What initially began as a one-day showcase of Asian music and culture in 2018 has now become a staple of the Southern California music festival scene. From Nov. 6 to Nov. 7 outside Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium, 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festival returned once more, celebrating the best in Asian and Asian American music and culture, as well as capturing the hearts of its attendees and performers alike.
Spearheaded by headlining acts such as rapper Rich Brian and lo-fi R&B sensation Joji alongside a roster of 88rising staples and other international artists, Head in the Clouds 2021 proved itself the strongest iteration yet of one of the newest festivals to emerge in the Los Angeles area. Read on for The Daily Californian’s coverage of — and highlights from — the weekend’s events.
— Vincent Tran
Head in the Clouds Day 1 (DPR Live, Saweetie, CL, Illenium, Japanese Breakfast, Rich Brian)
Day 1 was ruled by crowd favorites, with artists able to magnetically pull large audiences to their stages no matter the time of day.
Head in the Clouds Day 2 (Warren Hue, Bibi, Feel Ghood Music, Keshi, Niki, Joji)
Some of the most unique performances of the day came from exhilarated rookie acts wanting everyone to simply have a good time.