Bel-Aire Backyard resurrects the poolside show

I’ve been yearning for the poolside concerts of my past ever since the Cosmopolitan closed its outdoor stage in 2017. This spring, Clique Hospitality and AEG Presents teamed up to resurrect those electric nights with Bel-Aire Backyard’s Poolside Concert Series at the Durango. The live music experience featured a fully built-out stage on the lawn and a robust booking of bands, including The Fray, Thievery Corporation, Band of Horses and the Beaches. Well-priced tickets, free parking and complimentary pool entry made this a no-brainer for locals like me. This off-Strip series took full advantage of the season, and I’m already looking forward to its return. –Amber Sampson

Q’Shaundra James invites art lovers to peek beyond The Veil 

Las Vegas artist Q’Shaundra James’ first solo exhibition enlightened me more than any other this year. Rooted in the scholar W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of “the Veil,” a psychological barrier affecting how white communities perceive Black communities, James created an exercise of reflection. Through beautiful, large-scale portrait paintings, she restored agency to Black characters whose stories might have otherwise been pre-written by stereotypes. We were challenged to view “beyond the Veil” both figuratively and literally. One room featured a mirror viewed through gauzy fabric, allowing us to see ourselves from behind that Veil. It gave me something to think about for weeks. –AS

The Las Vegas Aces deliver the comeback of the year

I didn’t grow up with major league sports teams, let alone a basketball team as badass as the Las Vegas Aces. So to see them clinch their third WNBA championship in the way that they did—a 16-game winning streak followed by a 4-0 sweep in the Finals—filled me with an immense amount of joy and hometown pride. The Aces have celebrated their share of championship parades, but this one felt different. After a rough start to the season, many had started to question if the dynasty had come to an end. But as Coach Becky Hammon said at the October 17 parade: “You can’t count this group out ever.”

The celebration that ensued that day was one for the history books. A procession of lowriders preceded the Aces’ double-decker bus like a vintage hype train. Fans broke into chants and hysteria at the sight of four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who hoisted the championship trophy wearing Thanos’ infinity gauntlet. Onstage, a dance circle even broke out around Hammon and the Southern hip-hop crew Crime Mob (knuck if you buck, Becky!).

Being in the presence of so many fans, all draped in celebratory Aces gear and wielding meme-worthy signs like “Broom Service,” gave me a new appreciation for sports culture. It was impossible not to meet people and bond over a love for the game. The Aces might not be a homegrown team, but they’ve become the crown jewel of this city. Recently, Time also named Wilson its Athlete of the Year, a fitting capstone to an incredible season and a reminder of what these women can do when they dig in. –AS

Kendrick Lamar asserts himself as rap royalty at Allegiant Stadium

Kendrick Lamar and Drake resurrected the lost art of the rap feud, providing one of the most culturally enriching weekends of my spring. The social media platform X became a digital amphitheater, disgorging memes and forensic video essays with the fervor of an internet society collectively losing its mind. As someone who has followed Kendrick’s work with a certain level of devotion, watching him go off on track after track felt historic, like witnessing a poet laureate choosing violence.

When Kendrick hosted The Pop Out: Ken & Friends, a summit of West Coast royalty featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop, Ab-Soul, Dom Kennedy and what felt like the entire Los Angeles cultural psyche, I felt a level of FOMO I’d never experienced. Then came the announcement of his GNX tour with SZA, and I knew if I was going to be anywhere in 2025, it would be there.

Pulling up to Allegiant Stadium felt like arriving at a backyard party. People stood out front excitedly yapping,chugging Buzzballs and Modelos with sacramental zeal. The ocean of Dodgers hats was so vast it resembled a uniformed congregation.

My sister and I nearly face-planted down the stadium stairs to find our seats before Kendrick appeared—unflashy, enigmatic, gravitational. The sold-out crowd erupted as he opened with “Wacced Out Murals,” a track that gnaws at the music industry’s architecture of betrayal.

