Head in the Clouds Festival is an annual music festival organized by 88rising. The lineups feature musical artists across the Asian diaspora.
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.
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 his debut United States performance.
Line-up
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
Double Happiness Stage
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.
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
Saturday, November 6<br>
88 Stage
Double Happiness Stage
Sunday, November 7<br>
88 Stage
Double Happiness Stage
The 2022 festival was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena from August 20âÂÂ21, 2022. International editions will also be held in Jakarta at the Community Park PIK 2 on December 3âÂÂ4, and in Manila at the SMDC Concert Grounds on December 9âÂÂ10, 2022.
Pasadena line-up
Saturday, August 20
88 Stage
Double Happiness Stage
Club Year of Dance Tent
Sunday, August 21
88 Stage
Double Happiness Stage
Club Year of Dance Tent
Jakarta line-up
Manila line-up
New York City line-up
Pasadena line-up
The 2024 festival was held at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York from May 11âÂÂ12, 2024.
Line-up
A festival will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan on March 28 and March 29, 2026.
Line-up