McCartney leads list of top weekend entertainment picks

Paul McCartney

He chose Las Vegas for the first U.S. stop of his 2011 Up and Coming Tour.

Expect a rocking good time from the former Beatle. There’s a reason more than 1 million fans went to see him in concert last year alone.

Described as the “greatest composer of the millennium,” McCartney is expected to treat the audience to hits from the Beatles, Wings and his solo career.

He will appear at 7:30 p.m. today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, 3799 Las

Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets cost $105 to $262.50.

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Wizard of Oz at the District

Enjoy the story of Dorothy, Toto and the Tin Man with the whole family. The 1939 film classic will be projected onto a big screen today at the District, 2240 Village Walk Drive.

Originally published in 1900, the L. Frank Baum children’s novel turned film has become one of the best known stories in American popular culture. It has been translated into more than 50 languages and spawned a Broadway play.

The show begins at 8 p.m. It’s free, as is the popcorn.

Jay Leno at the Mirage

He doesn’t drink, smoke or gamble, but Jay Leno loves Las Vegas. The “Tonight Show” host is a regular on the Strip.

Check out his signature blend of late-night humor and stand-up comedy today at the Terry Fator Theatre at the Mirage.

Leno hits the stage at 10 p.m. for an hour-and-a-half set. Tickets cost $79 to $99. Children under 5 are not permitted.

Reggae in the Desert at the Clark County Government Center

Bring a blanket, some sunscreen and a Rasta vibe for the valley’s largest reggae festival. Seven performers will draw from traditional African beats,

American jazz and old-time rhythm and blues to put their own twist on classic Jamaican sounds.

Open to all ages, the show runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at 500 S.

Grand Central Parkway. Tickets cost $25 to $30, with VIP packages available for $60. Kids under 5 are free. Arrive early for the best seats, and come with an empty stomach. Vendors will be selling Caribbean-style food.

CAKE at the Cosmopolitan

The alt-rock band from Sacramento is best known for its half-sung, half-spoken vocals and lyrical wordplay. The group’s sixth full-length album, “Showroom of Compassion,” was released in January and debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, a first for the almost 20-year-old band.

Singer/songwriter John McCrea described the disc as “very different” from the group’s previous records, with a heavier reliance on piano.

CAKE lands in Las Vegas on Saturday. The band plays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Boulevard Pool, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets cost $40; VIP tickets are $50. Only people 18 or older are permitted.

Deftones at the Joint

Another Sacramento band hits the Vegas scene. The Deftones return to the

Joint at the Hard Rock on Saturday to celebrate the release of their sixth album.

The Grammy-winning group recorded “Diamond Eyes” after bass guitarist Chi

Cheng suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2008 car crash. He remains in a “minimally conscious” state.

“After Chi’s accident, it would have been easy for us to make a sad record,” singer and guitarist Chino Moreno said. “But really, this is an optimistic record.”

The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road.

Tickets cost $26.50 to $52. The Dillinger Escape Plan and Le Butcherettes open.

Larry King at the Mirage

See Larry King like you’ve never seen him before: standing up.

The famous interviewer, who retired in December after 25 years on CNN, will hit the stage to tell stories, from his life growing up to quizzing Paris Hilton after she left jail. He’ll even take questions from the audience.

King’s show starts at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Terry Fator Theatre, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets cost $69.99 to $89.99, and all ages are welcome.