From January to March 2023, Encore Theater will be celebrating the major milestones of its headlining artists. One is freshly inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while others are touting the 20th and 40th-year anniversaries of their seminal releases. Hear them all on our Winter Playlist and make a date to see them live at Encore Theater.

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The Wynn Winter Playlist features top hits curated from each performer — Lionel Richie, Bryan Adams, Boy George & Culture Club, Jack Johnson and John Mellencamp.

Lionel Richie: Back to Las Vegas
January 14–15, 18

A 2022 Rock & Rock Hall of Fame inductee, our playlist picks from Lionel Richie are “Easy” and “Hello.” Richie performed both of these legendary songs during his induction ceremony. At that event, Lenny Kravitz gave a speech discussing the first time he worked with Richie and then Dave Grohl jumped on the guitar, jamming out the Commodores classic “Easy.”

One of the undisputed Kings of popular music, Richie’s smooth voice dominated the late 1970s and 1980s. His record six GRAMMY nominations for Song of the Year is an achievement only matched by Paul McCartney.

The album Can’t Slow Down, rocketed him into the stratosphere, selling over 20 million copies and winning Album of the Year thanks to the endearing classic “Hello.” Richie’s rich ballads nicely juxtapose unforgettably infectious party songs.

Bryan Adams: So Happy It Hurts Tour
January 25, 27–28; February 1, 3–4

In 2023, Canadian music icon Bryan Adams is celebrating the 40th anniversary of this third album Cuts Like a Knife. Released in January 1983, it was his international breakthrough record.

From that work, the ballad “Straight From the Heart” peaked at Billboard’s No. 10 spot and “Cuts Like a Knife” topped out at No. 15. He of course went on to follow this up with the album Reckless, which proved to be an even bigger hit.

Boy George & Culture Club
February 15, 18–19

Also taking a bow for its 40th, Culture Club’s debut album Kissing to Be Clever was released in late 1982—leading the curve and changing perceptions forever in music, fashion and art.

The reggae-pop hit "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" was the sonic embodiment of the band’s diversity and inclusivity: a multi-racial band, with an openly gay gender non-confirming front person.

“I’ll Tumble for Ya,” is just another feather in their chapeau and with tunes as infectious as that it’s no surprise they have sold 100 million singles and 50 million albums worldwide.

Culture Club made its debut at Encore Theater in 2022.

Jack Johnson with special guest Paula Fuga
February 24-25, 2023

Marking the 20th-year since the debut of On and On, Jack Johnson's second studio album recorded at The Mango Tree studios in his native Hawaii, the existential singer, songwriter and guitar player debuts at Encore Theater with Hawaiian singer Paula Fuga.

From that album, we love "Taylor," which featured Ben Stiller in its video and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Adult Alternate chart.

In this song and "Tomorrow Morning," Johnson does what he does best, explore the impermanence of life and fragility of human connection, the struggle for community and presence in an ever-fragmenting world. He approaches each topic with warmth and poetic grace.

John Mellencamp: Live and In Person
March 24 and 25

The walking embodiment of American heartland rock, John Mellencamp’s songs about everyday life are widely credited with being the forbearer of rural-inflected music.

Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 and in 2022 became the subject of the museum’s new permanent exhibition, "Legends of Rock: John Mellencamp." His beloved eighth studio album Scarecrow was re-released in November.

Two songs from that album are must-listens. "Small Town" is reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart. He wrote the song about his experiences growing up in a small town in Indiana.

The lead single from Scarecrow "Lonely Ol' Night,” was inspired by a scene in the 1963 film Paul Newman film HUD. Newman's character's strained relationship with his father affected Mellencamp deeply, inspiring many of his song ideas. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard HOT 100 chart.


Get to know the music before you see the show or enjoy it all over again after with the greatest hits plucked directly from the set lists.