Dust off your fishnets and lace up those Docs because the Cruel World Festival is making its triumphant return to Pasadena on May 17, 2025, featuring an iconic lineup led by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and New Order. The one-day event, hosted by Goldenvoice, will again take place at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, bringing together some of the most legendary acts in new wave, post-punk, dark wave, and alternative music.
This year’s stacked lineup includes heavyweights like Devo, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Garbage, The Go-Go’s, Death Cult (aka The Cult), ’Til Tuesday, Madness, Buzzcocks, She Wants Revenge, and Alison Moyet. Fans can look forward to a rare and powerful blend of classic and modern sounds, with Garbage, led by Shirley Manson, returning fresh from a performance at California’s Ohana Festival and working on an upcoming album set for 2025.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds will close out their North American tour at Cruel World, supporting their 18th album, Wild God. Meanwhile, New Order will feature a lineup that includes original members like Bernard Sumner, although Peter Hook will not be joining the band.
Fans are also in for a historic reunion from ‘Til Tuesday, marking the first time in 35 years that Aimee Mann and her band will perform together since their hit single “Voices Carry.” The Go-Go’s will also come back together for the first time since disbanding in 2022, after their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
For goth fans, Death Cult (later The Cult) will be making their only California appearance of the year. Also, local favorites She Wants Revenge will make their sole stop of 2025 at Cruel World, adding more excitement to the dark wave-heavy roster.
Passes for the festival will go on sale on Friday at 11 a.m., with a presale for past buyers starting Thursday at 11 a.m. VIP options, including access to a viewing area and an air-conditioned Clubhouse, will be available again this year for fans who want a more exclusive experience.
Last year’s event featured legends like Duran Duran, Blondie, and Simple Minds, and 2025 is shaping up to be another unforgettable celebration of all things alternative.
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