Is For Lovers Festival comes to Orange County, California
It was hot, humid, and not a cloud in the sky, and for this “elder emo” it was a glorious day!
The skinny jeans, eyeliner, and the anthems of yesteryear were all on hand at Oak Canyon Park this past weekend. Setting the stage for an unforgettable day of music at the California stop of the Is For Lovers Festival. This is the second year (first under Brew Ha Ha Productions) for the emo showcase that toted a lineup that left me chomping at the bit.
The festival opened its gates to a diverse crowd of music lovers, all eager to immerse themselves in the “classic emo bangers…” that awaited them, as JT Woodruff from Hawthorne Heights put it. From the moment Winter Haven, an energetic pop-punk band hailing from Arizona, cranked that first note through the air, it was clear this was going to be an amazing day.
82Fifty and Diva Bleach kept the opening leg of the festival cruising along, setting the stage for Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and Emery to blaze through some classics.
Next up was the masterminds behind the Is For Lovers Fest, Hawthorne Heights, whose emo staples got the crowd to another level. Those haunting vocals and catchy choruses made for a nostalgic 45-minute set that left everyone spellbound.
As the night progressed, the stage was set ablaze with performances by Norma Jean, Bayside, Touche Amore, Sleeping with Sirens, and Thursday. With blazing guitars and thunderous drums reminded everyone why these bands are considered emo-rock royalty.
As the sun set on OCP, the energy inside Is For Lovers Fest was still rising!
From the moment Thrice stepped onto the stage, the crowd was in the palm of their hand. Powerful vocals soared through the park, filling the warm California night with raw emotion.
Throughout the evening, the festival's atmosphere was nothing short of electric. The crowd, a sea of sweaty, sun-burnt bodies and beaming faces, was a testament to the unifying power of music. Food trucks offered those festival favorites reminiscent of Warped Tour days, and the warm California breeze carried the scent of tacos and fresh pretzels.
The final two bands to take the IFL stages were Atreyu and Alkaline Trio. Atreyu ended their set the same way they started it, blazing! These OC natives have not lost a step and soared through classics like “Ex’s & Oh’s,” “Right Side of the Bed,” and “Blow” just to name a few.
Alkaline Trio sent California Is For Lovers Fest off into the night, leaving everyone with a yearning for more. It was a night where music, memories, and love intertwined, reminding us all why California truly is for lovers.
In the end, Is For Lovers Festival delivered not just a concert but an experience—a musical journey through the heart of so many of us that will linger in our memories until next year's festival rolls around. If you missed it this time, make sure to mark your calendar for the next edition because this festival is an ode to music, love, and disproving the proclamation of, “it’s just a phase.”