Just Like Heaven Offers Sound of Nostalgia in Pasadena
Story by Aja Goare
Photography by Dustin Klemann
On a stretch of green adjacent to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, thousands of fans gathered on one of the hottest days of the year to date for a day of music. Just Like Heaven, which is organized by Golden-voice, was first held in 2019 and is billed as a nostalgia-focused festival that features bands that rose to fame in the 2000s.
The one-day event is an ode to indie rock of an earlier era, a time when the millennial generation came of age. Headlining this year’s event were Vampire Weekend, known for chart toppers like “A-Punk” and “Walcott,” and formerly disbanded Rilo Kiley with hit song “Silver Lining.” For the first time since breaking up in 2008, the band featuring Jenny Lewis launched their reunion tour at the Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo one week before the festival. Looking out at the crowd, Jenny remarked, “It’s truly amazing to be here with you all,” before turning to her band and adding, “but mostly it’s amazing to be here with you all.”
The lineup also included Courtney Barnett, Bloc Party, Empire of the Sun, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Of Montreal, among others.
“I came for Group Love,” said Celeste Gil, a 20-something Silver Lake resident. She attended the festival with her friend, Dana, a Los Angeles area teacher. Having just come off a trip to Coachella in Palm Springs, two women are no strangers to music festivals.
“I loved everything about Coachella, so I knew I’d love this,” she explained. “It feels like a mini-Coachella with the food and the lineups.”
Dozens of food vendors offering everything from pad Thai to mac and cheese, chicken fingers and pizza adorned the sidelines of the event. On this particularly hot 95-degree day in East Los Angeles, the line for acai bowls and agua frescas outnumbered any other. Trees with their slivers of shade offered a reprieve to festival goers who danced and sang along, despite the heat wave. Many came prepared with personal fans and handheld misters.
“I always bring band aids and my phone charger,” said Celeste.
Other items to consider for future festivals, especially those like Dana who are considering San Luis Obispo’s upcoming Live Oak and Shabang music festivals, include: sunscreen, sunglasses, a refillable water bottle and hydration packets, ear plugs, a small blanket for sitting on the lawn, Chap Stick, and a protein bar. Hats were for this event a near necessity.
With music playing across dueling stages, it can be difficult to dedicate one’s attention to a specific band. As Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig aptly acknowledged on stage, “This festival has one of the best lineups of bands anywhere.”
For Celeste and Dana, ensuring they got to hear their favorites required some planning, something they’d advise others to consider.
“Create a schedule, that’s key,” said Celeste. “You want to look around and walk around so much that you’ll miss something.”
The Just Like Heaven app allows attendees to manage their festival schedule and even reference how much time is left in a set. It also highlights restrooms, first aid, VIP and Clubhouse locations. The festival is now soliciting “music wish lists” from fans on social media for the 2026 Just Like Heaven festival.
