iHEART FEST: ECLECTIC IN THE DESERT

The word coming out of Sin City is that the star-laden iHeartRadio Music Festival was loaded with memorable performances.

The always-impeccable Sam Smith opened the two-day fest at the MGM Grand Friday night. The momentum never flagged, as local heroes The Killers, new wave gods Duran Duran, road-tested pop-rockers Coldplay and stadium heavyweight Kenny Chesney took turns getting the sold-out house on its collective feet. Kanye West closed the proceedings with the hip-hop equivalent of football’s hurry-up offense, cramming 18 songs into a nonstop 20-minute medley.

After Hozier and neo-glam band The Struts turned up the heat on Saturday afternoon at the Village, The Weeknd, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato delivered on the second night. But the evening belonged to Puff Daddy, who stole the show, according to our spy, bringing out surprise guests Mase, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim and Tori Kelly one after another, as the joint went nuts. “It was unreal,” our spy reported. “Best of both nights by far.”