Lauren Conrad, Mena Suvari, Marilyn Manson heading to Las Vegas

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | midnight

Erik Kabik/Retna / www.erikkabikphoto.com

Ludacris performs Feb. 18, 2009, at LAX nightclub in the Luxor in Las Vegas.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is made up of Dirk Shumaker, Glen Marhevka, Karl Hunter, Scotty Morris, Kurt Sodergren, Josh Levi and Andy Rowley.

RD/ Erik Kabik/ Retna Digital

Lauren Conrad hosted the season opening party at Wet Republic on Saturday April 18.

Music fans will be well-served this weekend as the usual lineup of actors, actresses and reality-show personalities take a back seat to bands.

From shock rock and punk-pop to rap and R&B, there’s something for almost every concertgoer.

Ludacris will kick things off tonight with a free concert at the Palms. The poolside show is part of a Miller Lite promotion in which all 2,200 tickets were given away.

Also performing poolside tonight is Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who will do their thing at the Hard Rock Hotel as part of their Friday Night Live concert series.

Also at the Hard Rock tonight is shock rocker Marilyn Manson. While the controversy-loving star is set to take to the stage after September Mourning’s 9 p.m. set, it’s hard to know when the unpredictable force that is Mr. Manson will step into the spotlight.

A far less-shocking but equally entertaining trio will also entertain audiences tonight, as Green Day returns to Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay. Franz Ferdinand will warm things up for Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Tonight’s ear-pleasing offerings also include a set by DJ E-Man, who is set to spin at Pure at Caesars Palace.

Things will go relatively silent tomorrow afternoon but the music won’t die down for long.

The afternoon intermission will include star-studded pool parties, first with “The Hills’ ” own Lauren Conrad, who will host at Tao Beach, then acclaimed “American Beauty” actress Mena Suvari, who will be at the Palazzo’s still-new pool party, Absolut Saturdays, at Azure.

The music will resume that evening as melodic crooners Boyz II Men return to their roots and give a retro R&B show at Mandalay Bay Beach.

Considerably harder rockers Daughtry make a stop at Caesars Palace later that night as their nation-wide nightclub tour pops by Pure.

And finally, while it may not be the hottest ticket in town this weekend, passes for Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s 23rd annual Black and White Party will certainly support a good cause.

The line-up includes a range of local headliners, including Ms. Coochie Coochie herself, Charo; the sexy casts of Men of X and X Burlesque; longtime “Evening at La Cage” impressionist Frank Marino; comic magician Nathan Burton; and entertainers Penn and Teller.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.