How Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival Continues To Sell Out Before the Lineup Drops

Since its inception in 2012 as a block party celebration for Tyler, The Creator‘s debut album Goblin, the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival has evolved over the years into a Los Angeles staple. One that refuses to fizzle into obscurity or fall spectacularly apart like other artist-led festivals because of reckless negligence. With the announcement of its return to Dodger Stadium on November 16-17th for its tenth year, Camp Flog Gnaw proceeded to sell out the very same day the presale opened (just like last year), further proof that fans are eager to keep this tradition going.

This feature was produced by Sandra B. Olinger, and written by Steven Ward and Sandra B. Olinger.

One of the reasons Camp Flog Gnaw has been such a success is no doubt owed to its growth from a small showcase featuring a handful of artists into a stacked roster of talent drawn from the often overlapping spheres of hip-hop and alternative music. For its debut, they kept things decidedly small, delivering the multi-faceted Odd Future alongside Lil Wayne and Action Bronson, with a dose of hardcore punk from Trash Talk. The overwhelming buzz of its aftermath led to a return in 2013 with a lineup triple the size of the previous year’s—and it hasn’t stopped growing since.

In a lot of ways, one of the early draws of Camp Flog Gnaw was the shared culture it created on its carnival grounds. Originally called the OFWGKTA Carnival, everything seemed to revolve around the collective’s distinct sounds, styles, and personas — signaling to a new generation of music lovers all about the experience. Every year fans show up dressed as if pulled surreally from Tyler’s music videos, flouting the look from their favorite track or just donning one of his many eccentric but iconic fits, his street-wear brand Golf Wang emblazoned across crowds in bold capital letters.

As Tyler’s star has risen, the festival has taken on a “Tyler, The Creator and Friends” feel that’s only expanded the lineup with every new version. What consistently set it apart was its inclusion of a wide range of artists, from cult names like A$AP Rocky, Vince Staples, and Chance the Rapper, to heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Rick Ross, and Lauryn Hill.

Inevitably, the one-day event transformed into a two-day affair in 2015, its three stages accommodating not just rappers but a whole wave of R&B, funk, jazz, electronic, indie rock, and more. Without compromising its status as one of the ultimate hip-hop festivals, Camp Flog Gnaw has opened its gates to the sounds of Jhené Aiko, Kamasi Washington, Toro y Moi, Anderson Paak, Kali Uchis, Sleigh Bells, Turnstile, Little Dragon, Billie Eilish, Beabadoobee, and Cuco. Increasing its scope in a way that has only further earned the loyalty and endeared the multi-genre tastes of the city’s live music fans.

There have been throwbacks to the OFWGKTA days—with appearances by Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, Left Brain, and EarWolf—and it’s safe to say fans jump on presales and general on sales (which open ahead of lineup drops) in the hopes of an Odd Future reunion. Those lofty hopes are particularly high this year, with many noting that the novelty of a ten-year milestone would be a great excuse to get them all back on one stage.

’ll be 100% real honest with you I know Tyler probably would say no to a reunion,” shared a fan on Reddit. “But at the same time, there could be a real Opportunity to make it happen, because of course, when Camp Flog gnaw first started odd future were still a thing, plus recently at the Kendrick Lamar show. There was also the Black Hippy reunion so it’ll make more sense to have Sunday’s main headliner just be odd future. If not, of course, may be a different artist, and also perform as a main headliner hopefully we get Kendrick or maybe somebody new we’ll just have to see….”

Yet even longtime attendees have accrued their share of gripes with the festival. From exponentially higher costs for passes compared to previous years to diminished VIP perks. “Holy ticket price. I remember paying ~50 for the 2nd year. Crazy how big this festival has gotten,” one Reddit user shared. You could chalk the increase to time and growth—all valid points—but that doesn’t change the fact that Camp Flog Gnaw is getting pretty expensive.

Compared to Coachella ($499 without fees for tier one GA)—which, like Camp Flog Gnaw, is also organized by Goldenvoice—the ticket prices for this year’s festival ($372 with fees for GA) were only a little over one hundred dollars cheaper. “Shit turning into Flogchella” another Redditor complained. The two VIP options for Camp Flog Gnaw ranged from $662 to $1,757 (the latter earning you a set of luggage), and potential attendees were not shy about roasting the merchandise package for the perceived downgrades from previous years.

