The festival returned to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center from October 10 to 12, transforming the city’s glowing skyline into a backdrop for emotional reunions, rain-soaked sing-alongs, and the kind of communal energy that only this genre can inspire. From the first note to the final encore, the weekend served as a reminder that the passion behind these songs never truly fades.
This year’s lineup read like a love letter to the early 2000s, featuring a mix of iconic acts and new faces leading the modern emo revival. Fans came together to celebrate the music that shaped their teenage years while discovering the artists who are carrying that emotional legacy forward. Whether you were reliving your youth or experiencing these bands for the first time, the sense of connection was unmistakable.
THE RETURN OF THE WIZARD AT BFF FEST 2025!
Day one of Best Friends Forever 2025 set the bar high with an unforgettable lineup that included Snowing, Bear vs. Shark, Mineral, Cursive, and Minus the Bear. From the very first chords, it was clear that the weekend would be about more than nostalgia. It was about intensity, passion, and a shared love for the music that shaped so many lives.
Among the standout performances, Bear vs. Shark delivered one of the most electrifying sets of the day. Frontman Marc Paffi commanded the stage with raw energy and fearless charisma. Paffi did not stay confined to the stage for long. Midway through the set, he jumped into the crowd, passing the microphone to fans who shouted the lyrics back at him. As the performance reached its peak, Paffi climbed the stage structure, a move that sent the crowd into excitement. He looked out over thousands of cheering fans and raised his hand in agreement before returning to finish the set with the same relentless energy he started with. It was chaotic, passionate, and unforgettable.
Another standout moment of the weekend came from Narrow Head, whose set delivered a surge of energy that immediately ignited the crowd. From the first riff, fans were jumping, shouting, and completely locked in with the band’s heavy, melodic sound. By the time they launched into their second song, the sky began to open up and rain started to pour, creating an almost cinematic backdrop that perfectly matched their intensity. Unfortunately, as the weather worsened, organizers were forced to halt the show mid-set for everyone’s safety. The downpour quickly escalated into a full suspension of the festival, leaving fans huddled together under ponchos and tents as they waited out the storm. The delay lasted about an hour and a half, pushing several sets to later times.
After the rain cleared, Mineral’s set at Best Friends Forever 2025 was one of the most emotional and memorable moments of the entire weekend. As the Texas band took the stage for what they had announced would be their final performance, the atmosphere shifted from excitement to quiet reverence. The crowd pressed closer, knowing they were witnessing the end of an era. Between songs, the band thanked the audience for keeping their music alive for nearly three decades, and the response was a roar of gratitude that echoed across the festival grounds. When the final notes faded, the crowd stood in stunned silence before erupting into applause that lasted long after the band left the stage.
Closing out day one was Minus the Bear’s highly anticipated reunion, where the band performed their beloved album Menos el Oso in full. The set was a perfect blend and wrapped up the night with a wave of nostalgia that washed over the entire crowd.
Day two of Best Friends Forever 2025 kept the momentum alive, delivering another round of unforgettable performances. Among the most anticipated acts of the afternoon were Tigers Jaw and Texas Is the Reason, both of whom drew crowds.
Tigers Jaw brought an emotional yet upbeat energy to the stage. Their harmonies filled the air as fans sang along to every word. The best moment of their set came when they performed, Plane vs Tank vs Submarine. You could hear everyone in the crowd sing back to the band every single word to that hit song.
Later, Texas Is the Reason took the stage and delivered one of the most talked-about sets of the entire day. Their performance carried a sense of legacy.
Closing the night was Jawbreaker. Jawbreaker delivered a cathartic Saturday night set, channeling decades of punk grit.
Day three arrived in a blur of anticipation, and Marietta wasted no time proving why they remain one of the most beloved bands of the modern emo revival. As the Philadelphia group stepped onto the stage, the energy in the crowd exploded. Fans shouted, cried, and threw themselves into the chaos. I even caught sight of someone wiping away tears mid-song. Their set quickly became one of the wildest of the entire weekend. Crowd surfers poured over the barricades in steady waves, and at one point, a fan was literally riding atop another fan’s back, surfing across the crowd. One of the most heartwarming moments came when Ethan Willard brought his wife on stage during “Cinco de Mayo Shit Show.”
After delivering a powerful performance on Day One, Cursive returned on Day Three for one of the festival’s most anticipated moments, a full performance of their landmark album The Ugly Organ. Frontman Tim Kasher seemed to channel even more energy than he had earlier in the weekend, his voice raw with emotion. Every song felt heavier as if the band was reliving the record’s intensity in real time. One of the most unforgettable highlights came when Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley joined Kasher on stage for a stunning duet of “The Recluse.”
Jimmy Eat World’s set at Best Friends Forever 2025 was a triumphant celebration of their enduring legacy. Taking the stage as one of the festival’s most anticipated headliners. Closing the festival and sending everyone on their way for the night.
My personal experience at the festival was deeply emotional because of the incredible people I met and the friendships that formed over the weekend. Events like Best Friends Forever are more than just concerts; they are gatherings of people who share the same passion for music, community, and connection. Everywhere I turned, I found someone new to talk to, laugh with, or sing beside, and by the end of the weekend, it felt like we had all known each other for years. There was something truly special about bonding with complete strangers over the songs that mean so much to us all. I know I will carry these memories and friendships with me for a long time, and everyone I met this past weekend will always hold a special place in my heart as my new best friends forever.