Watching him stalk the stage beside a blacked-out Grand National, I thought, “People will mythologize this performance.” The three-hour set between SZA and Kendrick flew by as we rapped and sang along to every word. It was one of those rare shows where you get in your car and immediately play even more Kendrick. Anything to keep that high going. –Gabriela Rodriguez

Hamilton at Smith Center delivers a master class in storytelling

I went into Hamilton mostly blind, with the exception of three important facts: It’s about history, it’s a musical, and my emo friend Andy knows it word for word. I’d soon come to learn about its vastly gripping foundation of storytelling through hip-hop, soul and R&B. Before the intermission, I was hooked. Watching Alexander Hamilton rise and unravel through Aaron Burr’s cool, simmering narration gripped me. But it was Eliza Schuyler who leveled me with her quiet strength and heartbreak. I didn’t expect to care this much. But good art ambushes you. Long live the theater. And Hamilton … well, he had it coming. –GR

Ceremony and Angel Du$t rattle eardrums at Substance

My friends and I often joke that we’re too old for multi-day festivals, and much too old for a post-fest side show. But Ceremony’s set at Substance following Punk Rock Bowling was a non-negotiable. We crammed into the EDM club to catch Angel Du$t, and before I knew it, I was dodging bodies succumbing to the mosh-proof, beer-soaked floor. That sweaty, exhilarating mess only seemed to prime us for the main attraction. Around 1 a.m., Ceremony took the stage and the room truly snapped awake. “Into the Wayside, Part 1/Sick” summoned us forward, as far as we could possibly go. Crowdsurfers clawed their way over the barricade, the pit swelled, slick floors be damned, and by the end of it all we felt young again. –GR

Bob Marley Hope Road unites the masses at Mandalay Bay

You expect Vegas shows to be entertaining, but few stay with you after the house lights come up. Bob Marley Hope Road resonated long after I left the theater, so much so that I immediately brought friends back. Marley’s music has always spoken to something deeper: unity, resilience, love. But right now, those words feel less like lyrics and more like lifelines. Hope Road channels his artistry through live musicians, dancers and multimedia elements, transforming a theater into a sacred, communal space. It’s the show that reminds you why live performance matters. –Genevie Durano

A rare experience at Bellagio’s Prime Steakhouse

Restaurants come and go. Classics endure. Prime Steakhouse at Bellagio, open since 1998, is the OG Vegas dining experience, not just for its front-row view of the fountains, but for what happens at the table. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has created something rare (and well done) here: a place where every element—the food, the cocktails, the flawless service—comes together perfectly. On a recent visit, we watched a man drop to one knee as the sun set and the fountains danced. We clapped. Then we cut into our filet mignon. It was happiness all around. –GD

The Arts District goes off

A few years back I was standing in front of Main St. Provisions with an entertainment industry friend from LA, one who’s seen his share of hipster neighborhoods explode into being. He looked up and down Main, abuzz with Saturday night activity—barhoppers skipping from Velveteen Rabbit to ReBar, theatergoers queueing up at Majestic Repertory, roller skaters testing out new purchases from Fresa’s Skate Shop—and exclaimed, “This neighborhood is going off.”

Well, loyal Weekly reader, WT actual F did we know about a neighborhood hitting stride. This year brought a veritable flood of new bars, restaurants and shops to the Arts District: Audio Bar, Bar Boheme, Barter Beer and Mall, Dark Sister, The Doberman, Dustland, Echo Taste & Sound, Johnny Coco’s, Nocturno, Prowl, The Stadium, Viking Mike’s and more. Some existing venues refreshed and expanded their offerings—a new loft bar at Esther’s Kitchen, a remodeled back lounge at Cornish Pasty—while spots that opened in late 2024, notably Craft Creamery and Petite Boheme, found their crowds.

To me, the Weekly’s resident scenester antique, this growth has been a revelation. I’m in the Arts District nearly every week, enjoying the world-class cocktail programs of Lu Lopez (Nocturno), Kat Calma (Dustland), Jonah Gibbs (Petite Boheme), Juyoung Kang (The Doberman) and Chris “Tater” Gutierrez (Prowl). I’m drinking on a budget at Berlin, ReBar and the Silver Stamp. I’m springing for fancy dinners at Bar Boheme, Esther’s and Main St. Provisions. I’m getting cookies at Freed’s, local goods at Akin Cooperative, caffeine at Bungalow, Dig It! and Vesta. And though there’s less of it in the neighborhood than there should be, I can enjoy visual and sculptural art at Main Arts District Gallery, Recycled Propaganda, the Arts Factory and more.

