Head in the Clouds Festival

Head in the Clouds Festival is an annual music festival organized by 88rising. The lineups feature musical artists across the Asian diaspora.

Background

In 2015, Jaeson Ma and Sean Miyashiro founded 88rising as a music collective and management company geared towards representing artists from the Asian diaspora. Over two years, they began managing a small stable of Asian rappers focused on forming a hip hop collective. Their first performance took place in 2017 in Los Angeles with Rich Brian, Joji, and Keith Ape all performing live and the Higher Brothers streaming from Chengdu. The collective then embarked on a Double Happiness tour in February 2018, demonstrating the demand for Asian rap performances in the United States.

2018

On September 22, 2018, 88rising presented its inaugural Head In The Clouds Festival at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. The lineup included acts based in North American and Asian music industries, including Rich Brian, Joji, Keith Ape, Niki, Higher Brothers, Dumbfoundead, and others. Japanese rapper Kohh made their debut United States performance.

Line-up

• Anderson .Paak (special surprise guest)
• Rich Brian
• Joji
• Murda Beatz
• Keith Ape
• Higher Brothers
• Zion.T
• Niki
• Kohh
• Laff Trax (Toro y Moi B2B Nosaj Thing)
• Dumbfoundead
• August 08
• Yung Pinch
• Sen Morimoto
• Don Krez
• Diablo

2019

On August 17, 2019, 88rising held their second annual Head in the Clouds music festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park. The lineup included the return of Rich Brian, Joji, Higher Brothers, Niki, and Dumbfoundead. The festival also included artists established in the South Korean music industry, including iKON, Jackson Wang, and DPR Live. Local food festival organizer 626 Night Market coordinated food offerings. Outlets began referring to the festival as the "Asian Coachella".

Line-up

88rising Stage

• 88rising
• Joji
• Rich Brian
• iKon
• Niki
• DPR Live
• Higher Brothers
• August 08
• Dumbfoundead
• Deb Never
• ICINC (Arta, Devinta Trista, Moneva & Cellosux)

Double Happiness Stage

• K?d
• Manilla Killa
• Y2K
• 박혜진 Park Hye Jin
• Josh Pan
• Qrion
• Don Krez

2020

88rising had planned for the 2020 Head in the Clouds festival to take place in the JIExpo Kemayoran of Jakarta, Indonesia in March 2020, with a lineup including DAY6 and Chung Ha as well as label members, Rich Brian, Niki, Joji, Higher Brothers, Stephanie Poetri, August08, and Dumbfoundead. It was eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, 88rising held a free online concert called the "Asia Rising Forever Festival" to raise charitable funds for the purpose of combating the raise of anti-Asian sentiment.

2021

For 2021, 88rising announced they would return to hosting live audiences and would hold the festival over the weekend of November 6 and 7 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl. It would be organized by Goldenvoice, the promoters for Coachella. The lineup included Saweetie, CL, Japanese Breakfast, Beabadoobee, Umi, The Linda Lindas, eaJ, keshi, Joji, BIBI, Niki, Seori, and Rich Brian.

Line-up

2022

The 2022 festival was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena from August 20–21, 2022. International editions will also be held in Jakarta at the Community Park PIK 2 on December 3–4, and in Manila at the SMDC Concert Grounds on December 9–10, 2022.

2023

New York City line-up

Pasadena line-up

2024

The 2024 festival will be held at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York from May 11–12, 2024.

Line-up

• (G)I-DLE
• Joji
• ILLENIUM b2b Dabin
• Atarashii Gakko!
• Bibi
• Awich
• Balming Tiger
• Deb Never
• Dhruv
• Eyedress
• Juliet Ivy
• Lyn Lapid
• Spence Lee
• thuy
• Wang OK
• Warren Hue
• wave to earth
• YOUNG POSSE

References