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“Uhhh they got a whole ass bike last year? wtf” @thewolfofwestu pointed out on Instagram beneath the post that shared the VIP package details. Others were quick to observe the strangeness of making a multi-piece set of luggage a centerpiece of Super VIP. “Nothing a young festival goer wants more than a set of luggage!” @fuchead420 opined sarcastically.

For all its hefty ticket costs, Camp Flog Gnaw offers quite a bit to keep attendees feeling like their empty wallets are paying for some pretty stellar experiences. Sure, you can spend an extra $156 to lock in unlimited carnival games, though your two-day pass already grants you access to carnival rides. Unlike Coachella, which seems not to have sold out this year— as it wasn’t long ago that weekend one passes were typically gone within a couple of hours (this year, it took a month for the first weekend to sell out)—Tyler’s festival still has prospective attendees clamoring for tickets.

Major music festivals around the country, from Governors Ball to Lollapalooza, no longer possess that tempo of urgency surrounding their sales. In fact, a massive number postponed their return in 2024: including Life is Beautiful (which has reworked itself into a new format with Big Beautiful Block Party), Lovers & Friends Fest, Made In America Festival, Firefly Music Festival, and Okeechobee Music Festival—and those are just the ones in the United States. Abroad, major events like Lollapalooza Paris and Splendour in the Grass in Australia revealed they’ll be taking a hiatus this year. Reasons vary, but the shrinking market only makes Camp Flog Gnaw’s consistent success all the more remarkable.

Couple this with the fact that stadium ticket sales have also dipped this year, and it’s apparent that whether intentional or not—fans are hitting the brakes on the frenetic demand that once led to sold-out arenas. Promoters like Live Nation might push artists to play larger venues over smaller ones to capitalize on profits, but when fans see a band like, say, The Black Keys playing a stadium and tickets are upwards of $100—it’s pretty easy to give it a hard pass in the hopes that they’ll just play a smaller (read: intimate and far less expensive) spot in the future. I’m sure we’ve all noticed artists and bands that would once perform at theaters with GA spaces are now, for some reason, booking huge venues with far too many noticeable empty seats.

@iconactress Replying to @Jeremias Jurado And the crowd goes mild #jlo #jenniferlopez #concert #erastour #flop #singing #fyp #blowthisup ♬ original sound – Anna

Some blame the cocktail of higher ticket prices and inflation that has hit wallets hard. Others look to the incessant problem of scalpers or exorbitant fees—with hopes that the antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation will break up their monopoly on ticket sales. Another possibility is headlining talent and an inability to book the kind of artists that might entice massive fan bases to completely sell out a festival or stadium.

This might also explain the shift in recent years to single-day niche festivals—which offer a chance to tap into the nostalgia of specific genres and the communities that encompass them—or reunion (Jane’s Addiction, Blink-182) and farewell tours (Elton John, Eagles, and Jeff Lynne’s ELO) which up the appeal in breaking the bank for tickets.

Camp Flog Gnaw has managed to weather the many ups and downs faced by both fans and the music industry as a whole. Whether that’s because they’ve avoided the pitfalls that have caused other festivals to falter and lose momentum or due to the event’s coalescence around Tyler’s massive fanbase and those adjacent to it, not to mention its commitment to at least making those increased prices worth it, like carnival attractions or VIP perks that justify costs—or a combination of all three—it’s evident that any decline on Camp Flog Gnaw’s part has yet to manifest itself.

There’s also the fact that Camp Flog Gnaw embodies all that is Gen Z — from music to fashion, inclusivity, and social media — this music festival hits the mark for all this generation loves and embraces. And this generation is finally at that age where they can drive themselves and/or have the adult freedom to attend on their own dime. Meanwhile, Millenials and Gen X are aging out of the music festival scene. Gone are the days when we hit 3-5 music festivals yearly. Between work, rent/mortgage, marriage/partnerships, and kids — those 30 and up now have to pick and choose wisely where they get their music fest fix, and often, it’s just a singular music festival where they can slay three stages with one ticket (it’s this one for me).

Considering most festivals these days do not sell out, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival is doing something right (more like many things right). The festival continues to sell out the first day tickets go on sale—and well before the lineup drops—further solidifying its mastery in the festival game. They just get it.

Camp Flog Gnaw has yet to reveal its 2024 lineup, but we expect the news to drop any minute now. In 2023, they announced their lineup on Aug. 18; in 2019, the line was revealed on Aug. 12.