Eventually 2025 will be remembered as the year the Arts District hit the accelerator. And the only thing that can slow it down is completely eliminating free parking in the neighborhood, which would never … Oh. Oh, no. –Geoff Carter

PrideStyle Inclusive Pro Wrestling suplexes stereotypes

“A safe space for violence.” That’s what the producers of PrideStyle call their events, and it truly is that: A place where people of all colors, genders and persuasions can come together and deliver armbreakers, chokeslams and diving clotheslines to each other. Here, all are truly free to hit each other with folding chairs, choke each other with lengths of chain or toss each other into the crowd. (“If the action looks like it’s coming your way,” warns ring announcer Diana Sandoval, “it is. Grab your s**t and move.”) The crowd chants, boos, cheers and generally gets along regardless of their biology or backgrounds. PrideStyle is entertaining, solidly produced and, coincidentally, very affordable night of sports entertainment, and I couldn’t have survived this ugly-ass year without its cleansing monthly ceremony of bigotry-free mayhem. –GC

Last Supper at EDO

In a year of truly amazing meals beyond Las Vegas—ranging from NYC’s storied Eleven Madison Park to a trek into the Estonian countryside to Hiis Restoran—our final meal at EDO was an unforgettable highlight. Proclaimed as Chef’s Grande Finale Tasting Menu, chef Oscar Amador offered a retrospective on the venue’s eight-year run while hinting at what’s to come at his new project in the same space. There was the savory, crisp bikini gilded with black truffle, Wagyu pastrami accenting a flaky tarte flambée, decadent lobster risotto with even more truffle and more. Along with great wine and even better company, the completion was a fever pitch of flavors portending an unconstrained path yet to come. EDO may be gone but Amador is thankfully here to stay. –Jim Begley

Insomniac x Tomorrowland:Unityelectrifies at Sphere

The two biggest promoters in electronic dance music, Belgium’s Tomorrowland and Electric Daisy Carnival producer Insomniac, teamed up for a run of nine August, September and October shows at Sphere. The headlining sets, by Kaskade, Sara Landry, DJ Snake and others, were big, booming affairs that took full advantage of Sphere’s state-of-the-art sound system—but it was the opening set for those headliners, featuring Sphere’s incredible visuals and Tomorrowland’s Symphony of Unity orchestra, that truly impressed. The visual of UFOs “attacking” Las Vegas during Knife Party’s “Destroy Them with Lazers” and the soaring orchestration Symphony of Unity added to David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s “When Love Takes Over” are burned into my imagination. This is why we built that damn orb to begin with. –GC

Fallout Fringe Festival produces a daring run of theater

Organized by artists who wanted to create a testing ground for their crafts, the inaugural Fallout Fringe Festival brought 30 acts and more than 100 shows to multiple Downtown theater venues in June. We got up close and a little too personal during puppet speed dating with the colorful cast of Fur and Thundur collective in Puppet Slam: Pride Edition. We cried laughing at Legoland, a hilarious prequel to Majestic Repertory Theatre’s Ride the Cyclone. And we writhed at the irreverent satire that was Take Your Shot With Motivational Speaker Luigi Mangione, a collaboration between TSTMRKT and Indecline. It was everything a live theater lover could want. We can’t wait for it to come back in 2026. –Shannon Miller

ComplexCon brings the beats

Though the limited-edition Yu-Gi-Oh skateboards and New Era snapbacks at the massive streetwear, hip-hop and pop-culture convention known as ComplexCon certainly tested my patience for unbridled consumerism, the stellar music lineup drew me in. Less than a year removed from his controversial imprisonment, innovative trap crooner Young Thug showcased his signature whimsical vocal contortions over throwbacks like “Check” and “Digits” before leading the crowd in an unhinged “F**k VIP” chant. Legendary rap duo Clipse provided another booming set, rife with bangers off one of the best albums of the year in Let God Sort ’Em Out. The best part? I didn’t buy a single thing. –Tyler Schneider

Punk Rock Bowling scores big with 25th anniversary celebration

It may be remembered as the year the festival went viral for fans literally punching Nazis, but Punk Rock Bowling’s 25th festival made memories in so many other ways. 

