Iggy Pop, Siouxsie, Echo & the Bunnymen, and More Announced for Cruel World’s 2023 Lineup

Billy Idol, Love and Rockets, and The Human League are also scheduled to perform at the Pasadena-set fest scheduled for May 20.

Iggy Pop, Siouxsie, Echo & the Bunnymen, and More Announced for Cruel World’s 2023 Lineup

Billy Idol, Love and Rockets, and The Human League are also scheduled to perform at the Pasadena-set fest scheduled for May 20.

Words: Mike LeSuer

Photo: Adam Maresca

January 23, 2023

When we caught up with Gary Numan back in 2021, the darkwave pioneer discussed the difference between the increasing number of nostalgia-bait music festivals and more carefully curated events like Pasadena’s Cruel World festival, which thoughtfully balances old and new names while sticking to a particular aesthetic. “It felt to me as if Cruel World was just on the right side of acceptable,” he told us. “There are other festivals that have people who really haven’t done anything since the ’80s. Those are to be strictly avoided.” 

It’s no surprise, then, that Numan’s name appears again on the 2023 lineup, which was announced today with fellow ’80s darkwave and post-punk staples Siouxsie, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Human League, and Bauhaus offshoot Love and Rockets as major draws, while younger artists such as Boy Harsher and Sacred Bones signees Molchat Doma and The Soft Moon fill out the poster. Oh, also Iggy Pop. Gotta have Iggy Pop.

The event will take place May 20 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, and you can register for access to passes this Friday, January 27, at noon PT here. Check out the full line-up on the poster below.