The Cruel World Festival is set to make a return on May 17, 2025, in Pasadena, California, with a lineup headlined by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and New Order. The one-day event, organized by Goldenvoice, will take place at Brookside at the Rose Bowl.
The festival will feature an array of new wave, post-punk, dark wave, and alternative acts. Among the performers are Devo, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Garbage, The Go-Gos, Death Cult, ‘Til Tuesday, Madness, Buzzcocks, She Wants Revenge, and Alison Moyet. Shirley Manson’s band, Garbage, recently performed at California’s Ohana Festival and plans to release their eighth studio album in 2025.
For Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Cruel World will mark the final stop on their North American tour promoting their 18th album, Wild God. New Order will take the stage with several original members, including lead vocalist Bernard Sumner, though bassist Peter Hook will not be part of the lineup.
The festival also brings some special reunions and rare performances. Aimee Mann’s ‘Til Tuesday will perform with its original members for the first time in 35 years, known for their hit “Voices Carry.” The Go-Gos, who disbanded in 2022, will reunite three years after their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2021.
Death Cult, the original version of The Cult, will perform its only California show of the year at Cruel World, with Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy leading the band. She Wants Revenge, a darkwave act from the San Fernando Valley, has also announced that the festival will be its only performance next year.
The 2024 edition of Cruel World featured acts like Duran Duran, Blondie, Simple Minds, The Stranglers, Jesus and Mary Chain, Gary Numan, and Soft Cell, spread across three stages. This year’s event promises a similar experience, with passes set to go on sale Friday at 11 a.m., and a presale for previous purchasers on Thursday at 11 a.m. Attendees can opt for VIP packages, including a Clubhouse area with access to an air-conditioned lounge.
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