iHeartRadio fest boasts collabs, covers and cake

LAS VEGAS - Dozens of chart-toppers, including Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj, crowded into the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday and Saturday for the fourth iHeartRadio Music Festival. 'You can't believe they're all in one arena,' said Ryan Seacrest, the weekend's host. 'It just doesn't happen.'

Here's what you missed:

Come together. In an unexpected performance Friday night of her new song We Are Here, Alicia Keys encouraged fans to join her campaign for change. Using the hashtag #WeAreHere on social media, Keys hopes to spawn conversation regarding social justice.

'There's so much that we're seeing and so much that we're confused and frustrated about,' Keys said backstage. 'It feels scary. What are we supposed to do about changing the things we see that we don't like?

'Knowing what we want to be here for is a really important thing. Then we can move forward and change the world,' she said. 'We are here for all of us.'

Cake checks, but no sound check. DJ/Producer Steve Aoki has some unusual prep to do before his shows, at which flinging baked goods into the crowd has become a signature move for engaging with fans. 'We have a soundcheck, but we also have a cake check. We have to make sure the cake is soft and fluffy so when I throw it in someone's face, it feels delightful.'

But Train skipped its soundcheck. 'We didn't do one, so it went great!' joked lead vocalist Pat Monahan. 'We got to hang out in our hotel room.' Fans took to Twitter to praise the band's cover of Aerosmith's Dream On after the Saturday night performance.

Old favorites debuted the new. Weezer performed Back to the Shack Saturday night from the group's Everything Will Be Alright in the End album, out Oct. 7. Taking their time (four years) to complete their ninth album was worth it, Rivers Cuomo said backstage. 'It's not about the singles. We wanted to make an album that we and our fans can grow old with.'

It was a team effort. Surprise collaborations and guest appearances were a trademark of this fest. Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy turned out during Aoki's set to promote their pairing on Back to Earth, crowd-surfing on Aoki's inflatable raft.

Backstage, Aoki explained that not all of his props have been as successful as his raft or his cakes. 'In 2009, I brought the Super Soakers. You'd think they'd work, but it turns out, that thin spray isn't a nice feeling. Super Soakers are a no-go.'

Saturday's surprise came when Macklemore took to the stage with Ed Sheeran to perform Same Love. Sheeran suffered some setbacks in soundcheck because of a broken foot pedal but performed a flawless set.

Despite talk that his infidelity single Don't was inspired by Ellie Goulding and One Direction's Niall Horan, Sheeran's remaining tight-lipped. 'I think it's good to have songs be faceless so that you can apply them to your situations,' he said. Laughing at the hype, Sheeran pointed out, 'And does it really make anyone's life any different if they knew what it was about? Would they still enjoy the song?'

CW will air highlights from iHeartRadio Music Festival as a two-night special (Sept. 29 and 30, 8 p.m. ET/PT).

Macklemore (left) and Ed Sheeran attend the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014, in Las Vegas.(Photo: Theo Wargo, Getty Images for Clear Channel)

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