It's no secret SoCal loves their new wave and goth heroes. Fans have come out in droves for the retro-leaning Cruel World fest since it first kicked off in 2022, followed by the arrival of the similar Darker Waves fest in Huntington Beach last year, celebrating the best of post-punk, goth, and new wave. While message boards were flooded with speculation on potential lineups over the last few months, Goldenvoice made it official as news hit their inboxes today: "Time to clear your schedules and gather your dark-and-devoted friends, because we’re back Saturday, May 17, 2025!" Cruel World will return to Brookside at The Rose Bowl next year with legends including New Order, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Go-Go’s, Madness, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Blancmange, Garbage, Stereo MC’s, Madness, Alison Moyet, Ultravox's Midge Ure, and Buzzcocks, among others, plus contemporary post-punk and goth torchbearers Chelsea Wolfe, Nation Of Language, and Provoker. One significant surprise here: the reunion of Aimee Mann's '80s hitmakers 'Til Tuesday. Check the full lineup below.
The ticket presale begins on Friday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. PST here. Past Cruel World attendees have access to a presale one day earlier, beginning Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. PST.
