Just Like Heaven //
Brookside at the Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
May 10th, 2025 //
The city of Los Angeles has been through a lot in the first month of 2025. Between all of the wildfires that have ravaged Southern California in a matter of days, it has been a tumultuous time for so many who have been left with nothing and are having to completely rebuild their lives now.
It has been special to see how the local community has come together nonetheless, especially for those who have been affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. And while it can be almost impossible to even think about live music with all that has happened in historic neighborhoods like Altadena among others, Goldenvoice’s indie-focused festival Just Like Heaven has made its home next door in Pasadena since 2022 and will be back in the City of Roses for a fourth straight year this May.
After propelling The Postal Service atop the bill in 2024 with the Ben Gibbard side project continuing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its lone studio album Give Up, JLH has gone with NYC indie rockers Vampire Weekend to headline the fifth chapter of its annual story.
Fans of the three-piece led by Ezra Koenig will be happy to hear that news as will plenty of others, given that JLH has once again curated a dream lineup for anyone who loves indie music. Bolstered by another strong undercard, this year’s roster is also highlighted by Rilo Kiley reuniting to play their first show since 2008 after breaking up more than a decade ago.
“We are so very excited to come back together for Just Like Heaven in Pasadena, California — Los Angeles,” the group released in a statement. “As a band, we began here, and we feel so fortunate to return among so many artists and friends, to this community we hold so dear, in such a beautiful and meaningful place.”
Other notable acts slated to perform at the Brookside Golf Course include Empire of the Sun, Bloc Party, TV on the Radio, The Drums, Courtney Barnett, Toro y Moi, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, GROUPLOVE, Perfume Genius, The Sounds, Panda Bear, Beach Fossils, Peter Bjorn and John, Hercules & Love Affair (Live), Wild Nothing and Ra Ra Riot. That’s all in less than 12 hours, too!
But sitting at the bottom of the poster and serving as special guests are one of our favorites in slowdive, the English shoegaze outfit that put us in a dream-like state last year at a sold-out Fox Theater Pomona (read our show review here). Even though it might be too soon to expect new music after the release of Everything Is Alive in 2023, we will be curious to find out where they are slotted for their JLH debut when set times are officially released in April.
Are you sold on going to JLH? Make sure to register for the presale here before GA tickets go on sale this Friday, January 31st at 11 a.m. PT for $200 (Tier 1) and eventually increase to $226 (Tier 2), $250 (Tier 3) and $270 (Tier 4). VIP passes start at $440 (Tier 1) and jump to $460 (Tier 2), while those who are looking to splurge on the Clubhouse experience will have to throw down a whopping $700.
It’s important to mention that Goldenvoice and the Rose Bowl Operating Company have already made their mark on the wildfire recovery efforts with a generous donation of $250,000 to the Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund, and those interested in contributing can go here for more details.
Plus, as a BIG thank you to those who have sacrificed so much, the fest will be offering complimentary GA admission for two to verified GOVX First Responders for a limited time while supplies last. Without these heroes throughout our city, it’s difficult to fathom where we would be right now.
For the rest of you though, don’t wait to purchase yours because this one-day celebration of indie music will be here before you know it!
UPDATE (March 31st): For the first time ever JLH has put out lineups for each of its two stages ahead of unveiling set times. As expected, headliner Vampire Weekend will close out the festival on the Orion Stage while Rilo Kiley serves as the top-billed act on the smaller Stardust Stage. See the poster above to find out where every act is scheduled to perform at the Brookside.
UPDATE (April 21st): Start making your plans for JLH 2025 because set times are here with less than a month to go, and there are once again a number of tough choices to make. Will it be Of Montreal or Wild Nothing? Grouplove or Perfume Genius? The Drums or Toro y Moi? TV on the Radio or Unknown Mortal Orchestra? The good news, though, is that there are less scheduling conflicts toward the end of the day once Bloc Party takes the Orion Stage at 6:45 p.m. Find out who’s playing on which stage and when in the full list above.
