One of Southern California’s favorite indie festivals returns this Saturday, August 22, taking over Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Produced by Goldenvoice, the promoter behind Coachella and Stagecoach, Just Like Heaven is a single-day music festival that’s grown into one of the region’s most anticipated events for fans of indie rock, dance, and alternative music. This year’s edition marks a slight shift from tradition, arriving in August instead of its usual May timeframe. Here’s your complete guide before heading out this weekend.
The full lineup
This year’s festival is headlined by The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem, two acts with major crossover appeal beyond the indie scene. The rest of the lineup spans a wide range of styles, from funk-inflected dance-pop to lo-fi indie rock:
- Chromeo
- Feist
- Dayglow
- TV Girl
- STRFKR
- The Rapture
- Twin Peaks
- Matt and Kim
- Coco & Clair Clair
- George Clanton
- Porches
- Tanlines
- Whitney
- Ekkstacy
- Girl Tones
- Pixel Grip
- This Is Lorelei
- Them Jeans
TV Girl is playing their only U.S. show of the year at the festival, making it a must-see for fans who might not catch them elsewhere in 2026. Beyond the main lineup, A Club Called Rhonda — a long-running L.A. party institution — returns to host a curated DJ lineup for the festival’s dance-focused side stage, a fixture that’s become a fan favorite in past years.
Map, parking and getting there
The festival splits into two main areas: Stardust Stage toward the West and South entrances, and Orion Stage up near the North Entrance, with a central plaza in between packed with food, drinks, and merch. There’s also a wine garden, a handful of cocktail activations, and plenty of shaded spots to cool off between sets — worth knowing given the August heat.
Getting there
- Metro + Free Shuttle: take the Metro A Line to Memorial Park Station, walk two blocks to the Parsons lot (100 W Walnut St), and hop on the free shuttle. It drops you right at the front gates and completely bypasses venue traffic.
- Parsons Park-and-Ride: Drive to Old Town Pasadena, park in the Parsons structure (~$20), and ride the free festival shuttle in.
- On-Site Rose Bowl Parking: Buy an advance pass online and follow Rosemont Ave or Seco St into the stadium lots.
- Rideshare: Get dropped off directly at Lot H. Arriving is smooth, but post-show surge pricing and weak cell signal make leaving difficult.
Expect traffic around the Rose Bowl as showtime approaches, so give yourself extra time!
