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Las Vegas Music Roundup: Mayer at the Sphere, Hetfield’s Punk Detour, and Cooper/Angel’s Extended Run

By jili tutorial · September 29, 2026

Las Vegas Music Roundup: Mayer at the Sphere, Hetfield’s Punk Detour, and Cooper/Angel’s Extended Run

Las Vegas keeps stacking its live-entertainment calendar with events that draw fans from around the world. This week brings three notable stories: John Mayer has confirmed a solo Sphere residency for 2027, Metallica’s James Hetfield made a surprise visit to the Punk Rock Museum, and Alice Cooper and Criss Angel have extended their Planet Hollywood show. Here’s everything you need to know.

John Mayer’s Sphere Residency: One Run, Three Different Shows

John Mayer will headline at least six shows at the Sphere in April 2027, and each night is designed to feel like three concerts in one. The residency will feature three distinct sets: Mayer playing solo, Mayer performing with a full band, and Mayer reuniting with the John Mayer Trio.

The solo set will be a largely stripped-down affair, with Mayer performing by himself on acoustic guitar, piano, and electric guitar. That format gives the show an intimate, songwriting-focused feel inside a venue known for its massive wraparound visuals and immersive sound.

The full-band set will bring a bigger electric-rock energy, while the John Mayer Trio portion marks a significant reunion. Mayer will share the stage with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan for the first time live since 2023. The rhythm section has some remarkable rock history: Palladino previously replaced John Entwistle in The Who, and Jordan replaced Charlie Watts in the Rolling Stones. For fans of Mayer’s bluesier side, the Trio set is a major draw.

Sphere Dates and Residency History

The confirmed Sphere dates are April 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, and 18, 2027. As is often the case at the one-of-a-kind spherical venue, more dates are expected to be added once the initial run sells out.

This will be Mayer’s first time headlining the Sphere as a solo artist, but he is no stranger to that stage. He previously performed two residencies with Dead & Company in 2024 and 2025, totaling 48 gigs, before the death of Grateful Dead singer Bob Weir on Jan. 10, 2026.

Ticket Timeline for Mayer at the Sphere

Fans planning to attend should mark two key dates:

Given how quickly Sphere dates have sold out in the past, registering for the pre-sale early is highly recommended.

James Hetfield’s Surprise Visit to the Punk Rock Museum

Metallica frontman James Hetfield was in Las Vegas setting up for his own Sphere residency, which begins Thursday, Oct. 1. Over the weekend, he made a detour to the Punk Rock Museum. The museum shared a photo of Hetfield wearing a Misfits T-shirt in front of the entrance, along with the caption: “Thanks to James Hetfield from @metallica for stopping by and checking out the museum today!” Metallica’s official Instagram account playfully responded: “So THAT’S where he was!”

Why the Misfits Mean So Much to Hetfield

Hetfield has long been open about his love of the Misfits. He has credited the band’s guitarist, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, as a major influence on his signature downstroke rhythm playing — the driving, aggressive picking style that has anchored Metallica’s sound for decades.

That connection extends beyond personal influence. Metallica covered “Last Caress” and “Green Hell” on their 1987 release, $5.98 E.P. — Garage Days Re-Revisited. Those tracks introduced many metal fans to the Misfits’ horror-punk world.

Inside the Punk Rock Museum

The Punk Rock Museum is a Las Vegas destination built around punk history, artifacts, and storytelling. Former Misfits guitarist Dez Cadena frequently conducts guided tours that highlight the Misfits items on display. Among the most striking exhibits is a bass guitar smashed by Jerry Only, displayed inside a coffin case — a fitting piece of theatrical horror-punk history.

Alice Cooper and Criss Angel Extend “Welcome to Our Nightmare”

Alice Cooper and Criss Angel have proven to be a surprisingly strong pairing. After multiple sell-outs, the unlikely music-and-magic duo has added two new dates to their Planet Hollywood residency, “Welcome to Our Nightmare.”

The show, staged in the Criss Angel Theater, is a 90-minute production that blends Cooper’s theatrical hard-rock staging with Angel’s large-scale illusions. The setlist draws on Cooper’s classic catalog, including “Poison,” “I’m 18,” “School’s Out,” and “You and Me.”

New Schedule

The extended run now includes Sunday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Dec. 6. The full performance schedule is:

All shows begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets and VIP Packages

Tickets for the new dates, as well as the rest of the run, are available through Ticketmaster or by phone at (855) 234-7469. Fans looking for an upgraded experience can also purchase VIP meet-and-greet packages.

With Mayer’s Sphere plans set, Hetfield’s residency underway, and Cooper and Angel extending their nights at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas continues to offer one of the most diverse live-music lineups anywhere.