Although headliners Social Distortion, Cock Sparrer and Peter Hook & the Light all rocked, we found ourselves gravitating toward the lesser-known bands. On the PRB main stage, Dallas’ Power Trip returned to Vegas with a transformed lineup after the loss of their frontman in 2020 and gave a relentless, energetic set. Meanwhile, Lambrini Girls stripped down to their bras and stomped around the mosh pit. Guest appearances also abounded, like Laura Jane Grace lending vocals to Gang of Four during “I Love a Man in Uniform.” 

After moshing in the heat all day, it was tempting not to head straight home after the festival. But we couldn’t resist the club shows. After 10 p.m., Downtown venues came alive with visiting bands rocking out—Mariachi El Bronx at Downtown Grand’s Citrus Pool Deck, Ceremony at Substance and the Bridge City Sinners at Container Park were some of our favorites. 

The festival in October announced there would be no PRB in 2026 due to “unexpected challenges,” but assured fans they’ll be back the following year. We’ll hold them to it. –SM

A first-timer’s EDC adventure

My status as a three-time Lollapalooza veteran did little to prepare me for the neon melting pot of crunchy basslines, vibrant costumes and carefree energy that defined my first EDC experience.

I still can’t fathom how Insomniac mustered the logistical audacity required to successfully accommodate enough ravers to fully repopulate Sacramento within the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but their efforts more than justified the two-hour, bumper-to-bumper trek in.

My initial vantage point from high up in the stands legitimately felt like watching an orc army from Lord of the Rings descend upon Helm’s Deep—except they came bearing unicorn totems and glowstick nunchucks instead of Mordor banners and swords. I trekked over to the Kinetic Field stage alongside a vaping Papa Smurf, a stoney-eyed Ash Ketchum and a female Mario slaying in knee highs, where Mexican superstar DJ Deorro invigorated the crowd with an hourlong set that featured guest stars like Mike Posner and legendary regional Mexican band Los Tucanes de Tijuana.

As I grooved under the watchful resting bitch face of a five-story-tall animatronic owl, one camelback-clad PLURitarian welcomed me into their ranks by clipping a small plastic flower sprout to my hat. Emboldened by my newfound sense of belonging, I inhaled a fistful of snack-sized Slim Jims from the press room and powered through the party at a record-setting 16 stages.

At Quantum Valley, a set of lingerie-clad Art Deco-inspired statues welcomed me to the hypnotic sounds of Israeli psych-trance duo Vini Vici, while LA DJ RL Grime pummeled fans with booming trap beats over samples of Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” at the pyrotechnic-heavy Cosmic Meadow stage. My commitment to journalistic integrity compelled me to stick around until the wee hours. Perhaps it will again next year. –TS

Shanna Christmas offers comedic relief at Fat Cat 

Nobody does comedy quite like Shanna Christmas. The born-and-raised local cut her teeth in LA and New York and returned to Vegas, bringing her trademark wit, charm and humor to the B Word comedy hour at Downtown’s Fat Cat. Christmas books comedians from around the country and hosts a hilarious, deeply relatable and personal show. July’s installation of the B Word included intro and outro music from the innovative improv duo Sol Fixx as well as stand-up from James Mattern, Jasmine Ellis and more. It’s also worth noting that Christmas won Laugh After Dark’s Best Comedy Special award this year for Highly Intelligent, which came out in May. Catch this local comedy queen on the third Friday of each month starting January 16 at Fat Cat. –SM

Alabama Shakes stuns in highly anticipated reunion show

My most memorable show of 2025 was undoubtedly Grammy Award-winning Southern rock trio Alabama Shakes at Fontainebleau. Fresh off an eight-year hiatus, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell slipped back into a familiar rhythm behind vocal powerhouse Brittany Howard, opening with the misty, cerebral murmurs of my favorite song, “Dunes.” Later, Howard’s cathartic, soulful delivery coalesced seamlessly around the tender, twangy riffs of her fellow Shakes on hits like “Gimme All Your Love” and more. And that five-minute standing ovation the band received ahead of its encore? Given the Shakes’ recently announced 2026 tour, there’s plenty more to come. –TS

Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!