Legendary alternative bands New Order and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will headline the 2025 Cruel World music festival, promoters Goldenvoice announced yesterday. Held on May 17 at Brookside at The Rose Bowl again this year, the 2025 event is a one-date affair melding new wave, post-punk, goth and adjacent genres from the past and present. Garbage, The Go-Go’s, Death Cult, ‘Til Tuesday, Alison Moyet (best known for her work with Yaz) and She Wants Revenge also perform.
For headliner Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Cruel World marks the end of their North American The Wild God Tour in support of their 18th studio album, Wild God.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honorees The Go-Gos will reunite following a three-year hiatus, as will ‘Til Tuesday, performing with its original members for the first time in 35 years. Devo make a triumphant return after playing the first iteration of the festival in 2022.
Attendees will have access to the only performance of L.A.’s own She Wants Revenge planned for 2025, and the only California performance of Death Cult (the early incarnation of U.K. rock faves The Cult, led by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy) for the year. The band played the Ace Theatre in Downtown this time last year.
Tickets to Cruel World will be available for purchase beginning this Friday, October 25 at 11 a.m. PT, with a presale on Thursday, October 24 at 11 a.m. PT for past attendees. General admission tickets cost $249, but a four-pack deal can be purchased for $225 per ticket. GA+ tickets cost $349, and includes access to air-conditioned restrooms, shaded areas and a dedicated bar. VIP tickets, with dedicated viewing areas, merch locations and complimentary parking, cost $459.
