With temperature readings in the high 90°s all weekend plus a lack of cloud coverage and breeze, Head in the Clouds at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was not for the faint of heart. Last weekend, Wagasa-style paper umbrellas replaced fan signs, security passed out water bottles and ice by the caseloads, and festivalgoers chose to bask in the few shaded areas over standing in the crowds to protect themself from the looming sunburn we all felt Monday morning.
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But all is well. While the heat kept many in place, it didn’t stop the fans from lining the barricades to see their favorite performers and supporting the many acts from the Asian diaspora Head in the Clouds (HITC) is known to share its platform with. Fan favorites of the weekend included Japanese Girl Group XG, Dream Perfect Regeime’s DPR Live and DPR Ian, Chinese heartthrob Jackson Wang, and Grammy-award-winning producer and Zedd.
Some of my favorite moments of the weekend I stumbled upon randomly. Fans sang Happy Birthday to XG member Maya while holding up banners and fliers. During Zedd’s performance, Jackson Wang snuck into the crowd and vibed out with fans. Bobo.Xx did a surprise performance and backflip during Josh Pan’s DJ set in the dance tent. Fans poked holes at the top of water bottles at the barricades to create diy sprinklers to keep everyone cool. But the best moment for me was seeing Tiger JK and Yoon Mi-are walking out to “Monster.” The chef’s kiss of the weekend for me.
But with the good, there is the bad or my minor complaint. This year was different, and I mainly have the heat to blame. As I talked to fans onsite and read social media comments, I realized we all thought the same. Everyone just wasn’t that hype. Don’t get me wrong; fans were excited to see Artists such as YOSABI, Zior Park, and Voice of Baceprot, who stated this was their first time performing in the States, but still, the usual lively crowds seemed to dwindle as Artists switched out. The time gaps usually filled with music and a fun ai voice reading off live tweets in previous years were replaced with enough time for visiting food vendors, sponsors, and installations.
This downtime wouldn’t usually be a bad thing, but the heat made waiting for 10 to 20 minutes unbearable, and the long walk between stages felt like a trek through the Sahara desert. It also didn’t help that fans were disappointed that Brit-Pop Songstress Rina Sawayama and DPR Live, and DPR Ian had to perform early sets due to their next day Lollapalooza sets. But no one can do anything about that. Better luck next year.
In conclusion, this year would have been great if the heat hadn’t been unbearable. Let’s all hope next year’s weather is friendly to us all.
With 40+ performers across various genres, HITC continues to push the bar higher and higher for their platform, 88rising, and the festival, Head In The Clouds. I’m excited to see what they bring to the table next year.
Photos & Words By Asha Moné
