88rising’s annual Head in the Clouds festival returned to Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena this past weekend.
Written by Alex Doan
Published June 5, 2025 by Brady Goodman-Williams
Despite the blazing heat, festivalgoers found themselves in the midst of a celebration of music, food, and culture.
The Asian American record label celebrated its 10-year anniversary and showcased its roots with a multitude of Asian artists, including Taiwanese-American singer sunkis, Indonesian-American songwriter Stephanie Poetri, and global K-pop star G-DRAGON, as well as the world-famous Korean girl group 2NE1. There was truly something for every attendee with the vast genres of music and the diverse food options.
Credit Alex Doan
Day one of the festival saw great crowds right as the doors opened at 1 p.m. Fans were dressed in their best festival outfits as they went from stage to stage listening to their favorite artists.
The festival grounds saw two stages opposite each other that provided room for different interactive pop-ups and food options.
Credit Alex Doan
There were several merchandise booths that offered fans the opportunity to purchase a span of gear from their favorite artists. There was also a range of different brands in attendance as well, such as BAPE, Culture Kings, and much more.
I had the chance to witness the live debut of Indonesian girl group no na, who wooed the crowd with their charm.
No Na, credit Alex Doan
Porter Robinson brought energy to the afternoon, and fans jumped to his Japanese pop-inspired EDM discography.
Porter Robinson, credit Alex Doan
Rich Brian, credit Alex Doan
After Rich Brian’s hip-hop set that featured surprise guest Ski Mask The Slump God, I got to watch Korean R&B singer DEAN, who made his first comeback appearance in many years.
Dean, credit Alex Doan
After his set closed, everyone began to flock to the main stage for the global superstar, G-DRAGON. As the former BIGBANG member took the stage, the fans roared, and in that moment it was clear who everyone came to witness. His eccentric personality and swag rocked the crowd, and he concluded the first night with a bang.
G-Dragon, credit Alex Doan
The second day welcomed festivities with cooler weather and restless fans. I started my afternoon listening to PIAO, who touched the fans with her vulnerable and intimate lyrics.
PIAO, credit Alex Doan
Thai rapper MILLI brought out Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek and captivated the audience with her confidence.
MILLI, credit Alex Doan
The show continued with DPR IAN's rock-inspired set that featured many electric guitar solos that rang through the fields.
DPR IAN, credit Alex Doan
As the evening fell, I made my way to MAMA’S NIGHTMARKET, which provided attendees a taste from a multitude of Asian cuisines right on the Los Angeles grounds. The food ranged from Vietnamese banh khot to Japanese katsu and, of course, boba tea. I settled on a Korean bulgogi rice bowl that offered warm, familiar comfort to my grumbling stomach.
Credit Alex Doan
Then came the second day's headliner, Korean girl group 2NE1. Rapper and leader CL, as well as members Dara and Minzy, showcased their old but timeless discography that fans of all ages traveled far to hear. The fiery dance breaks and familiar lyrics turned the crowd into a party.
2NE1, credit Alex Doan
The night concluded with a grand finale led by Jackson Wang. Many performers from the weekend joined him onstage, along with other Asian personalities, like Jasontheween and the Kinjaz.
Jackson Wang, credit Alex Doan
As everyone walked towards the exits, I couldn’t help but notice the smiles all around me. The weekend provided a community for 75,000 fans to celebrate their culture in a safe and open space right in Los Angeles. The laughs shared by singing and dancing created cherished memories for all festivalgoers. 88rising began 10 years ago with cultivating a space for AAPI artists to showcase their talents, and now, 10 years later, founder Sean Miyashiro’s vision has shown the world what embodying heritage can do for a community.
