Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Weekend is coming back to Las Vegas from August 29-September 1. Today, Billboard announced that on the music side, Lil Wayne and Ludacris will headline the weekend. Hart will be bringing the material from his Acting My Age comedy tour to the Resorts World Casino, and his set will bring the entire weekend to a close.
Kevin Hart held Hartbeat Weekend at Resorts World Casino last July. The event featured performances from J. Cole, Jack Harlow, and Ludacris, as well as the conclusion of Hart's Reality Check tour, which was recorded for Peacock. Besides the music and comedy, Hartbeat Weekend features a celebrity poker tournament, with 50 celebrities picked by Hart himself.
“Hartbeat Weekend is all about celebrating the very best in comedy, culture, and music, and this year we’re taking it to a whole new level,” said Kevin Hart in a statement to Billboard. “I can’t wait for everyone to join us for a weekend packed with laughter, entertainment and unforgettable moments.” The venue Hartbeat Weekend is scheduled to take place at responded in kind. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Hartbeat Weekend back this year,” said Peter LaVoie, president of Resorts World Las Vegas. “We’ve enjoyed partnering with Kevin and his team on this iconic weekend and his shows in the theatre throughout the year. Hartbeat Weekend 2024 will be another incredible experience for our guests.”
Lil Wayne has performed several times this year. He was recently spotted reciting the lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" during a show in Vegas. Some fans interpreted it as a diss toward Lamar as he was also reciting lyrics to Drake's "The Motto," a song that also features Wayne, while wearing an OVO pendant. The Hot Boys are working on a reunion album. Though Juvenile claimed that all the original members were on it, Lil Wayne claimed ignorance. Ludacris was recently in the news after performing a free concert in Milwaukee when his show got canceled because of bad weather. Tickets for Hartbeat Weekend go on sale this Friday, July 19, at 10AM PST.
Sharleen Spiteri joined BBC Radio 2’s The Sara Cox Breakfast Show ahead of Texas taking the stage to launch the main live music programme at Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling.
Checking in from rehearsals, the Texas frontwoman spoke about getting ready for the band’s opening performance at City Park. Radio 2’s annual flagship festival takes place there from 11 to 13 September 2026. "I’m match fit because I’ve had a couple of days’ rehearsals," Spiteri said. "We’re kicking the whole weekend off, which we’re very much looking forward to, so everybody’s got to get ready to party."
Before the live acts take over, Friday’s DJ Pre-Party gets the weekend started with Radio 2 favourites Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan behind the decks.
Jo Whiley helped set the mood with a special programme from Stirling’s Tolbooth venue. Working with BBC Introducing Scotland, the broadcast put the spotlight on Scotland’s emerging music scene through performances and conversations with Fright Years, Alice Faye, and James Emmanuel.
Fright Years, a four member band from Edinburgh, played "Never Been Wrong" and offered their take on Simple Minds’ "Waterfront." Glasgow singer and songwriter Alice Faye, the BBC Introducing in Scotland 2026 winner, paired "Some Brief Encounter" with a rendition of Lulu’s arrangement of "I Started a Joke." James Emmanuel, who was born in Nigeria and now lives in Edinburgh, sang "Brothers & Sisters" before taking on Chaka Khan’s "I’m Every Woman."
"We’re all about celebrating BBC Introducing and all the music that’s come out of Scotland," Whiley told listeners. "It's about celebrating the local music scene and the incredibly important work that BBC Introducing does to support independent, up-and-coming artists."
Joining the conversation were Stephanie Cheape, presenter of BBC Introducing in Scotland, Tara McLoughlin, venue manager for Stirling Council, and student radio presenters representing the University of Stirling’s Air3 Radio.
Listeners can catch the complete interviews and live performances from the weekend’s programmes on BBC Sounds.
