz close out the weekend. Joined onstage by Pusha T, Vince Staples, De La Soul, and Savages’ Jehnny Beth, Damon Albarn and his animated avatars were the perfect fusion of music and art for a festival like Life is Beautiful.

In addition to our FLOOD Festival Guide presented by Toyota C-HR—which is available for download now—FLOOD will be at all this year’s best festivals to provide you with firsthand reports from the scene.