Yasmin Barranca of Pomona, CA brought her four kids to the Head in the Clouds Festival at Brookside at the Rose Bowl this past Saturday, August 8th. It was Barranca’s first time at the music and arts festival that centers Asian talent, but she didn’t know much about most of the acts. She just wanted to see the look on her daughters’ faces when they saw their favorite group perform live for the first time. This was right before KATSEYE’s headlining 8:55 PM set, and Barranca was as close as she can get, a stroller pushed up to a crowd that seemed evenly divided between buzzed twenty-somethings and elementary-age concert goers, parental cohorts in tow.
The crowd was bigger and younger than this festival has ever drawn, with many fans eager to see KATSEYE perform live. Despite the group being down two members, the remaining four members – Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, and Daniela – held their own during their hour-long set, adjusting their choreography formation and delivering energetic performances. The group’s strength lies in its casting, and the four members demonstrated that they can work well together even without the other two members.
Head in the Clouds Festival
The Head in the Clouds Festival has an intimate feel, with only two stages and most of the action happening on the 88rising Mainstage. The festival is held on the lush, rolling grounds of the Brookside golf course next to the Rose Bowl. This year’s edition was a scaled-down one-day event, but it still booked the biggest crossover headliner yet, KATSEYE.
The festival featured a variety of acts, including XG, a seven-member group that has broken through globally. XG has undergone some changes, including changing what its initials stand for and stopping being billed as a girl group. The group also released their first full-length album in January and has been performing with a live band, which makes a big difference in their music.
Another notable performer was UMI, a Japanese/American neo-soul singer who came out to sing with audience members and brought out 6LACK as a guest. Female and queer artists shone throughout the day, including UMI, who is queer, along with Lara and Megan of KATSEYE.
Shedding Names
KATSEYE wasn’t the only act on the bill mid-reconfiguration. Everywhere you looked, groups were shedding members, names, and the collectives that made them. Dabin.Kr, a Korean hip-hop artist formerly known as DPR Live, turned his set into a confessional, talking about how he started losing his sense of self and couldn’t hear his own voice anymore.
XG is also undergoing changes, with the group changing what its initials stand for and stopping being billed as a girl group. The group has been performing with a live band and has released their first full-length album. Cocona, a dancer and rapper, came out as nonbinary earlier this year.
The main attraction this year was KATSEYE, a group drawing in new festival-goers who might not otherwise be exposed to the sheer depth and diversity of Asian talent. The power of KATSEYE is clear, even down two members, as parents guided sleepy-eyed young girls wearing branded T-shirts back to the parking lot, huge smiles on their faces.
In conclusion, the Head in the Clouds Festival was a success, with a bigger and younger crowd than ever before. The festival featured a variety of acts, including KATSEYE, XG, and UMI. Despite some changes and challenges, the groups performed well and demonstrated their strength and talent. The festival is a great platform for showcasing Asian talent and providing a unique experience for fans.
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