For those heading to the Las Vegas Strip in early 2024, some of the biggest music acts in the world - including U2 and Bruno Mars - have lined up residencies in top venues like the Sphere, the MGM, and the Wynn Hotel.

Las Vegas residencies are an essential part of the experience for many visitors to the City of Lights. With concerts taking place in some of the best venues in the world, these residencies offer tourists the chance to experience their favorite performers in a unique setting.

As we kickstart 2024, here are 4 Las Vegas residences worth catching:

Wu-Tang Clan

During live performances, RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan's leading member, often says, "Wu-Tang is forever."

And who could argue with him? Over 30 years since the release of their seminal debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the Staten Island rap supergroup is still one of the most important names in modern music, with an extensive back catalog that other rappers might envy.

Towards the end of 2023, Wu-Tang Clan announced a four-date Las Vegas residency at Virgin Hotel's 'The Theater' venue. The venue can host up to 4,600 people, making it ideally suited for this era-defining group, whose 9+ members have plenty of experience when it comes to handling big crowds.

Wu-Tang Clan's Las Vegas shows mark the group's predominant concert dates announced in 2024, meaning these shows will likely be in high demand. Sharing the news about the residency on their social media channels back in December, Wu-Tang asked the simple question: "Are you ready?" Fans can expect this residency to be another defining chapter in the group's remarkable history.  

Find out about Wu-Tang Clan's Las Vegas residency here. 

U2

U2 was the ideal first act to be announced for a residency at the landmark new Sphere venue at the Venetian. (For those who haven't been following the news for the last two years, that's the giant orb in the middle of Vegas whose presence seems inescapable). U2 began their residency at the Sphere in late 2023, promising a ground-breaking audio-visual concert experience unlike anything ever done.

The centerpiece of these concerts is their 1991 Achtung Baby album, which is appropriate, considering the live version of many of the songs on this record helped secure U2's place as one of the best live acts in the world.

Speaking ahead of their gigs, the band stated at the time: "U2 hasn't played live since December 2019, and we need to get back on stage and see the faces of our fans again. And what a unique stage they're building for us out there in the desert… We're the right band, ACHTUNG BABY the right album, and Sphere the right venue to take the live experience of music to the next level." 

The footage from these gigs and eyewitness accounts from concertgoers suggest that this residency is as incredible as it has been made out to be. With cutting-edge technology, spine-tingling surround sound, and a boundary-pushing live experience, U2's Sphere residency is the benchmark that all other residencies will be judged by in the future.

Find out more about U2's Las Vegas residency at the Sphere here.

New Edition

For many R&B music lovers, New Edition's distinctive voices, incredible dance moves, and varied back catalog make them one of the most essential acts in modern R&B. The band's debut album, Candy Girl, was quite simply one of the best albums of the 1980s, even if it didn't get half the global attention that it deserved. Fans of the band call themselves NE4LIFERS, and many consider the Boston-based six-piece to be as brilliant live as other iconic figures like Michael Jackson (even if they often had to stand in MJ's shadow).

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Candy Girl, New Edition has announced six performances at Wynn Hotel's Encore Theater in February and March.

Speaking about their Las Vegas residency, the band's members said: "Fulfilling a career-long dream to solidify ourselves with a residency performance in the entertainment capital of the world, we are beyond excited to embark on this fantastical journey at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas."

Learn more about New Edition's Las Vegas residency at the Wynn Hotel here.

Bruno Mars

In the past 12 months, it has seemed like Bruno Mars has become as firm a fixture in Las Vegas as the Bellagio Fountains. The '24k Magic' and 'Locked Out of Heaven' megastar initially announced a Las Vegas residency at MGM's Dolby Live venue for 2023, which was set to run until August.

However, he extended this with five additional shows in December - including two New Year's Eve concerts. That same month, it was announced that Bruno Mars was extending this run again, with five new shows set to take place in February.

Bruno Mars' Las Vegas residencies have become the stuff of legends over the years. The glitz, glam, and entertainment value offered by venues like Dolby Live (the second-largest theatre on the Strip) is ideally suited for Mars, who has rightfully been called one of the best music performers in the world.

The news of Bruno Mars' latest residency comes as the artist teases details about his long-awaited fourth album, which many have suggested might drop in 2024.

You can find more information about Bruno Mars' Las Vegas residency here.