And Yes, Minus the Bear is Playing!
Music lovers, mark your calendars and start stretching those festival legs—Best Friends Forever (BFF) is back for its 2nd annual edition! Taking over the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center from Friday, October 10th through Sunday, October 12th, this festival is gearing up to deliver another unforgettable weekend of sound, energy, and unbreakable musical bonds.
Now, let me set the scene for you: I was casually scanning the newly released lineup poster, sipping coffee, mentally debating whether I could survive three days in the desert again, when my eyes landed on a name that instantly transported me back in time—Minus the Bear.
That’s it. That’s all it took. The nostalgia train hit full throttle, and I knew I had to write about this.
A Personal Flashback—Minus the Bear and Me (And Maybe Just Me)
It’s been well over a decade—probably closer to two—since I found myself at the Ottobar in Baltimore, Maryland, watching Minus the Bear rip through their set with the kind of effortless precision that made them legends in the indie rock and math rock scenes. That night lives rent-free in my brain for one particular reason: their drummer at the time made direct eye contact with me from the stage and smiled.
Yes, I was on the second floor. Yes, the lights were chaotic. And no, you cannot convince me this did not happen. That moment cemented Minus the Bear in my personal hall of fame, and now, here we are, years later, older, maybe wiser (debatable), and they’re back on a lineup that already has my full attention.
The BFF 2025 Lineup—What Else Do You Need to Know?
While Minus the Bear’s presence alone is enough to get me in the door, the full Best Friends Forever lineup is stacked with indie, rock, and alternative heavy-hitters, bringing the same kind of nostalgia-fueled magic that made last year’s debut festival such a hit. If you missed out on the first edition, now’s your chance to redeem yourself.
Alongside Minus the Bear, the lineup boasts an impressive mix of icons and rising stars. Expect to see The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie delivering their signature emotional rollercoasters, while Paramore and Jimmy Eat World bring that perfect blend of pop-punk and alt-rock energy. Shoegaze and post-rock fans will be treated to Explosions in the Sky, and if you need to dance out your feelings, LCD Soundsystem has you covered. Add in a few curveballs like Phoebe Bridgers, Turnstile, and Japanese Breakfast, and you’ve got a lineup that feels like a carefully curated mixtape from your coolest friend—the one who always knew about the best bands before everyone else.
Three days. One epic venue. The kind of lineup that makes your heart race before you even buy tickets.
Las Vegas might be known for its neon lights and slot machines, but come October 10th-12th, the real jackpot will be the energy of thousands of fans, screaming along to bands that have soundtracked their lives.
Stay tuned to scrink.com for more updates, ticket details, and maybe even a deep dive into just how much of my personality has been shaped by a single, possibly imagined moment in a Baltimore music venue.
And then let me know if you’ll be going, because Vegas is on the other side of the country from me and the concert is happening the weekend of my oldest son’s birthday. So, I won’t be there.
