ZHU Brought the Heat to Vegas’ Ayu Moonbeam

Brand new to Resorts World Las Vegas is Ayu Moonbeam, a day-to-night club experience that recently saw ZHU take the stage for a surreal set.

Las Vegas stands as one of the epicenters for electronic dance music in the United States. From massive festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival to pool parties and nightclubs boasting a roster of the world’s top DJs, the choices are endless and it’s almost impossible to go wrong with weekend plans. Stepping onto the scene this year is the Zouk Group at Resorts World Las Vegas with two brand new venues – Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub (pronounced “eye-you”).

Paired with the launch this summer was the Ayu Moonbeam series, a day-to-night experience on Sundays combining the best of both worlds. True to form, the residencies lauded some phenomenal talent including Green Velvet, Disclosure, Jamie Jones, ZHU, Duke Dumont, MK, BLOND:ISH, Purple Disco Machine, Eli & Fur, The Martinez Brothers, Peggy Gou, and CamelPhat as well.

On Sunday, August 1, GRAMMY-nominated singer and producer ZHU was set to hit the stage and there couldn’t be a more perfect time to check out the set. Doors were at 5pm but our group arrived a few hours later after visiting the exclusive ZHU merch pop-up. As we walked to the club’s entrance an impressive 100k square foot LED screen flashed the event’s promotional images, which made us all the more excited – and with no line, we breezed through the entrance and security.

Photo Credit: Megan Blair

What waited inside the doors was a beautiful Bali-inspired oasis. Two stories of luxurious cabanas flanked the crescent-shaped pool, each equipped with white daybeds, TVs, and plenty of space for kicking back or enjoying the show. Those closest to the stage even had their own private pools. Palm trees and leaf-like arches over the stage and cabanas emphasized the desert oasis theme. The decor was lush, bohemian chic, and modern.

Another unique feature was a rain machine that occasionally brought rain down over the pool, seemingly from nowhere. The first time it happened, it was a little mystifying to see sheets of rain and a cloudless blue sky. We looked around and saw the machines on the top of the building behind the stage.

I thought the rain was a cool idea, especially to cool off in the Vegas heat, but noticed it wasn’t the best surprise for some. For the rain to come without warning meant that hair, makeup, phones, or shoes left by the pool were getting wet. In front of the stage was a relatively small dance floor that easily felt packed due to how it was situated with the pools. We didn’t stay here long and opted to watch from the second level.

Photo Credit: Megan Blair

Following Zouk’s resident DJ Brett Rubin, ZHU jumped on stage at 9pm. The sun had set, and the lights were out to play as the display screen showed crowd shots from his previous shows including some from Red Rocks. The set was definitely deeper house and club-focused and included less of his hits than what I’ve seen from his festival sets. However, the energy was amazing and ZHU delivered on his seductive sound. He even took the mic and stepped in front of the booth to sing live. For part of the set, I was on stage behind the booth which was incredible.

Overall the experience at Ayu Moonbeam was a great way to cap off our weekend. I really enjoyed the ambiance and of course seeing ZHU who always puts on a great show. I’d recommend the Moonbeam series for people who are wanting the pool party experience without the usual weekend crowd. Splurging on a daybed or cabana might be worth it if you’re looking for a better viewing experience away from the dance floor and a place to sit. With the lush surroundings and packed roster, Moonbeam is a cool new experience for your Vegas getaway.

Check out the Zouk Group Calendar for upcoming events including the Ayu Moonbeam Sunday series.

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