As we head into December, make a point of checking out the action in The Encore Theater, where rodeo and humor are our words du jour. First, as a nod to NFR 2025, country music superstars Brad Paisley (December 04 and 05) and Gary Allan (December 07 and 08) will each play for two back-to-back nights. Then, as we approach the new year, comedian Max Amini (December 26, 27) will tickle your funny-bone for two nights, performing the first in Farsi and the second in English. Giddy up!
Brad Paisley: One Man Six Strings
Encore Theater
December 04, 05 | 8:30 PM
With a singular playing style that fuses bluegrass, country, and rock, Brad Paisley is what’s known among country musicians as a picker (and a fast picker at that). Whether the alternate picking he uses to play individual notes with his right hand; the chicken pickin’ requiring the use of a pick and his fingers to add that percussive, twangy sound his fans adore; or the hybrid picking that requires simultaneously using his fingers and a pick to embellish his melodies with Paisley-esque flair, he’s a country guitar virtuoso. When added to his skills as a storyteller, spinning tales of joy and heartache relatable to everyday folks, and his enthusiastic live performances, it’s no wonder that he was the first artist to achieve ten consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and that his songs have been streamed nearly five billion times.
Along the way Paisley’s been inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, has won three GRAMMYs, two AMAs, 15 ACMs, and 14 CMAs (including 2010’s Entertainer of the Year). Of his twelve studio albums, two have been certified Double Platinum by the RIAA, three have gone Platinum, and three have gone Gold. He’s performed at the White House (for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, in 2009); has done voice cameos on multiple episodes of South Park (including once as himself); and has collaborated with some of the most esteemed artists in the world, including Dolly Parton, Mick Jagger, LL Cool J, Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Demi Lavato, Chely Wright, John Fogerty, Timbaland, Alabama, Robbie Williams, Alison Krauss, William Shatner, and B.B. King. Heck, he’s even released a single with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2023’s “Same Here”)! Who doesn’t love this guy?
Of Allan’s ten studio albums and two greatest hits albums, four have been certified Platinum by the RIAA, and four have been certified Gold
Gary Allan
Encore Theater
December 06, 07 | 8:30 PM
With a voice he describes as “raspy and unpolished,” and inspired as much by the Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard as by the blues rock of Keith Richards, Gary Allan’s music is either rock with a country vibe or country with a heaping dose of rock n’ roll. Says Allan, about his music, "the songs have got to have soul, have real meaning. Country music is what happens during the week, and rock 'n roll is about what happens at the weekend.” Is it any wonder that Rolling Stone has described him as a “maverick?”
Of Allan’s ten studio albums and two greatest hits albums, four have been certified Platinum by the RIAA, and four have been certified Gold; while Set You Free (2013) topped both the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums charts, driven in large part by the popularity of its first single, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2014 Academy of Country Music Awards. His songs have been streamed more than 2.8 billion times, with five of his songs have gone to No. 1 on country radio, and 14 making it to the Top 10.
A masterful storyteller, Allan uses his lyrics to paint vivid pictures that endear him to audiences and resonate with fans. Often dealing with dark subject matter that he leans into, his songs stand out in a landscape full of those that hew toward playing things safe. His arrangements (think: electric guitars, pianos, and the occasional fiddle) are richly evocative soundscapes that serve to fully highlight his lyrics, complementing their themes, whether an introspective ballad or a rockin’ barnburner.
But it’s Allan’s live performances that’ve kept the fans coming back since he was 13 and started playing in honky tonks with his father. By balancing new songs with fan favorites, Allan delivers setlists that, like his own musical journey, look ahead as much as they look back.
Max Amini: Live in Las Vegas!
Encore Theater
December 26 (Farsi), 27 (English) | 8 PM
Fluent in English, Farsi, and Spanish, comedian Max Amini is a fan favorite across the globe. As you read this, he’ll be wrapping a tour through India, then performing in Kuwait, before touching down in Las Vegas (after which, he’s heading to Belgium and kicking off a month of shows in Western Europe).
While studying acting at UCLA, Amini began trying out material at open mic nights, and quickly learned that performing stand-up comedy in front of a live audience established an instant emotional connection that being on film never would.
Since showbiz wasn’t actively looking for an Iranian-American comedian whose storytelling was steeped in nuance, he knew he needed to create a space for himself. So, he wrote his own material, directed his shows, built a fanbase, and diligently toured, deciding that instead of trying to go viral, he’d play the long game by drawing audiences around the world who related to his stories about being a first-generation American, the struggles of an immigrant family, identity, generational disconnects, and other universal themes.
And with more than 13 million followers on Instagram and more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube, not to mention millions of fans around the world who’ve filled his sold out shows in Berlin, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, and New York, it’s clear that playing the long game worked for Max Amini. Find out why when he brings his hilarious takes on the absurdities we all face in life to Las Vegas for two nights. The first night (December 26) will be performed in Farsi, while the second night (December 27) will be performed in English. Talk about knowing your audience!
