Recap: Head In The Clouds Festival at Forest Hills Stadium – Queens, NY | 05/11 – 05/12 – DAY ONE

Head in the Clouds lifted fans to the sky during Mother’s Day weekend with a successful two-day festival on May 11th and 12th at Forest Hills Stadium, Queens, New York City. Organized by 88rising, the festival has become a crucial platform for amplifying the voices and culture of AAPI artists, especially during Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

From diverse food vendors offering Filipino, Thai, and Korean cuisines, and classic American burgers to unique beverages like bubble tea by Silk, attendees were treated to a rich cultural and culinary experience. The festival’s efficient stage production was a highlight, featuring a rotating stage that minimized downtime between acts, allowing seamless transitions that kept the energy high.

The sun shone brightly overhead the outdoor venue on both days with some clouds and GA fans filling the seats while VIP and 1999 had access to the floor level. There was no spot in the venue that gave the dreaded obstructed view, which was a refreshing positive for a stadium festival.

Aside from the artists and food, one of my favorite aspects of the festival was the systematic stage production. Each day featured a 9-act lineup, with opening acts given 30 to 45 minutes and headliners about an hour. The rotating stage kept the show seamless with only five to ten minutes between sets. As one act performed, the next set up, and the stage would turn to reveal the new artist. This efficient system reminded me of my Warped Tour days, bringing a nostalgic touch to the festival.

Both dates featured a stacked lineup of AAPI artists worldwide, delivering standout performances that resonated with both new and longtime fans. Fans enjoyed a variety of genres, from Rap, R&B, Lo-Fi, Alternative, Pop, and EDM – you name it, Head in the Clouds had it. 

Starting Day 1 strong, Head in the Clouds featured a stacked lineup. The recently debuted K-Pop group Young Posse captivated fans with tracks like “XXL” and “Macaroni Cheese” as one of the first acts. Thuy, making waves in the Pop and R&B scene, performed hit singles “Vapor Rub,” “Girls Like Me Don’t Cry,” and her recent single “hair down.”

Each artist brought something unique to the stage. Artists like Wang Ok and Juliet Ivy allowed fans to sway with their angelic voices, creating a mellow atmosphere. On the flip side, Balming Tiger, a self-described ‘multinational alternative K-pop band’ with a global impact in mind, energized the audience with their dynamic and thought-provoking rap songs.

The crowd fluctuated throughout the day, with fans leaving to wander the festival grounds between sets and returning for the artists they wanted to see. Dhruv and Wave to Earth were two of the last openers for Day 1 before the headliners.

Despite being one of the smaller sets, the sun shone brightly as Dhruv’s smooth voice overtook the stage. He performed some of his hit singles like “Tragedy” and his most popular track “double take,” which has over 800 million streams on Spotify and was chosen to end his set.

Wave to Earth kept the energy high as one of the most anticipated bands of the day, drawing fans back in flocks. With their first full album, “01.flaws and all.” released in 2023, fans were excited to hear hit songs like “bad” and “peach eyes,” both lo-fi tracks with jazz elements reminiscent of an early 2000s coming-of-age movie. The band treated fans to an encore of “pueblo” before making way for the night’s headliners: Dabin B2B Illenium and K-Pop girl group, (G)I-DLE.

The crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch as the sun dipped below the horizon. Dabin and Illenium, acclaimed producers and crossover electronic artists took the stage, signaling the start of the night’s electrifying festivities. Even for those unfamiliar with their songs, lyrics flashed on screens accompanied by mesmerizing visualizers, inviting everyone to join in the euphoria. Pyrotechnics illuminated the air, smoke billowed, and a drone soared overhead, adding to the spectacle.

Their back-to-back set was a mesmerizing journey, seamlessly blending genres from lo-fi to rock and pop, punctuated by electrifying drops and beats reverberating through the crowd. Dabin kicked off the performance with crowd favorites like “Hero,” “Die for You,” and the mesmerizing collaboration with Illenium, “Luv Me A Little.” The duo didn’t just deliver music; they crafted moments of pure nostalgia, weaving in classics like “In the End,” “m.A.A.d city,” and the timeless anthem that played in every club in the mid-2010s, “Clarity.”

As someone who had never attended an EDM show or rave, I was in awe of the electrifying sets and visuals. Each person was singing along, headbanging, dancing, and enjoying the overall performance, the lightshow and all. 

(G)I-DLE, a five-member girl group featuring Soyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, Miyeon, and Shuha, closed out the night as one of the top performers. Making their Head in the Clouds debut in 2022, this performance now marked their first time headlining, and they seized the moment. The set began with Soyeon singing the first powerful lines of “Super Lady,” a song that showcases each member’s talent and celebrates female strength.

They brought boundless energy, treating day-one fans to nostalgic hits like “Latata,” “Oh My God,” and “Lion,” while surprising them with recent favorites like “I Want That,” “Allergy,” and even the accidental inclusion of “Wife,” which the crowd embraced wholeheartedly, donning teal bob-wigs and white outfits reminiscent of the music video.

The night climaxed with high-energy rap and rock tracks like “My Bag” and “Tomboy,” before slowing down with the heartfelt English track, “I Do.” As the final song echoed through the venue, fans, still buzzing from the performance, sang along, their voices blending with the echoes of earlier songs from the unforgettable night.

With a ten to fifteen-minute walk to the next train or the Illenium after-party hosted by Head in the Clouds, Day 1 came to an end.

Check out our day two coverage of Head in the Clouds here!